Server core is thin version of server don’t have full version of window server 2008 but with this core version you can perform almost every administrative task. Here we will discuss some features of server core and also see why we use the server core. Show
Normal version of windows server have desktop start menu, GUI administrative tool etc but server core only have command prompt like the Linux operating system in which you have options to install only command base version of operating system. Server Core advantages and benefits:Windows server 2008 R2 is available in all full or core additions. There are several advantages of using core version.
On the other hand Server Core does not support all of the windows server 2008 (GUI) features, only run the following one or more server roles environment: Windows Server Virtualization, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, the Domain Name System (DNS) services, file servers, Active Directory Services (AD DS) and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS), Windows Media Services, Print Management Server Core also supports the following features: Cluster Server, Network Load Balancing, Unix subsystem, Windows Server Backup, MPIO Removable Storage Management, Windows Bit Locker Drive Encryption, SNMP, Single Instance Storage and Telnet client characteristics. How to install core server: Before installing Server Core, we must note that you can’t upgrade the previous version of the server operating system to Server Core, core version don’t not supported from the previous version of the server operating system and complete the upgrade installation, there is no way to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 server core installation is successful. Installation of Windows Server 2008 CoreWe will discuss the installation of “Core version” of Windows Server 2008 here. Windows Server 2008 Server Core Requirements: The minimum installation requirements for Windows Server 2008 Server Core are approximately 3 GB of disk space and less than 256 Mb of memory. In the Core version we have all the roles that are available in the GUI version.
Also we have a limited number of services that can run on this version so it will be less likely to compromise the server by an intruder. Roles that can assume the Core version:
It also supports the following features:
And now let’s talk about the installation of the operating system. Installation of Windows Server 2008 core is almost same as full version of windows server 2008 but the only difference is the time to choose the version to install. Here you need to select the “Windows Server Core” from below menu.  History[edit]Windows Server 2008[edit]Windows Server 2008 was the first Windows Server with the Server Core option (in all editions, except IA-64[1]). Though no Windows Explorer shell is installed, Notepad and some control panel applets, such as Regional Settings, are available. Server Core on Windows Server 2008 does not include the Internet Explorer or many other features not related to core server features.[1] A Server Core machine can be configured for several basic roles: Active Directory Domain Services, Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM), DNS Server, DHCP server, file server, print server, Windows Media Server, IIS 7 web server and Hyper-V virtual server.[1] Server Core can also be used to create a cluster with high availability using failover clustering or network load balancing. As Server Core is not a different version of Windows Server 2008, but simply an installation option, it has the same file versions and default configurations as the full server version.[1] In Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2, if a server was installed as Server Core, it cannot be changed to the full GUI version and vice versa.[2] To make administration of a Server Core machine easier, a Windows script called "scregedit.wsf" was included to make basic changes like turning Automatic Updates on or off, turning Remote Desktop on or off and change page file settings.[9] Windows Server 2008 R2[edit]In Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Core includes a subset of the .NET Framework, so that some applications (including ASP.NET web sites and Windows PowerShell 2.0) can be used. Having .NET support, it is also the first Server Core version where Microsoft SQL Server can be installed (a supported scenario only with SQL Server 2012+).[10][11] Server Manager has become remoteable.[4] New roles had been enabled to run on Server Core, including Active Directory Certificate Services and the File Server Resource Manager component of the File Services role. WoW64 is available by default, but can be disabled.[12] In addition to the DISM command, a new command line Server Configuration tool (Sconfig.cmd) has arrived to configure and manage several common aspects of Server Core installations.[13] Server Manager can be used to remotely administer a Server Core machine. Windows Server 2012[edit]Unlike its predecessors, Windows Server 2012 can switch between "Server Core" and server with a DE installation option without reinstallation.[4] Server Core is now the default configuration level.[4] There is also a new installation option, "minimal server interface" that allows some GUI elements such as MMC and Server Manager to run, but without the normal desktop, shell or default programs like File Explorer.[14] The "minimal server interface" is in fact a server role (Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra), the full GUI version contains the Server-Gui-Shell role as well. Some new roles are available, like Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Active Directory Rights Management Server, and Routing and Remote Access Server, and many new features as well.[15] Windows Server 2012 R2[edit]In Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Defender is available in a Server Core installation, and is installed and enabled by default.[16][disputed – discuss] Windows Server 2016[edit]Windows Server 2016 has a minimal footprint installation option (smaller than Server Core) called Nano Server, optimized for Windows Server Containers and Hyper-V Containers, as well as other cloud-optimized scenarios. Microsoft removed the GUI stack, WoW64 and Windows Installer. There is no local logon or Remote Desktop support.[17][18] On installation, Server 2016 offers two options: Windows Server 2016 (which is Server Core) and Windows Server 2016 Desktop Experience. Switching between these versions, as is available in Server 2012, is not supported (the possibility was removed in Technical Preview 3).[19] What are three benefits of performing a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008?•
There are several advantages of using core version. In core version there is no user interface which make it fast. You have only command prompt to perform administrative take. Core server is more stable and secure, because there are some vulnerability is GUI.
Why is Server Core recommended?A Server Core installation provides a minimal environment for running specific server roles, which reduces the maintenance and management requirements and the attack surface for those server roles.
What is Windows Server Core used for?Windows Server Core is a minimal installation option for the Windows Server operating system (OS) that has no GUI and only includes the components required to perform server roles and run applications.
Which of the following are benefits of using Windows Server 2016 Server Core?Because Server Core installs only what is required for a manageable DHCP, File, DNS, Media Services, and Active Directory server, less servicing is required. Because less is installed on a Server Core-based server, less management is required. Because there is less running on the server, there is less attack surface.
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