Installing Windows 2016 Server

Prior to the installation of the Windows 2016 Sever we must do the following

• We must know the Appropriate Edition of Windows 2016 server
• Determine Windows 2016 server installation requirement

Microsoft does not provide the exact hardware requirement since it vary upon the features and roles being installed later on the server. However, lets shed some light on the minimum Hardware requirement for Windows 2016 server installation

Minimum Hardwar requirement for Windows 2016 Server Installation:

• 1.4 GHz x64 processor
• 512MB or 2 GB RAM
• 32 GB HDD
• Gigabit NIC that is PCI Express complaint and support PXE

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/hardware-requirements

Installation options for windows 2016 server:

• Core server: Server Core is a minimal installation option for Windows Server that only includes the essential components and services required to run specific server roles and features. It does not have a graphical user interface (GUI), and you can only manage it through the command line, PowerShell, or remote tools
• Includes tools like Task Manager, Notepad, sconfig.cmd
• Nano Server: Microsoft Nano Server is a lightweight version of the Windows Server operating system that was introduced with Windows Server 2016 for use as an operating system (OS) layer for virtualized container instances. It is designed to be used in cloud and container environments.
• Nano server is exclusively used for Containers.
• Designed for remote management via PowerShell, Server Management, or remote MMC
• Server with Desktop Experience: Traditional graphical user interface – server with GUI plus desktop experience features
• Intended for legacy applications and remote desktop services
• However, Microsoft recommend the server core installation unless needed the GUI

LAB:

We will be installing Windows 2016 Server Data Centre with Desktop Experience on Microsoft Hypervisor Hyper V -Manager.

You can download Windows 2016 Server Evaluation Version from Microsoft web site for free.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2016

Click New VM > Give it a Name such as DC01. Hit Next> Select the VM Generation 2. Hit Next > Grant RAM 2000 MB. Hit Next > select the Default switch > connect to the Virtual hard disk e: g DC01.vhdx Set Size 70GB> Hit Next

Now Right Click on the VM > Click Connect to the VM > Settings > ISCSI > on the right click on DVD and Add > Browse the iso Image of the downloaded Windows 2016 server evaluation version and click Apply.

Now simply start the VM and the installation will began.

Select Windows 2016 Server Datacenter (Desktop Experience) and Hit Next

Set Administrator Password and you are done with the installation