MCSA Guide to Installing and
Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
Chapter 2
Installing Windows Server 2012/R2
Installing the First Server in a New
Network
• Hardware considerations:
– CPU architecture: AMD or Intel?
– Workstation or Server line processor: server
supports up to 64 physical CPUs
– Total number of physical processors
– Number of cores in each processor: multicore CPUs
aren’t necessarily as good as multiple physical
processors
– 32-bit versus 64-bit processors: Microsoft no longer
makes a 32-bit version of its server OS
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
2
Installing the First Server in a New
Network
• Hardware considerations (cont’d):
– Virtualization extensions: CPU needs to support this
if you want to run Hyper-V
– Disk subsystem: do research on current drive
technology and your network’s needs beforehand
– Hot-add/hot-replace features; ability to add memory
or CPU without shutting down the system
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
3
Installing the First Server in a New
Network
• Other things to consider:
– Name of the server
• Must be unique and include some description, like
location or primary purpose
– Network protocols
• Windows installs both TCP/IPv4 and TCP/IPv6 by
default in Windows Server 2012/R2
• If you need support for older protocols, such as
IPX/SPX, you need to find a third party solution
– IP Address
• Windows Server 2012/R2 uses automatic IP
addressing, but a server should have a static IP
address
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
4
Installing the First Server in a New
Network
• Other things to consider (cont’d):
– Time zone
• Important for user authentication
– Workgroup or domain
• Workgroup is more suitable for smaller environments,
domain provides more advantages
– Server roles
• Will determine how the server is used and what
network services will be available to users
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
5
Performing a Clean Installation
• Clean installation - one in which the OS is installed
on a new disk partition and isn’t an upgrade from a
previous version of Windows
• Usually use a DVD
– Make sure the BIOS is set to boot from the CD/DVD
drive first is you have an OS already installed
• After installation begins:
– A message is displayed stating that Windows is
loading files
• Will need to choose the language, time, and
keyboard configuration
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
6
Postinstallation Tasks
• Activate Windows Server 2012 R2
– Activation should take place automatically, but if it
doesn’t, it must be done within 10 days after
installation
•
•
•
•
•
Set the correct date, time, and time zone
Assign a static IP address
Assign a computer name
Configure automatic updates
Download and install available updates
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
7
Installing Updates
• Patches
– Fixes to bugs and security vulnerabilities
– Can be installed through Windows Update
• Windows Update downloads and installs new
drivers and service packs
• Service pack
– Collection of all bug fixes and security updates
– May also add features and performance
enhancements or change the functionality of existing
features
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
8
Figure 2-8 Accessing Windows Update settings
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring
Windows Server 2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
9
Viewing Installed Updates
• To view a list of installed updates in the Local
Server Properties window:
– Click the Windows Update link
– Click View update history
• After computer is configured and up to date:
– You can start installing server roles and additional
features
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
10
Figure 2-13 Update history
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring
Windows Server 2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
11
Expanding Your Network
• When adding a new server, you must decide
whether the server will be one of the following:
– A domain controller (DC) in the existing domain
• Adding a second domain controller can reduce server
load and provide fault tolerance
– A read only domain controller (RODC) in the existing
domain
• Can provide benefits similar to a DC’s, but is more
suited for branch offices
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
12
Expanding Your Network
• When adding a new server, you must decide
whether the server will be one of the following
(cont’d):
– A member server in the existing domain
• Falls under domain management but doesn’t run
Active Directory
– A stand-alone server
• Doesn’t fall under domain management, but is part of
a workgroup
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
13
Upgrading to Windows Server
2012/R2
• Two main upgrade methods:
– In-place upgrade - boot to the existing OS and run
setup.exe from the installation medium
– Server role migration - perform a clean install of
Windows Server 2012/R2 and migrate the server
roles the old OS version performed
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
14
Upgrading to Windows Server
2012/R2
• In-place upgrade considerations:
– Only Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 versions
are supported for upgrade
– If running Server Core, can only upgrade to
Windows Server 2012/R2 Server Core
• You can install the GUI afterward
– All Windows Server 2012/R2 versions are 64-bit
• A Server 2008 32-bit version requires a clean install
– You can’t upgrade to a different language
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
15
Table 2-2 Windows Server 2012/R2 upgrade paths
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring
Windows Server 2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
16
Migrating from an Earlier Version
• Microsoft recommends a clean installation followed
by server role migration
• Migration allows you to do the following:
– Migrate from a 32-bit Windows server installation to
Windows Server 2012/R2
– Migrate from Windows Server 2003 SP2 and later
– Migrate from a Windows Server 2008 R2 Server
Core installation to a GUI installation
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
17
Server Core: Windows That Doesn’t
Do Windows
• Server Core is suited for the following situations:
– Acting as a secondary DC to provide redundancy for
Active Directory
– As a branch office servers when remote
administration is likely
– As an RODC server role for a branch office server
– As a virtual machine to reduce the amount of
resources used
– As a specialized single role server providing services
such as DNS, DHCP, Web, or File Services
– As a departmental server
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
18
Server Core: Windows That Doesn’t
Do Windows
• If you need to run any of these roles, you must
install the GUI version:
–
–
–
–
Active Directory Federation Services
Fax Server
Network Policy and Access Services
Remote Desktop Services: Gateway, Session Host,
and Web Access
– Volume Activation Services
– Windows Deployment Services
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
19
Server Core Installation and
Postinstallation Tasks
• A Server Core installation is nearly identical to a full
installation
• Only real difference:
– You choose the Server Core Installation option when
prompted to select the OS to install
• When logging on the first time you will see a
command prompt instead of a desktop or Server
Manager
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
20
When Not to Use Server Core
• When it’s the first server in a network
• When you need to install server roles and
features that Server Core doesn’t support
• When the server administrator isn’t well versed
in using command-line programs or remote
administration tools
• When you cannot live without a Windows GUI
running on your server
MCSA Guide to Installing and Configuring Windows Server
2012/R2, Exam 70-410
© Cengage Learning 2015
21