Install Virtual Server in Windows 2008 Server Core By The Technocrats This tutorial begins after you load the Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation. Our first step is to rename the computer to something useful after the initial installation. You can use the following command: (Figure A) NETDOM renamecomputer %computername% /newname:vshost
Figure A
Rename Server
After renaming your computer (Figure B), you are required to restart the computer (Figure C) with the following command: shutdown /r
Figure B
Renamed
Figure C
Restarted
You can now configure networking (Figure D) by typing the following command:
netsh interface ipv4 show interfaces
Figure D
Configure networking
This will tell us what Index to configure networking on. You can configure a static address by typing the following command: netsh interface ipv4 set address name="2" source=static address=192.168.1.75 mask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.1.1
Your next step is to configure DNS (Figure E) by typing the following command: netsh interface ipv4 add dnsserver name="2" address=192.168.1.110 index=1
Figure E
Configure DNS
Figures F and G are the commands necessary to give all machines, such as those running Windows XP, access to run Windows Server Core from a remote desktop. Figure F
Access from remote access
Figure G
Give all machines access
Let’s now join Windows Server Core to the domain (Figure H) by typing the following command: Netdom join %computername% /domain:watchtower /userd:Administrator /password:Password01
Figure H
Join domain
Next, reboot the computer by typing the following command: shutdown /r
Windows Server Core requires you to activate the server. You can activate by typing (Figure I) the following command: slmgr.vbs -ato
Figure I
Activate server
Configure Virtual Server 2005 R2 Let’s now install Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition (Figure J). Please download the setup files and either burn them to a CD-ROM or copy them to a flash memory drive. Note: You can also copy files over the network as well.
Figure J
Install Virtual Server 2005
Accept the License Agreement (Figure K) and choose a Custom Installation (Figure L). Figure K
License Agreement
Figure L
Custom Installation
On the Custom Setup window, as shown in Figure M, it is VERY important to deselect Virtual Server Web Application. You MUST do this to get virtual server working properly in Windows Server Core. Figure M
Deselect Virtual Server Web Application
Figures N and O complete the installation of Virtual Server. Restart the computer with the following command to continue: shutdown /r
Figure N
Firewall
Figure O
Setup complete SEQ Figure \* ARABIC
Let’s move on and enable the following ports on your firewall as shown in Figure P. Figure P
Enable ports
You must also enable a firewall exception for VMRC: netsh fi add all "c:program filesMicrosoft Virtual Servervssrvc.exe" "Virtual Server" ENABLE.
Now you must run the following script (Listing A) (source from Virtual PC Guy):
Listing A set vs = wscript.createobject("VirtualServer.Application") vs.VMRCEnabled = True vs.VMRCAdminportNumber = 5900
vs.VMRCIdleconnectionTimeOutEnabled= false vs.VMRCXResolution = 800 vs.VMRCYResolution = 600
Copy this script into notepad and save it as Script1.vbs. Copy it to a flash key and on the Windows Server Core browse to the file and execute it by typing the following command: cscript script1.vbs.
Let’s move on to the next script (source from Virtual PC Guy) and run (Listing B) the following:
Listing B Dim ace set objVs = wscript.CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application") Set objSecurity = WScript.CreateObject("VirtualServer.VMSecurity") set objSecurity = ObjVs.Security Set ace = objSecurity.AddEntry("wdsDomain admins",vmAccessRights_Allowed) ace.WriteAccess = True ace.ReadAccess = True ace.ExecuteAccess = True ace.DeleteAccess = True ace.ReadPermissions = True ace.ChangePermissions = True ObjVs.Security = objSecurity
Copy this script into notepad and save it as Script2.vbs. Copy it to a flash key and on the Windows Server Core browse to the file and execute by typing the following command: cscript script2.vbs.
Note: If you want to copy data over to your Windows Server Core, you can create a share by typing the following: net share virtualshare=c: /GRANT: Everyone,FULL.
We are in the homestretch now. Our next step is to take another server or workstation on the domain and install the Microsoft Virtual Machine Remote Control Client Plus (VMRC) tool. This tool requires the .NET framework as well and allows you to administer Virtual Server without IIS installed.
Next, type the NETBIOS name of your Windows Server Core or the IP address. You can now create virtual machines (Figure Q) on a hardened kernel of Windows (Figure R). Figure Q
Virtual machines
Figure R
Hardened kernel