In this article, we will look at the basic settings of Windows Server 2016, which are configured immediately after the system installation and are usually mandatory for use. You can read about how to install Windows Server 2016 in our previous article.
So, let’s get started. First, you need to set a name for our server. To do this, go to system properties => change settings => change. Set the “Computer Name” and, if necessary, the workgroup name. After changing the settings, you need to reboot.
Next, we need to configure network settings. If your server is connected to a router, set the gateway IP, enter a static address, which is mandatory for the server, and the subnet mask. You can find information about IP addresses in your local network using the “ipconfig” command in the command prompt. Examples are shown in the screenshots below; your IP addresses will differ.
Go to the network connection settings:
Go to the properties of the IPv4 item.
And enter the static IP addresses here. Then check “Validate settings upon exit” to save the settings.
Finally, let’s move on to the most important settings, Active Directory. Start menu => Server Manager.
In the dashboard => Add roles and features.
In the installation type, select “Role-based or feature-based installation.”
Select the desired server in the poo, it will have the name you assigned earlier.
In the server roles, select the following standard roles. You can select additional roles as needed for your tasks.
In the features, leave the following items by default. We recommend that you additionally install the “Wireless LAN Service” since without this service you cannot install a Wi-Fi adapter and configure a wireless network on the server.
In the role services, select the following items. Later in the instructions, we will license the terminal server.
Next, leave everything as default (if you do not need to install anything additionally). Proceed to the “Confirmation” step and install.
After the services are installed, you need to reboot.
Let’s proceed with DNS settings. In Active Directory, click on the flag at the top right and then go to the settings to promote this server to a domain controller.
Select “Add a new forest” and create a name for your domain. In our example, it will be “softcomputers”.
Leave the settings by default. You only need to create a password for your domain.
Run the check. If you did everything correctly, everything should install properly.
After installation and reboot, go to the “Tools” menu => DNS.
Expand the DNS tree => “Your server name” => Forward Lookup Zones => Reverse Lookup Zones => Right-click on this item and “New zone”.
Select “Primary zone” and follow the screenshots below.
At this point, choose the range of your local network. In our example, it will be 192.168.0. Your range may differ (see cmd => ipconfig).
DNS settings are now complete. Let’s proceed with DHCP settings. Go to Active Directory, and in the flag at the top right, select the appropriate setting.
After creating DHCP, go to the tools menu => DHCP to configure it.
In the DHCP tree => Your server => IPv4 => Right-click => Create a scope.
Set the name of the new scope. My will be “basic”.
Next, create a new IP address range that the server will distribute to the local network. In our example, it is the new range 192.168.1. You can create any other range as you see fit.
Next, there will be a menu for excluding ranges. If you need to exclude something, you can do it in this menu; if not, skip it.
Next, in the DHCP tree => Server name => Scope => Address Pool – a new range will be created.
Next, move on to creating and licensing the terminal server. This is necessary for users to connect via RDP to the server with their account. (We will consider user accounts in this instruction below).
Go to “Control Panel” => Administrative Tools => Remote Desktop Services => Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
Select “All Servers”, then find your server name in the list => right-click on this item => Activate Server.
Go to the “Activation Wizard”.
Select “Automatic”.
Then optionally enter your first and last name, the name of your organization, and the country where the server is located.
Let’s proceed with the licensing itself after registration above. You need a product key to license the terminal server – CAL (Client Access License) in our case. It allows 50 users (clients) to connect via RDP to the server. You can purchase the product key for this function in our online store on the next page.
Select “License pack (Retail Purchase)” => Next.
Enter the product key you purchased.
Next, depending on the license, it may be automatically set for 50 users, or you may need to specify it manually as shown in the screenshot below. (specifying more users than the license allows will simply not activate this setting). Select “Per User” as the license type.
Next, go to the local group policy editor search => gpedit.msc => Computer Configuration => Administrative Templates => Windows Components => Remote Desktop Services => Remote Desktop Session Host => Licensing.
Go to “Use the specified Remote Desktop license servers” and enter the name of your server or its IP in the field.
Then go to “Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode” and select “Per User” from the drop-down menu.
After that, return to the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager and check if the server is activated. If so, everything is fine. However, you may still see a “yellow warning” on the server icon. To troubleshoot issues, go to “Review”. In this “Review” menu, there may be items to mark, click the appropriate buttons if you have them.
The RDP settings are now complete. Now need to create the first user who will connect via RDP to this server.
Active Directory => Tools => Active Directory Users and Computers.
In the right list, select your server => Right-click => New => Organizational Unit. In this menu, we will create a pool containing the list of our users.
Assign it an appropriate name. For safety, check the box to protect from accidental deletion.
Then, in the newly created folder on the left list => Right-click => New => User.
Optionally enter the user’s full name and mandatory login name, preferably in Latin script.
In the next window, set the user’s password with the appropriate checkboxes.
In the “Users” menu, you can manage users, delete them, change their passwords, etc. Now our new user “Jack Jackson” can log in via the server’s IP or its name in RDP while being on the same local network with the server or if added to the server’s domain.
This concludes the settings. We have covered the most important aspects of setting up and licensing Windows Server 2016. Follow our blog SoftComputers for more useful content! 🙂
This article describes how to order and use Windows Server 2016.
DEPRECATED We do not offer Windows Server 2016 for new orders.
We offer Microsoft Windows Server 2016 as an add-on to your dedicated server at favorable rates.
Ordering the Windows add-on
To install Windows Server 2016 on your server, please order the corresponding Add-on via the client’s area. Here you will also find the terms and conditions.
Following the order, installation is carried out on your server automatically. You will receive notification by email once this has been successfully completed.
Remote Desktop access
Subsequently, it is possible for you to connect to your server with full Administrator rights using a Remote Desktop client. Most Windows variants are delivered with a Remote Desktop (rdp) client, found under Start -> Program -> Accessories. On Linux, please install the xfreerdp package or one of the many alternatives. Windows is delivered with the program mstsc though alternatives such as Terminals can be used.
To log in, please use the user name Administrator and the password you chose when ordering the add-on.
Additional RDP licenses (Per User) can be ordered via a Support Request: Windows Server Remotedesktopservices
Change password with first access
The first time you login, Windows will ask you to change your initial password. This is for server security reasons. Please choose a good password that is not easy to guess.
Please note that the first login does not allow network level authentication. For more information, please see Changing the Windows password during first login.
Software RAID 1 / drive mirroring
Windows 2016 enables you to join several installed drives into a Software RAID 1 (mirroring), so that in the event of one drive failing, all data are still stored on the second drive.
When you order a Windows server from us, it is automatically equipped with mirroring if there are two equal size drives.
Setting up a software RAID in Windows 2016 is similar to setting it up in Windows 2012 and 2008 R2. Instructions on how to set up a Software RAID in Windows Server 2016 can be found here: Windows Server software RAID
Windows Recovery Environment / Recovery Console
Should the Boot loader or Boot sector need to be repaired or should, for example, a complete backup of a previously made backup be loaded from the Storage Box, the Windows Recovery Console (Recovery Environment / RE) is useful.
Legacy
First, you should order a KVM remote console and ask to have the Windows Recovery Environment pre-loaded, so that you have direct access to your server monitor and keyboard. The technicians will restart the server and it will boot the Windows RE via the network. As soon as Windows has loaded, a graphical interface will appear with instructions for you to follow.
UEFI
With an UEFI installation the Windows Recovery Environment can not be loaded via PXE. In this case, the technicians provide a KVM Console with a USB stick with Windows RE.
Frequently asked questions / FAQ
Forgotten password
If you have forgotten your Administrator password, you can have your password reset via a Support Request in the client’s area.
Reset service
The behavior of Windows is such that CTRL+ALT+DEL only triggers the Authentication Dialogue Box. Consequently, the Send CTRL+ALT+DEL function of our Reset Service is unfortunately not able to restart the server at this point. A hardware reset should, however, still work as intended.
Windows Update Service
For technical reasons, the Windows Update Service for our Windows Installations is set so that updates can only be downloaded and not installed.
In order to change this, you need to adjust the Registry. To start this, enter the command regedit in the Run dialogue.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Polices\\Microsoft\\Windows\\WindowsUpdate\\AU and set the AUOptions key to 5.
Now you can adjust the update function in the control panel.
Windows Backup Service
Should the Windows Backup Service (feature) need to be used together with a Storage Box, a user must be set up on the local system, which has the same name as the Backup Account. This user should then be entered as a member into the Backup Operators group.
Use of own licenses
We take part in the Microsoft SPLA Program. The Windows License made available to us is thus an SPLA License. The combining of clients´ own Microsoft licenses with the SPLA License would have to be put in writing (contract), as the client would have to commission to host the product. Furthermore, the deployment of an own Microsoft license would not be possible in every case (e.g. for terminal server licenses). Therefore, in view of the increased administrative time and effort that would be involved, we have chosen not to permit the combining of licenses. Hence, the use of own Microsoft licenses on a Windows operating system leased from us is not possible.
However, a client is able to install their own Windows version, using their own license. It is possible to install Windows via a KVM Console.
Included license for Hyper-V in the Standard Edition
As part of our SPLA license you have an additional license for use on a Hyper-V instance when using the Standard Edition. You can use this as follows:
- Order an additional single IP via the client’s area
- Make a note of the virtual MAC
- Create a new instance
- Add the Legacy Network Adapter and assign the MAC
- Start the instance and let it boot via PXE
- If successful the PXE Boot Menu will appear (blue logo)
- Activate the Windows installation via the client’s area for the additional IP
- Boot the instance via PXE again, and instead of the menu the installation of Windows is started. Once the standard login screen appears you can use the instance
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Windows Windows Server 2016 installation is one of the key tasks in the network. As an administrator you should know how to install and configure Windows server. To start administrating your network, surely you first need to install Windows server and configure it. Before installing Windows server make a plan for the installation. Surely you can plug installation media (DVD, USB flash, etc) to the server and click on next button several times. Then you’re done and Windows server is installed. But that doesn’t work surely.
Make a plan
Choose an appropriate edition of the Windows server. An edition of Windows server supports specific role/roles that others doesn’t support. Think of your present needs and what you may need in the future. How many virtual machines (VM) do you need? How many VMs you may need in the future? Does your network need Web server now? What about the future? How many users work in your network? They are all the things that you should pay attention to while making a good plan for Windows server installation.
If you work on your personal lab, click on the link below to learn how to install Windows server 2016 on VMware Workstation.
- Install Windows Server 2016 on VMware Step by Step
Prepare the installation media (DVD, USB flash, etc) and start the installation process. If you don’t have the Windows Server 2016 installation software, click here and download the software from Microsoft website.
1. Plug the Windows Server 2016 boot drive (DVD, USB) to the computer and boot your computer. When the Windows Setup page appears, select your language, time format and keyboard then click on Next button.
2. Now click on Install now button to start the installation process.
3. Select the appropriate version of the windows server that meets your organization’s needs then click Next. Make sure that you’ve chosen an appropriate edition of Windows server.
4. Put a check mark in the box next to the I accept license terms and click on the Next button. License term is about the way you want to buy license for your server from Microsoft.
5. Select the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option for clean installation. Clean installation is the term used against upgrade. When you upgrade a Windows server you can have your settings, apps, etc from previous version of Windows. When you do the clean installation you can’t have the settings, apps, etc.
6. Select the hard drive that you want to install the windows server on, then click on the New button to do the partitions.
7. After clicking on the New button, some options appear. Specify the amount of the drive based on MB and click on the Apply button. A warning appears which wants you to give the permission to system to create a drive for system files. Click on ok button, if you want to add more drives do this process again. When finished hit Next.
8. After clicking Next the System starts coping all the files from the external drive to internal hard drive. It will take a while so be patient. Be aware that your system will be restarted several times.
9. When the system copied all the files and restarted, finalize your task by entering the required details. Type complex password (composed of uppercase, lowercase, symbol and numbers) twice in the boxes and click on the Finish button. User name is Administrator by default.
10. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del buttons to jump start the screen to a login page and inside the box below the administrator user name, enter the password and press Enter button from the keyboard to sign in the Windows.
11. After you logged in the Windows you see the some thing like the picture below. Welcome to Windows Server 2016.
Conclusion
Finally, we’ve installed the Windows Server 2016 successfully and is ready to work. When Windows installed you can’t go back and for example change the edition. If so, do the clean installation again. For any question leave a comment below. I answer your questions as soon as possible.
Now you need to initially configure Windows Server. Click on the link below to learn how to do the initial configurations.
- Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2016 step by step
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Windows Server 2016 Core Installation & Configuration
This blog will guide you through the deployment of Microsoft Windows Server 2016 core version. Paper converting machine company is constantly developing and applying new technology to improve design, maximize machine efficiency, reduce maintenance cost, and downtime. During the installation process, Windows Server 2016 comes in standard and datacenter editions and offers several types of installation for both editions: Desktop Experience (full GUI mode), Core (no GUI mode).We now will go through the installation and same configuration here.
After booting the server installation from an ISO file, you will have to choose the installation language and type. From the list of options, the one you need is a Windows Server 2016 Core Datacenter. We will choose the following options:
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- Accept the license agreement
- Choose custom install
- Select the target hard disk drive on which we want to install Windows Server 2016 Core
- Proceed with the Installation
After the initial installation of Windows Server 2016 Core Datacenter, we will first be asked to change the Administrator password. Enter “Ok” here.
The main feature of Windows Server Core version is that, you can see the command line window after the boot session. It’s the main tool to configure and manage the Core server. To begin the server configuration, we need to enter the “Sconfig” command.
Change Computer name:
The current computer name will be displayed as the default server name.
- Type 2 and press ENTER to change the computer name
- Type a new computer name, and then press ENTER
- You are prompted with “the computer needs to be restarted in order to complete the operation successfully” Click OK
- You now will be prompted with “you must restart your computer to apply these changes. Restart now?” Click “Yes” to restart
Enabling Remote Desktop:
The current status of remote desktop settings is displayed in the default Server Configuration. You can configure the following Remote Desktop settings by accessing the Remote Desktop in option 7 of the main menu and following the instructions on screen.
- enable Remote Desktop for Clients running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication
- enable Remote Desktop for clients running any version of Remote Desktop
Network Settings:
You can configure the IP address to be assigned automatically by a DHCP server or you can assign a static IP address manually.
- Type 8 for configuring the settings and press ENTER
- You are presented with a list of available network adapters that are attached to the server
- Type 1, the index number of the adapter that you want to configure, and then press ENTER
- You are presented with the current configuration for the network adapter that you selected
- Type 1 now and press ENTER to configure the IP address for the selected network adapter
Select option: 1, Type S, and then press ENTER to manually assign a static IP to the network adapter.
- Type the static IP address, and then press ENTER
- Type the Subnet mask, and then press ENTER
- Type the default gateway, and then press ENTER
Select Option: 2 press ENTER.
Type the preferred DNS server, and then press ENTER.
You are prompted with “Preferred DNS server set.” Click OK.
Type the alternate DNS server, and then press ENTER.
You are prompted with “Alternate DNS Server set.” Click OK.
You can modify other settings at your discretion. Make sure the Windows license is activated.
ISCSI Shared Storage Connect:
You need to connect an ISCSI shared storage to your Windows Server 2016 Core server. First you’ve got to open the command prompt and open Microsoft ISCSI initiator by entering “iscsicpl” into the command line and connect your storage via the iscsi target storage server IP address.
SCSI Storage Disk Format Steps:
There are several commands to open the command prompt and type “diskpart” will come in handy in this case. Use “list disk” to see all the disks available on the server, “online disk” and “attributes disk clear” commands to bring the disk online and check if the partition is writable.
Next command is “list partition” to see available disk partitions under a server. Choose the partition you need with the “select partition 1”. The only few things left to do are to format the partition with “format fs=NTFS”, and assign a letter on the partition by entering “assign letter=E” command.
Conclusion:
As a result, you have the storage connected to your Windows Server 2016 Core.This blog will guide you through the deployment of Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Core version, covering the all steps from an initial installation and its configuration.
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When looking to install Microsoft Hyper-V, you need to install the Hyper-V role on Window Server. One option is to use the GUI to run and manage your server and VMs. However, in certain situations, you can save resources by running Windows Server in command line (without GUI).
To install the Hyper-V role, you need to install the Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Server Core as your operating system (OS) platform. For the purposes of this walkthrough, we are using the Datacenter edition of Windows Server, as it unlocks the most powerful enterprise features for Hyper-V. Most enterprises use Windows Server Datacenter or Windows Server Standard because of the Windows licensing advantages. Note that the steps for other editions will differ.
Hyper-V Server is basically Windows Server Core with the Hyper-V role already installed. Thus, simply installing Hyper-V Server can get you up and running with the hypervisor for free. However, it may be better to install Hyper-V on Windows Server for advanced functionality if you have a license. In this case, you should install the OS first and then enable the Hyper-V role. Let’s cover how to install Windows Server 2016 Core and configuration.
Windows Server 2016 ISO Download
To start, you need to download the ISO file. You need MSDN or any other login with Microsoft to download the Windows Server 2016 ISO. However, if you don’t have that, you can download an evaluation copy of Windows Server 2016 from the TechNet Evaluation Center on the Windows Server 2016 download page. The TechNet evaluation copy is a time-limited 180-day version of Windows Server 2016 intended for trial purposes. You are asked to create an account with Microsoft before getting the Windows Server 2016 ISO download link.
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Server Core Installation
You need to write the ISO image to a DVD disc or USB flash drive. Insert this medium into your computer and boot from this medium to start Windows Server installation.
When installing the Windows Server 2016 OS, you can choose to install the operating system alone, which is a Server Core installation. Server Core is a minimal installation without a graphical interface or management tools. This is the preferred installation method for use in a production environment over the Desktop Experience, which is the regular GUI Windows Server OS.
To demonstrate the installation process for a single standalone Hyper-V host, we use the Server Core installation of Windows Server 2016 Datacenter.
Note: For Windows Server 2016 Datacenter with the graphical user interface (GUI), you can read our blog post on running Hyper-V virtual machines (VMs).
Start by choosing Windows Server 2016 Datacenter in the list with Windows Server editions to install Server Core after you boot from the installation medium. See the screenshot of the Windows Server 2016 installer below with the OS list.
The Windows Server 2016 Core installation is similar to any other Windows Server installation. Go through the steps in the setup wizard:
- Accept the license agreement.
- Choose Custom Install.
- Select the target hard drive on which you want to install Windows.
- Proceed with the installation.
- Once the Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Server Core installation process is complete, you are asked to change the Administrator password. Press Enter.
- Once you set the password, press Enter (OK) to continue.
You have finished the Windows Server installation. Now you need to configure the operating system.
Windows Server 2016 OS Configuration
You now reach a CMD command prompt and no visible menu. It is recommended that you configure network settings for your Windows Server 2016 setup.
Configuring network settings
Network settings and most other settings in Windows Server 2016 Core are configured in the console interface:
- Type sconfig in the command prompt to launch the Server Core configuration utility.
- You are then presented with the Server Configuration menu.
- Type 8 and press Enter to open Network Settings and launch the network configuration menu. It is recommended that you assign a static IP address for Windows Server 2016 setup.
- Choose the network adapter you want to configure. Type the appropriate number and press Enter. You need to always press Enter after entering a value in this configuration menu.
- Now you should see the menu with four entries:
- Set Network Adapter Address
- Set DNS Servers
- Clear DNS Server Settings
- Return to Main Menu
- Type 1 to set the IP address, subnet, and gateway.
- Type S to use the static IP address configuration.
- Enter the appropriate values to meet your network configuration. Once done, you are returned to the previous Network Adapter Settings menu with four entries.
- Type 2 to set DNS servers for the network configuration.
- Enter a new preferred DNS server and alternate DNS server.
Once done, you are returned back to the previous Network Adapter Settings menu.
After configuring the network settings, you should test network connectivity. You can use option 15, Exit to Command Line. This takes you to the cmd prompt, where you can ping your gateway, DNS server, etc.
Changing the computer name
Now let’s run the sconfig command in cmd to open the Server Configuration menu again. You should join a Windows domain and change the computer name. Using an Active Directory domain with a domain controller allows you to manage all Windows machines centrally.
Do the following steps to change the computer name:
- Choose 2 in the Server Configuration menu.
- Enter a new computer name.
- Restart the computer to apply the changes.
Changing Domain/Workgroup options
Open the Server Configuration menu after computer restart (sconfig).
Do the following steps to change the Domain/Workgroup settings:
- Choose the 1) Domain/Workgroup option in the Server Configuration menu.
- Type D to join a domain.
- Enter the domain name.
- You are asked to provide the credentials of a user who has permissions for the needed domain.
- Once you have set up the domain configuration, reboot your Windows Server machine.
After the reboot, you have a functioning Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Server Core and are ready to install the Hyper-V server role.
You can also read about the difference between the GUI and Core Windows Server 2016 installation and configuration to run Hyper-V.
Conclusion
Windows Server installation is not a difficult process. Installing the core version of Windows Server 2016 Datacenter allows you to reduce the footprint and related overhead, as well as install the Hyper-V role on the Windows Server to run VMs. As for the core version, Windows Server 2016 setup is performed mostly in the command line interface.
If you use Hyper-V, don’t forget to back up virtual machines. Download NAKIVO Backup & Replication to protect your physical and virtual environments. The NAKIVO solution supports physical Windows Server backup, Active Directory backup, Hyper-V VM backup and more.