Extend Windows 2008 Evaluation time frame

Remember someone asked me about how to extend Windows 2008 evaluation. This is important as we do not want to reinstall all the hardworked configuration, especially we are doing some R&D or testing.

By default, Windows 2008 will allow you to evaluation for 60 days, and use the following command to evaluate up to 180 days! Thats cool - all the research for sure be able to finish within 180 days - unless you want to use it for production :).

To do it?

1. Click Start, run -> CMD.
2. Type slmgr.vbs -dli, and ENTER to check the current evaluation period.
3. Type slmgr.vbs –rearm to reset the evaluation period and then press ENTER.
4. Restart the computer.

Thats it. Want to know more? Microsoft release one KB article about it:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472

Install Hyper-V in Server Core

Recently, one of the audience asking on - how to install Hyper-V in Server Core???

First of all, the pre-req is the same, you will need a 64 b it hardware.

After install server core (which assume, servername, IP is configured).

then, in command prompt,

Type “start /w ocsetup Microsoft-Hyper-V” to enable Hyper-V role.

Restart when prompted.

Thats it. You can then manage from your Windows Vista or another Windows Server 2008.

Windows 2008 Hyper-V now RTM

Guys, good news!!!

At last, Windows 2008 Hyper-V is now RTM, yes, today!

This is the complete Hyper-V RTM package for Windows Server 2008 x64. This package must be installed on the Hyper-V Parent Partition (Can be either full or core).

Note: Once you isntall, cannot be uninstalled.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=F3AB3D4B-63C8-4424-A738-BADED34D24ED

Windows 2008 - Setup your first Domain Controller

Same in Windows 2000 and 2003, Active Directory is also be able to setup in Windows Server 2008.

In Windows Server 2008, there are more features in AD, eg: RODC +++ which we will covers more in this blog.

In this session, we would like to share on setting up your first Active Directory for Windows Server 2008.

Before setting up AD, please ensure:

1) You already configured a static IP for your NIC
2) Given a meaningful name to the computer, knowing your domain name to assign
3) An available DNS server (Can be the same server as the AD)
4) ADDS role installed in that particular server to shorten the time for the installation.

Once those mentioned things done, what you need to do is just click Start-> Run -> DCPROMO

Attached the video for you guys to enjoy.

Setting up DC roles in Server Core

One of the new features in Windows 2008 is Server Core - the "thin" layer of Windows operating system which bring benefits of:

1) Less resource hungry
2) More secure
3) Easier to manage (Patch management+++)

Yes, it is in a command shell, but still be able to do major and cools stuff, eg:

1) Domain Controller
2) DNS
3) Hyper-V
4) File Services
5) DHCP and more.

Its definately a great deals for branch office deployment.

However, after setting up Server Core, its only a command shell. How are we going to setup a DC?

In this post, we will like to share:

First of all, we will need to configure the IP Address and put in DNS configuration:

netsh int ip show config will show you the existing configuration.

To configure static IP address on an interface:
netsh int ip set address static

eg: netsh int ip set address "Local Area Connection" static 10.10.100.10 255.255.255.0 10.10.100.254 1

To configure DNS server: (let say pointing DNS to HQ DNS server)
set dnsserver "Local Area Connection" static 10.10.10.10 primary

After configure TCP/IP configuration, its the time to install AD.

Since this is Server Core, DCPROMO GUI will not prompt for you. You will need to prepare the answer file.

NOTE: Please ensure you make ness testing before the deployment. In this scenario, we are setting up additional DC (With same forest, domain with existing AD setup. This is a replica).

EG of the answer file


; dcpromo.exe /unattend:C:\AdditionalDC.txt
; You may need to fill in password fields prior to using the unattend file.
; If you leave the values for "Password"
; as "*", then you will be asked for credentials
[DCInstall]
ReplicaDomainDNSName=MyDomain.local
SiteName=Default-First-Site-Name
InstallDNS=No
ConfirmGc=Yes
CreateDNSDelegation=No
UserDomain=MyDomain.local
UserName=MyDomain\administrator
Password=*
DatabasePath="C:\Windows\NTDS"
LogPath="C:\Windows\NTDS"
SYSVOLPath="C:\Windows\SYSVOL"
SafeModeAdminPassword=MyP@ss123
; Run-time flags (optional)
; CriticalReplicationOnly=Yes
; RebootOnCompletion=Yes


Copy After the and before the . Save it into a file, eg: MyUnattend.txt in to the ServerCore C:\

Then you will need to run the following command to setup the additional DC replica in Server Core:

c:\dcpromo /unattend:MyUnattend.txt

You will then see the results. Happy DCing.

Windows 2008 launch in Malaysia

Guys,

Something to share with you - 8th April will be the launch of Windows 2008 in Malaysia.

We will participate, together with Exchange Team in Malaysia. We will run few demos on Windows 2008 Hyper-V, Exchange 2007 on Win2K8 ++.

See you there. More info? Please visit http://www.heroes.com.my/

Attached the launch Video for your first view- Heros in Malaysia...

Disable Windows 2008 Server Core Firewall

WOnder how to disable firewall in Windows 2008 server core? Sometimes, it might give you lots of minor problems.

In testlab, I will normally turn it off.

To turn it off:

netsh firewall set opmode disable

It is just a short command...