< Windows Server Administration

This lesson covers Windows Server installation. Activities include both manual and automated installation of Windows Server.

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the Understanding Server Installation portion of Windows Server Administration Fundamentals certification include:[1]

  • Understand server installation options: choosing correct OS version; partitioning; F8 options; server core vs. full; interactive install; unattended install; automated install using WDS; upgrade vs. clean install; firmware updates including BIOS

Readings

  1. Wikipedia: Installation (computer programs)
  2. Wikipedia: Firmware#Personal computers
  3. Wikipedia: Windows Server 2008
  4. Wikipedia: Windows Server 2008 R2
  5. Wikipedia: Windows Server 2012
  6. Wikipedia: Windows Deployment Services

Multimedia

  1. YouTube: How to Install Windows Server 2008 R2
  2. YouTube: Installing Windows Server 2012

Activities

  1. Review Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 or Installing Windows Server 2012 or Installing Windows Server 2016. Perform a clean installation of Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2016.
  2. Review Windows Server Installation and Upgrade. Identify the steps necessary to prepare for an upgrade installation.
  3. Review Upgrade and conversion options for Windows Server 2016. Identify supported upgrade paths.
  4. Review Deploy Windows Server 2008 R2. Identify the difference between high-touch, light-touch, and zero-touch deployments.
  5. Review Walkthrough: Build a Simple Answer File. Perform an unattended installation of Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2016 using an unattended answer file.
  6. Review Windows Deployment Services Getting Started Guide. Perform an unattended installation of Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2016 using Windows Deployment Services.
  7. Review Windows Server Installation Options. Perform a clean installation of Windows Server Core using either Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2016.

Lesson Summary

  • A clean installation is one that is done in the absence of any interfering elements such as old versions of the computer program being installed or leftovers from a previous installation. In particular, the clean installation of an operating system is an installation in which the target disk partition is erased before installation.[2]
  • An upgrade installation is the process of replacing a product with a newer version of the same product in order to bring the system up to date or to improve its characteristics.[3]
  • An interactive or attended installation requires a user to be present during the installation to make choices, such as accepting or declining an end-user license agreement (EULA), specifying preferences such as the installation location, supplying passwords or assisting in product activation.[4]
  • An unattended installation is performed without user interaction during its progress or with no user present at all.[5]
  • It may be necessary to update the firmware and BIOS in a computer before installing an operating system.[6]
  • Windows Server 2008 includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 are 64-bit only.[7][8][9]
  • Windows Server 2008 is built from the same code base as Windows Vista. Windows Server 2008 R2 is built from the same code base as Windows 7. Windows Server 2012 is built from the same code base as Windows 8.[10][11][12]
  • Windows Server 2008 and later versions include a variation of installation called Server Core. Server Core is a significantly scaled-back installation where no Windows Explorer shell is installed. All configuration and maintenance is done entirely through command-line interface windows, or by connecting to the machine remotely using Microsoft Management Console.[13]
  • The traditional alternative to Server Core is referred to as 'Full' installation in Server 2008 and 'Server with a GUI' in Server 2012.[14]
  • Windows Server 2008 is available in Foundation, Web, Standard, Enterprise, and Data Center editions.[15]
  • Windows Server 2012 is available in Foundation, Essentials, Standard, and Data Center editions.[16]
  • The Foundation edition is intended for small businesses and available only as an OEM installation from computer vendors. The Server 2008 Foundation edition supports a single processor, 8 GB RAM, and up to 15 user accounts.[17] The Server 2012 Foundation edition increases the maximum RAM to 32 GB, while retaining the other limitations.[18]
  • The Essentials edition is new for Server 2012 and supports 2 processors, 64 GB RAM, and up to 25 users in a single installation. It replaces previous Small Business Server editions.[19]
  • The Web edition was intended for public web server usage. It is available only in Server 2008 and was not continued for Server 2012.[20]
  • The 2008 Standard edition supports 4 processors, 32 GB RAM, and up to two installations (one physical and one virtual).[21] The 2012 Standard edition increases to 64 processors, 4 TB RAM, and 2 virtual installations.[22]
  • The 2008 Enterprise edition supports 8 processors, 2 TB RAM, clustering, and up to five installations (one physical and four virtual).[23]
  • The 2008 Data Center edition supports 64 processors, 2 TB RAM, clustering, and unlimited virtual installations.[24] The 2012 Data Center edition increases the maximum RAM to 4 TB.[25]
  • Windows Deployment Services is a server technology from Microsoft for network-based installation of Windows and other operating systems based on a disk image using the Windows Imaging Format (WIM). The network installation is performed by pressing <F12> during PXE boot.[26]

Key Terms

BIOS
The Basic Input / Output System, used to initialize and test system hardware components and to load an operating system or other programs from a mass storage device.[27]
disk image
A single file or storage device containing the complete contents and structure representing a data storage medium or device, such as a hard drive, tape drive, floppy disk, optical disc, or USB flash drive.[28]
firmware
The combination of persistent memory and program code and data stored in it.[29]
original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
A computer equipment maker or reseller.[30]
partitioning
The act of dividing a hard disk drive into multiple logical storage units referred to as partitions, to treat one physical disk drive as if it were multiple disks, so that different filesystems can be used on each partition.[31]
Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE)
An environment to boot computers using a network interface independently of data storage devices (like hard disks) or installed operating systems.[32]
Remote Installation Services (RIS)
The previous name of Windows Deployment Services.[33]
Sysprep
The name of Microsoft's System Preparation Tool for Microsoft Windows operating system deployment.[34]
Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
A collection of tools and technologies produced by Microsoft designed to help deploy Windows operating system images to target computers or to a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk).[35]
Windows Imaging Format (WIM)
A file-based disk image format developed by Microsoft to help deploy Windows Vista and subsequent versions of Windows.[36]
Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE)
A lightweight version of Windows used for the deployment of workstations and servers or troubleshooting an operating system while it is offline.[37]

Review Questions

Click on a question to see the answer.

  1. A clean installation is one that is _____. In particular, the clean installation of an operating system is an installation in which the target disk partition is _____.
    A clean installation is one that is done in the absence of any interfering elements such as old versions of the computer program being installed or leftovers from a previous installation. In particular, the clean installation of an operating system is an installation in which the target disk partition is erased before installation.
  2. An upgrade installation is _____.
    An upgrade installation is the process of replacing a product with a newer version of the same product in order to bring the system up to date or to improve its characteristics.
  3. An interactive or attended installation requires _____.
    An interactive or attended installation requires a user to be present during the installation to make choices, such as accepting or declining an end-user license agreement (EULA), specifying preferences such as the installation location, supplying passwords or assisting in product activation.
  4. An unattended installation is performed _____.
    An unattended installation is performed without user interaction during its progress or with no user present at all.
  5. It may be necessary to update _____ before installing an operating system.
    It may be necessary to update the firmware and BIOS in a computer before installing an operating system.
  6. Windows Server 2008 includes both _____ versions. Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 are _____ only.
    Windows Server 2008 includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 are 64-bit only.
  7. Windows Server 2008 is built from the same code base as _____. Windows Server 2008 R2 is built from the same code base as _____. Windows Server 2012 is built from the same code base as _____.
    Windows Server 2008 is built from the same code base as Windows Vista. Windows Server 2008 R2 is built from the same code base as Windows 7. Windows Server 2012 is built from the same code base as Windows 8.
  8. Windows Server 2008 and later versions include a variation of installation called _____. _____ is a significantly scaled-back installation where no Windows Explorer shell is installed. All configuration and maintenance is done entirely through _____.
    Windows Server 2008 and later versions include a variation of installation called Server Core. Server Core is a significantly scaled-back installation where no Windows Explorer shell is installed. All configuration and maintenance is done entirely through command-line interface windows, or by connecting to the machine remotely using Microsoft Management Console.
  9. The traditional alternative to Server Core is referred to as _____ installation in Server 2008 and _____ in Server 2012.
    The traditional alternative to Server Core is referred to as 'Full' installation in Server 2008 and 'Server with a GUI' in Server 2012.
  10. Windows Server 2008 is available in _____ editions.
    Windows Server 2008 is available in Foundation, Web, Standard, Enterprise, and Data Center editions.
  11. Windows Server 2012 is available in _____ editions.
    Windows Server 2012 is available in Foundation, Essentials, Standard, and Data Center editions.
  12. The Foundation edition is intended for _____ and available only as an OEM installation from computer vendors. The Server 2008 Foundation edition supports _____. The Server 2012 Foundation edition increases the maximum RAM to _____, while retaining the other limitations.
    The Foundation edition is intended for small businesses and available only as an OEM installation from computer vendors. The Server 2008 Foundation edition supports a single processor, 8 GB RAM, and up to 15 user accounts. The Server 2012 Foundation edition increases the maximum RAM to 32 GB, while retaining the other limitations.
  13. The Essentials edition is new for Server 2012 and supports _____ in a single installation. It replaces previous _____ editions.
    The Essentials edition is new for Server 2012 and supports 2 processors, 64 GB RAM, and up to 25 users in a single installation. It replaces previous Small Business Server editions.
  14. The _____ edition was intended for public web server usage. It is available only in Server 2008 and was not continued for Server 2012.
    The Web edition was intended for public web server usage. It is available only in Server 2008 and was not continued for Server 2012.
  15. The 2008 Standard edition supports _____. The 2012 Standard edition increases to _____.
    The 2008 Standard edition supports 4 processors, 32 GB RAM, and up to two installations (one physical and one virtual). The 2012 Standard edition increases to 64 processors, 4 TB RAM, and 2 virtual installations.
  16. The 2008 Enterprise edition supports _____.
    The 2008 Enterprise edition supports 8 processors, 2 TB RAM, clustering, and up to five installations (one physical and four virtual).
  17. The 2008 Data Center edition supports _____. The 2012 Data Center edition increases _____.
    The 2008 Data Center edition supports 64 processors, 2 TB RAM, clustering, and unlimited virtual installations. The 2012 Data Center edition increases the maximum RAM to 4 TB.
  18. _____ is a server technology from Microsoft for network-based installation of Windows and other operating systems based on a disk image using the _____. The network installation is performed by pressing _____ during _____ boot.
    Windows Deployment Services is a server technology from Microsoft for network-based installation of Windows and other operating systems based on a disk image using the Windows Imaging Format (WIM). The network installation is performed by pressing <F12> during PXE boot.

Flashcards

See Also

References

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