Server Core Commands

Server Core Common Networking Commands

To configure the IP address we will have to remember (or learn) Netsh.

Configure a Static IP Address on Server Core:
Netsh int ipv4 set address “Local Area Connection” static 10.1.1.10 255.255.255.0 10.1.1.1
Netsh int ipv4 set dnsserver “Local Area Connection” static 10.1.1.5 primary
Netsh int ipv4 set winsserver “Local Area Connection” static 10.1.1.6 primary

Configure a Dynamic (DHCP) IP Address on Server Core:
Netsh int ipv4 set address “Local Area Connection” source=dhcp

Change the name of the network interface on Server Core:
Netsh int set interface name = “Local Area Connection” newname = “Primary Network”

Server Core Common Windows Firewall Commands:

The Windows Firewall is a blessing to some and a curse to others. Either way it is installed by default and you have to understand the commands that are needed to configure the basics and in some cases some advanced commands.

Disable firewall:
netsh firewall set opmode disable

Server Core can be managed by using MMCs from a remote server. However with the firewall being on by default you will have to allow these tools to work remotely. The first thing to note here is how to translate the MMC Snap-in to Windows Firewall Rule Group.

MMC Snap-in - Event Viewer
Windows Firewall Rule Group - Remote Event Log Management

MMC Snap-in - Services
Windows Firewall Rule Group - Remote Services ManagementMMC Snap-in - Shared Folders
Windows Firewall Rule Group - File and Printer Sharing

MMC Snap-in - Task Scheduler
Windows Firewall Rule Group - Remote Scheduled Tasks Management

MMC Snap-in - Reliability and Performance
Windows Firewall Rule Group - Performance Logs and Alerts
Windows Firewall Rule Group - File and Printer Sharing

MMC Snap-in - Disk Management
Windows Firewall Rule Group - Remote Volume Management

MMC Snap-in - Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
Windows Firewall Rule Group - Windows Firewall Remote Management

To enable all of these rules follow use this command:
Netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=“remote administration” new enable=yes

To enable specific commands follow this format:
Netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=“” new enable=yes

Server Core Common Domain Management Commands

Join a domain:
netdom join ComputerName /domain:DomainName /userd:UserName /passwordd:*
Yes, /passwordd:*
needs to have that second d at the end of it.

Remove from domain:
netdom remove

Rename a Domain Member:
netdom renamecomputer %computername% /NewName: /userd: /passwordd:*

Rename Administrator:
wmic UserAccount where Name="Administrator" call Rename Name="new-name"

Add User to a Local Group
net localgroup GroupName /add \

Remove User from a Local Group
net localgroup GroupName /delete \

Confirm Domain and/ New Computer name
Set

Update User Passwords:
Net user [/domain] *

Server Core Common Server Management Commands

Toggle Remote Desktop on and off:
Cscript \windows\system32\scregedit.wsf /ar 0

Enable reduced security for RDP connections:
Cscript \windows\system32\scregedit.wsf /cs 0

Active Server Core:
Local method - Slmgr.vbs –ato
Remote method - Cscript windows\system32\slmgr.vbsServerName UserName password:-ato

Rename a Stand-Alone Member:
netdom renamecomputer /NewName:

List of installed patches:
wmic qfe list

Install Updates:
wusa .msu /quiet

Configure for AutoUpdates:
cscript scregedit.wsf /AU /4

Disable AutoUpdates:
cscript scregedit.wsf /AU /1

View AutoUpdate Setting:
cscript scregedit.wsf /AU /v

Configure the Page File:
wmic pagefileset where name=”” set InitialSize=,MaximumSize=

Configure a Proxy Server: (Server Core cannot use a proxy that requires a proxy)
netsh Winhttp set proxy :

All your favorite TCP/IP commands work including the following:
IPConfig
ARP
Ping
PathPing
TraceRT
Route
NSLookup
NetStat
NBTStat

List Running Services:
sc query

Start and/or Stop a Service:
sc start
sc stop

Task Manager: (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
taskmgr

Manage Disk Volumes:
Diskpart /?

Defrag a Volume:
defrag /?

Change Time and Time Zone:
control timedate.cpl

Change the Desktop Resolution: (requires you to log off and back on)
Regedit - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video
\0000\DefaultSettings.XResolution
\0000\DefaultSettings.YResolution

Display the Time in the Command Prompt:
prompt [$t]$s$p$g

Log off:
shutdown /l

Restart Now:
shutdown /r /t 0

To get the Roles and Features installed you are going to need to use the ocsetup.exe command. The OC is short for Optional Components. The most important thing to remember about this command is that IT IS CASE SENSITIVE!!! As a best practice you should always use the /w switch with ocsetup.exe as this will hold the Command Prompt from being active (when you can type again) until the setup is complete. Below you will find a list of the commands that are required to install Roles and Features on Server Core.

DNS
start /w ocsetup DNS-Server-Core-Role

DHCP
start /w ocsetup DHCPServerCore

File Services (Server service is installed by default) but there are other role features

File Replication Service
start /w ocsetup FRS-Infrastructure

Distributed File System
start /w ocsetup DFSN-Server

Distributed File System Replication
start /w ocsetup DFSR-Infrastructure-ServerEdition

Services for Network File System (NFS)
start /w ocsetup ServerForNFS-Base
start /w ocsetup ClientForNFS-Base

Hyper V
start /w ocsetup Microsoft-Hyper-V

Print Server feature
start /w ocsetup Printing-ServerCore-Role

Line Printer Daemon (LPD) service
start /w ocsetup Printing-LPDPrintService

Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services
start /w ocsetup DirectoryServices-ADAM-ServerCore

Active Directory Domain Services
dcpromo /unattend:

Streaming Media Services
Follow directions found in Article ID 934518

IIS
start /w pkgmgr /iu:IIS-WebServerRole;WAS-WindowsActivationService;WAS-ProcessModel
To uninstall IIS use the following command
start /w pkgmgr /uu:IIS-WebServerRole;WAS-WindowsActivationService;WAS-ProcessModel

NOTE: If you need to install a Role that you installed with ocsetup all you need to do is to append the commands above with /uninstall.

Now let's take a look at how we install Features on Server Core:

Microsoft Failover Clustering
start /w ocsetup FailoverCluster-Core

Network Load Balancing
start /w ocsetup NetworkLoadBalancingHeadlessServer

Subsystem for UNIX-based applications
start /w ocsetup SUACore

Multipath IO
start /w ocsetup MultipathIo

Removable Storage
start /w ocsetup Microsoft-Windows-RemovableStorageManagementCore

Bitlocker Drive Encryption
start /w ocsetup BitLocker

Backup
start /w ocsetup WindowsServerBackup

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
start /w ocsetup SNMP-SC

Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)
start /w ocsetup WINS-SC

Telnet client
start /w ocsetup TelnetClient

NOTE: If you need to install a Feature that you installed with ocsetup all you need to do is to append the commands above with /uninstall.

Having the Role or Feature installed doesn't do much without going in and configuring the service. The quick and easy way to manage these Roles and Features is to have either a dedicated Terminal Server have the AdminPak or Remote Server Administrative Tools (RSAT) installed or just install those same tools on XP or Vista.

Author : shankar

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