Installation of Windows Server 2008

Installing Windows Server is not a big deal at all. Since Windows 95 to windows server 2008 it is completely a  self education for us. No one needs any sort of assistance until we make some custom changes.

You might be thinking if it is self educated task then why we need an article on this part. To be frank with you all I would like to keep as much information regarding this upcoming technology right from the scratch to advance level. And another reason is that when we install Windows 2008 in Vmware Machine you will face network connectivity issue like Duplicate Ip address or Limited Network Connectivity. Possible suggestion recommended by expert is have ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000" value in .vmx file. In Vmware 6.0 edition I noticed that this value is already exist. But it is very important to check the virtual network adapter because by default it will select Bridged Adpater instead of that we need to have local-host only (which is a trick for me)

Some time Local-host virtual adapter doesn’t seem to connect: figure1


So in this situation you can have custom virtual adapter setting: Figure 2


Ok I created a new virtual machine for windows server 2008 selecting host-only options. My goal here is to install windows server 2008 and it should communicate with my current windows 2003 Domain controller and Dns Server.

Preinstallation information:

• Minimum: 1 GHz (for x86 processors) or 1.4 GHz (for x64 processors)
                   Recommended: 2 GHz or faster
                  Note: An Intel Itanium 2 processor is required for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems.
• RAM
            Minimum: 512 MB
            Recommended: 2 GB or more
            Maximum (32-bit systems): 4 GB (for Windows Server 2008 Standard) or  64GB (for Windows Server 2008 Enterprise or Windows Server 2008 Datacenter)
            Maximum (64-bit systems): 32 GB (for Windows Server 2008 Standard) or 2 TB (for Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, Windows Server 2008 Datacenter, or Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems)

• Disk space requirements
            The following are the approximate disk space requirements for the system partition. Itanium-based and x64-based operating systems will vary from these estimates. Additional disk space may be required if you install the system over a network. For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=99285.
            Minimum: 10 GB 
            Recommended: 40 GB or more
            Note - Computers with more than 16 GB of RAM will require more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files.

• DVD-ROM drive
• Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitor
• Keyboard and Microsoft mouse (or other compatible pointing device)

Important information for x64-based operating systems:
• Ensure that you have updated and digitally signed kernel-mode drivers for x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008. (These include the 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2008 except for Windows Server°2008 for Itanium-Based Systems.)
•  If you are installing plug and play device which is not digitally signed you may receive a warning message or else it won’t upload so in this scenario you need to disable Driver Signature Enforcement.
For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=66577.
• Before you install Windows Server 2008 - Check the application compatibility
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=29880

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Edition:

• Windows Server 2008 Standard
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
• Windows Web Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based System
• Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V
• Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V

To know more about more about the above edition: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Edition Summaries

When you run the window server 2008 setup, it will load the windows files (it will run for few seconds)
Next screen you will get is, to update the language for windows server 2008, Time and currency format and keyboard or input methods. Figure 3

Let it be the default one, if you want to change you can change it and hit next

After configuring your language mode for OS the next screen which will appear is to install the window OS, simply click on Arrow Mark – Figure 4

Then next thing we need to do is type the product key and hit next: Figure 5

The next screen will give you the option of selecting the operating system – This is a new feature in windows server 2008 family i.e. either you can go for windows server 2008 enterprise (full installation) or server core installation.

Windows Server 2008 VERSION (Full Installation) : This option installs the complete installation of Windows Server 2008. This installation includes the entire user interface, and it supports all of the server roles.

Windows Server 2008 VERSION (Server Core Installation) : This option installs a minimal server installation of Windows Server 2008, which you can use to run supported server roles. For a complete list of server roles available in Server Core installations, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=99300.

When you select this option (server core installation), Setup will install only the files that are required for these server roles to function. For example, the traditional Windows interface will not be installed-you configure and manage the server locally from the command prompt. You should consider this option because it will reduce the servicing and management requirements and the attack surface of your server.
Note : For more information about the Server Core installation option, including detailed procedures for installing and managing server roles and features, see the step-by-step guide (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=87369).
See the figure 6:

Note : For each and every step at the bottom of the screen you will able to see the progress bar and even correct status Figure 7
 

If you see the above screen currently we are in the part1 – Collecting the information somewhere at 20% of completion and part2 – is installing windows

Once you click next as per the figure6 the next screen will be accepting the EULA : Figure 8
 

After selecting the license terms we will get an option on type of installation – basically we will get two types – inplace upgrade and custom (which will be clean installation) if it is fresh installation inplace upgrade will be disabled and only option left is custom advanced so select that one by simply double clicking the custom. Figure 9
 

After selecting Custom (Advanced) its time to select disk to save the OS file. Select the appropriate partition and proceed further. Figure 10
 

After selecting disk partition it will complete the part 1 process that is collecting the information. Now the next thing it will install windows operating system which is a part 2 process. During the course of installing windows it will pass through 5 steps i.e
 Copying files (Hardly a minute process)
 Expanding files (It depends upon the server configuration)
 Installing Features
 Installing Updates
 Completing Installation
Figure 11:
 

After installing features & updates, it will take a reboot of the server and then it will setup your computer. And then once again it will take a reboot of the server.

You might not notice that during the installation process it hasn’t asked for computer name nor password for Administrator. However once your installation process complete it will prompt to create a new password for administrator before logging
Figure 12:
 

Once you click on OK, it will prompt you to give a new password Figure 13:
 

Once you loggin,  here is the first screen you will see : Figure 14:
 

Here I would like to show you many features but however my scope is to connect to my existing domain controller. So I will be focused on the network connectivity part, later I will publish article on each server role basis.
Now let me do ipconfig Figure 15:
 

Have noticed that we have got IPv6 Protocol along with IPv4. (this is new protocol added in windows 2008 family.
Now let’s see the local area connection. In order to do that we have many ways but however I would like to go with Initial configuration Task Figure 16:
 

If you see the above figure it has automatically set its own computer name and ip address details like ipv4 address is assigned by dhcp and ipv6 enabled. I am going to change the ip address of IPv4 by click on configure networking. Figure 17
 

Now the next thing I would like to change is my computer name so for that I will click on start => right click computer => Properties and then click on Change Setting Figure 18:
 

Once you change your computer name then it will prompt you to reboot the server and then you can again go back to the same location as per the figure 17 to make this sever as part of the domain (Member Server)
Note – If you are installing in Vmware machine please install Vmware software.

I hope that this article is being very informative for you all. Some the information regarding prerequisite information and hardware requirement I took from help bar of windows server 2008. If you would like to know more about this server details please go through the help link in the windows server 2008

Upcoming Article:
Installation of Exchange 2007 on windows server 2008 and promoting your windows 2008 member server as domain controller and then demoting the windows 2003 domain controller.

Thank you for your time in this matter. Please let me know if i am missing out any important information.