Hands on with the Windows Server 8 Beta – Core Installation

I ran up a default installation, which happens to be Server Core, no Windows Explorer!

After completing the install, you will be required to change the Administrator password:

Then you will be presented with the user interface:

The first command I tried was “PowerShell” and it worked. Just like in the previous version, PowerShell is available on Server core. Time to familiarise myself with some of the new cmdlets.

If you remember oobe.exe from Windows Server 2008 (also called “Initial Configuration”), it provided a list of commonly configured settings on a new server. I will use it as a guide to configure Windows Server 8 Core.

Alright, first on the list, setting the product key.

Wow! Honestly, could that be any easier?

Let’s try and set the date/time next:

Also very easy, there could still be a PowerShell cmdlet for this, but the Control Panel applet will do for now…

Next, lets try and rename the computer.

Is that easier than using the GUI? I think so! Ok, restart time.

Logon screen:

Alright, all logged in, back to PowerShell.

Alright, let’s enable remote desktop… Remote Desktop really isn’t needed on Window Server these days, but I want to see how to enable it regardless! Remote Shell is where it’s at!

Huh? None of those cmdlets scream “enable remote desktop”. Alright let’s use sconfig!

Turns out there are a few other things I might want to set in sconfig, I will do those and then exit.

System Centre Operations Manager 2012–Lab Installation

First, I have to check to make sure I have all the prerequisite infrastructure in-place:

• Domain Controller – SCOM Server joined to domain
• SQL Server 2008 R2 – Installed with SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS collation and Full Text Indexing
  
  
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 installed on the SCOM Server

Now I will install the remainder of the prerequisites on the SCOM Server:

• Windows pre-requisites – Installed via PowerShell

Import-Module ServerManager Add-WindowsFeature Web-Static-Content,Web-Default-Doc,Web-Dir-Browsing,Web-Http-Errors,Web-Http-Logging,Web-Request-Monitor,Web-Filtering,Web-Static-Content,Web-Server,Web-Metabase,Web-Asp-Net,Web-Windows-Auth,Web-Stat-Compression

• .Net 4.0

Ensure the following are allowed:

System Centre 2012 Setup Wizard

I will be installing the Management Server, Management Console and Web Console

Default directory

Pays to be prepared I guess

First server, so I’ve entered in the new Management Group Name

Accept EULA

Connect to SQL for the Operational Database

Connect to SQL for the Data Warehouse Database

I’ve decided against SSL for the lab environment

Mixed mode seems logical to me

All Domain Admin, just to make the install easier, I will click the link in the bottom left if I install in a production environment

Expected warning about being security silly.

Happy to help.

Yep, update automagically please.

Do it!

System Centre 2012–Introduction to Operations Manager

Introduction

Operations Manager is software that helps you monitor devices on a network. Operations Manager can manage a variety of devices using client-based monitoring or client-less monitoring. Operations Manager is made up of the following components:

• Management Server – Provides a front-end to the database and communicates with agents
• Operational Database – Short-term storage of management data
• Data Warehouse Database – Long term storage of management data
• Reporting Server – Builds and presents reports
• Agents – A service that is installed on a computer the collects and analyses data

All components can be installed on a single server or the components can be on separate servers. Obviously, the single-server environment is designed for pre-production environments.

More than one Management Server can be installed and they will automatically load-balance. A specialised type of Management Server called a Gateway Server provides management of untrusted domains.

Management Packs are used to define what information is collected for a specific application or service. Agents determine which Management Packs are applicable to a computer immediately after being installed.

Next up, I will install Operations Manager.

New Computer Build

I’ve built myself a new high-spec PC. The components list is:

• Motherboard : GA-Z68XP-UD4
• CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32GB
• Video Card: ASUS ENGTX570
• SSD: OCZ Vertex 3
• Case: Cooler Master CM690 II

Now here are the build photos, at the bottom you will find the Windows Experience Index for comparison sake.

Boxes:

Case:

Power Supply Install:

 

Motherboard Install:

CPU Install:

Memory Install:

 

 

Video Card Unboxing and Install:

(This step gets a few extra photos because of the extra effort ASUS went to, to present their product nicely)

 

 

 

 

SSD Install:

Internal Connectors:

 

 

Boot to BIOS initial configuration:

Windows Experience Index: