Windows Server 2012 R2

Definitive list of Windows Server installations without GUIs

Datacenter

‘Server Core’ has been around for quite a while. Roughly for as long as this domain exists (registered on January 19, 2008, while Windows Server 2008 was released on February 4, 2008).

 

About Server Core

Server Core is a significantly scaled-back installation and/or run type for Windows Server where no Windows Explorer shell is installed. All configuration and maintenance is done entirely through command-line interface windows, or by connecting to the machine remotely using Microsoft Management Console. However, Notepad and some control panel applets, such as Regional Settings, are available.

Microsoft’s primary motivation for producing a Server Core variant of Windows Server was to reduce the attack surface of the operating system.

 

List of Windows Server versions

A question I get regularly is which Windows Server versions can be run without Graphical User Interface, which Windows Server versions come without a GUI and which Windows Server offer the Server Core installation option.

The list below serves as the definitive list of released Windows Server versions.
It will be updated when Microsoft releases new versions of Windows Server.

Windows Server 2008

Released: February 4, 2008
Server Core: Installation option

Windows Server 2008 was the first version of Windows Server 2008, where the Server Core installation option could be chosen. Server Core was not the default installation option. Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 do not offer .NET or PowerShell, but do offer the pre-release version of Hyper-V out of the box.

Hyper-V Server 2008

Released: December 30, 2008
Server Core: Only

Hyper-V Server 2008 was the first release of Microsoft’s purpose-built Hypervisor installation version. It is unavailable with a GUI and most Server Roles cannot be installed or configured. To facilitate configuring Hyper-V Server, it came with hvconfig.cmd, hvconfig.vbs and WUA_SearchDownloadInstall.vbs.

Windows Server 2008 R2

Released: October 22, 2009
Server Core: Installation option

Windows Server 2008 R2 added .NET and Windows PowerShell to the Server Core installation option.

Hyper-V Server 2008 R2

Released: October 22, 2009
Server Core: Only

Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 was introduced alongside Windows Server 2008 R2.

Windows Server 2012

Released: October 30, 2012
Server Core: Default installation option, switchable

Windows Server 2012 did away with the Enterprise edition of Windows Server. However, it added the ability to add and remove the GUI layers in full installations of Windows Server to get to a Server Core installation from an attack surface point of view.

Server Core installation of Windows Server 2012 were the first installations that featured sconfig.cmd, a derivative of Hyper-V Server’s hvconfig.cmd.

Hyper-V Server 2012

Released: October 30, 2012
Server Core: Only

Hyper-V Server 2012 is a logical upgrade to Hyper-V Server 2008 R2.

Windows Server 2012 R2

Released: November 25, 2013
Server Core: Default installation option, switchable

Windows Server 2012 R2 introduced several new roles, including the new Web Application Proxy role, that are perfectly suitable to be outfitted as Server Core installations. This is the last version where the GUI layers can be removed and added.

Hyper-V Server 2012 R2

Released: November 25, 2013
Server Core: Only

Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 is the purpose-built version of Windows Server for Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2016

Released: October 15, 2016
Server Core: Default installation option

Windows Server 2016 removed the ability to add and remove the GUI layers. If Server Core is needed, it needs to be installed as Server Core installation. In this version, ‘Full installation’ is remarketed as ‘Windows Server with Desktop Experience’.

Windows Server 2016 is the first Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release in Microsoft’s new release schedule for Windows Server.

Hyper-V Server 2016

Released: October 15, 2016
Server Core: Only

Windows Server, version 1803

Released: April 30, 2018
Server Core: Only

Windows Server version 1803 was the first semi-annual (SAC) release of Windows Server. Semi-annual releases are available as Server Core, only. Windows Server version 1803 focused on making container technology available to organizations.

Windows Server, version 1809

Released: November 13, 2018
Server Core: Only

Windows Server version 19809 is a semi-annual release of Windows Server as Server Core only. Its release coincided with the release of Windows Server 2019, but offered many skip-ahead features.

Windows Server 2019

Released: November 13, 2018 (December 2018)
Server Core: Default installation option

After being announced at Ignite 2018 in Orlando, Microsoft released Windows Server 2019 on November 23, 2018. It was released for two short days, until reported problems lead to the conclusion at Microsoft that the quality of the Operating Systems was sub-par. It was rereleased in December 2018 and features Features on Demand for application compatibility.

Windows Server, version 1903

Released: May 21, 2019
Server Core: Only

Windows Server version 1903 is a semi-annual release of Windows Server as Server Core only.

Hyper-V Server 2019

Released: November 13, 2018 (June 2019)
Server Core: Only

After many months of delays, Hyper-V Server 2019 was released in June 2019.

 

Further reading

Windows Server release information

Server Core installations now benefit from Windows Defender, too.

While I write this, Windows Server 2012 R2 is Microsoft’s latest and greatest Windows Server version.

I planned on writing a blogpost on all the new features, specific to Server Core, but decided that this one blogpost would suffice…

  

Server Core vs. Full Installations

Don’t get me wrong, though. Server Core installations offer tons of new features and I really advice you to check it out.

The point is, however, that, these days, Server Core installations aren’t that special anymore. Most of the Server Roles and Features are available for both Full installations and Server Core installations. Also, since Windows Server 2012, you can switch between Server Core and Full (and minumum shell) after installation, making for a really interesting story when admins don’t run Server Core installations.

 

Windows Defender

Which brings me to the one feature specific for Server Core installations in Windows Server 2012 R2. According to the What’s Changed in Security Technologies in Windows 8.1 page on Microsoft TechNet:

In Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1, Windows Defender is available on Server Core installation options (without the user interface), and it is enabled by default.

Windows Defender is primarily intended for consumer and unmanaged PC scenarios, and most large organizations will want to use an enterprise antimalware solution such as System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection, which also includes support for ELAM.

  

Concluding

With Windows Defender built into Server Core installations, these installations are now more malware resistant from day 1.

Of course, when you decide to implement an anti-malware solution, like Microsoft’s System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection, the malware scanning part of Windows Defender will be disabled, until such time you uninstall the anti-malware solution (properly).

Upgrade your Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM Server Core Installs

Today, Microsoft has made Windows Server 2012 R2 available to the public.

It’s no longer the fortunate TechNet and MSDN subscribers and Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) aficionados who have Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM Server Core bragging rights:

Now everyone and their moms gain access to Microsofts latest and greatest Windows Server product family (and its System Center cousins).

For those of you who have been playing with Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM and Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 RTM since they became available, it’s important to upgrade your Server Core installations from the Release to Manufacturers (RTM) version to the General Availability (GA) version.

For this, you’ll need to download and install these two Windows Server updates:

 

You can easily install these updates through Server Configuration (sconfig.cmd), option 6) Download and Install Updates.

Enjoy! Glimlach

Get your Server Core Freak On!

When you’re a current TechNet and/or MSDN subscriber, you’re in luck today!

Microsoft has made the Release to Manufacturers (RTM) bits for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 available to current TechNet and/or MSDN subscribers.

Here’s the info:

  • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 (x64) – DVD (English)
    en_microsoft_hyper-v_server_2012_r2_x64_dvd_2708236.iso    
    1917 MB
    SHA1 1EEC2EE8DD77E8EB970B210C9B0E01986D7210DD
      
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 (x64) – DVD (English)
    en_windows_server_2012_r2_x64_dvd_2707946.iso
    4071 MB
    SHA1 B6F063436056510357CB19CB77DB781ED9C11DF3

  

Enjoy! Smile