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Getting Started with Nano Server
Getting Started with Nano Server

Getting Started with Nano Server: Automate multiple VMs and transform your datacenter

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Getting Started with Nano Server

Getting Started with Nano Server

As we discussed in Chapter 1, Introduction to Nano Server, Nano Server has absolutely no local GUI and it takes up far less disk space. Server roles and optional features exist outside of Nano Server, and we refer to them as packages. Those packages can be added to Nano Server image on demand. Microsoft developed Nano Server with just enough OS. In other words, it's only the OS and the components of the OS that we need for the function which is required, and nothing more. With Nano Server, the 400 MB base image basically holds Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), reverse forwarders for application compatibility, and a PowerShell core. Nano Server installation will always be ready to be remoted into and can be managed remotely using remote PowerShell, or with any standard Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) GUIs such as...

Getting started with Nano Server

Unlike the other installation options, whether in Server with Desktop Experience or Server Core, as shown in Figure 1, Nano Server basically exists in the folder of the ISO image on the media, and we need to add the package for the role and feature that we need. For example, if we need to make Nano Server a compute host (Hyper-V), we need to add a compute package using DISM or PowerShell. We will cover the syntax in a bit:

Figure 1: Nano Server. Windows Server 2016 media

Nano Server quick start

Microsoft provided two of the main scripts on the Nano Server image itself. When you go to the NanoServer folder on the ISO media, you will find NanoServer.wim which is a file-based disk image format...

Building and customizing a Nano Server image using Windows PowerShell

First, you need to mount Windows Server 2016 ISO media on any Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 machine.

Assuming the drive letter for the mounted image is E:

Run the following PowerShell cmdlet:

Copy "E:\NanoServer""C:\NanoServer" -Recurse 

We are copying the NanoServer folder from the mounted ISO image into C:\NanoServer locally.

Import the NanoServerImageGenerator.psd1 PowerShell module by running the following command:

Import-Module "C:\NanoServer\ NanoServerImageGenerator\NanoServerImageGenerator.psd1" -Verbose 
Figure 4: Nano Server. Import PowerShell Module

After importing the new PowerShell module using the -Verbose parameter, you will notice we have in fact imported three commands: New-NanoServerImage, Get-NanoServerPackages, and Edit-NanoServerImage:

  • The New-NanoServerImage...

Building and customizing a Nano Server image using Nano Server image builder

The Nano Server image builder is a new GUI-based wizard which helps you create a custom Nano Server image and bootable USB media. The Nano Server image builder is based on the inputs you provide; it generates images for deployment and it also creates reusable PowerShell scripts that allow you to automate the image creation process.

To create a Nano Server image using the Nano Server image builder, there are three resources you must have ready. These resources include:

From the...

Customizing a Nano Server image using DISM

DISM is the tool of choice for adding packages in online and offline modes. The following example uses the offline version of DISM to add a package:

  • Dism /Add-Package /PackagePath:.\packages\<package>
  • Dism /Add-Package /PackagePath:.\packages\en-us\<package>
For each package you want to add, you must run two DISM commands, one for the package path in the Packages folder, as shown in Figure 3 earlier. But underneath that, you will find another folder called en-US or whatever localization you have bought from Microsoft. In my example here, we are using en-US for English-United States; fr-BE is for French-Belgium, and so on.

Customizing a Nano image using unattend.xml file

...

Summary

In this chapter, we discussed how to get started with Nano Server, covering how to add roles and features, and how you can create and customize a Nano image using a single line of PowerShell. We also discussed how to build and customize a Nano image using Nano Server image builder, the new GUI-based wizard, and finally we showed you how to customize a Nano image using the DISM tool.

Continue now to Chapter 3, Deploying Nano Server in a Virtual Machine and on Physical Hardware, to learn more about how to deploy Nano Server in your environment.

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Key benefits

  • The days of the local server are numbered, and this book will make you an ace by giving you the skills needed to administer Nano Server and survive in the brave new server world
  • Learn to quickly automate multiple VMs and support Hyper-V clusters, all through small footprints from a single host
  • Apply up-to-date, real-world examples presented in this book and improve the scalability and efficiency of large-scale VM deployments

Description

Nano Server allows developers and operations teams to work closely together and use containers that package applications so that the entire platform works as one. The aim of Nano Server is to help applications run the way they are intended to. It can be used to run and deploy infrastructures (acting as a compute host, storage host, container, or VM guest operating system) without consuming significant resources. Although Nano Server isn't intended to replace Server 2016 or 2012 R2, it will be an attractive choice for developers and IT teams. Want to improve your ability to deploy a new VM and install and deploy container apps within minutes? You have come to the right place! The objective of this book is to get you started with Nano Server successfully. The journey is quite exciting, since we are introducing you to a cutting-edge technology that will revolutionize today's datacenters. We'll cover everything from the basic to advanced topics. You'll discover a lot of added value from using Nano Server, such as hundreds of VM types on a single host through a small footprint, which could be a big plus for you and your company. After reading this book, you will have the necessary skills to start your journey effectively using Nano Server.

Who is this book for?

This book opens up new potential for both developers and IT pros alike. The book is primarily for Server administrators and IT Professionals who would like to deploy and administer Nano Server within their organizations, and for developers who are trying to make maximal use of Server Containers and Hyper-V Containers with Nano Servers.

What you will learn

  • Understand Nano Server
  • Deploy Nano Server
  • Deploy Hyper-V Clusters on Nano Server
  • Deploy Nano Server with SCVMM
  • Manage Nano Server using PowerShell and Remote Server Management Tools
  • Manage Nano Server with third-party tools
  • Run Server Containers and Hyper-V Containers on Nano Server
  • Troubleshoot Nano Server
  • Validate developed applications that run on Nano Server

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jun 30, 2017
Length: 406 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785284656
Vendor :
Microsoft

What do you get with eBook?

Product feature icon Instant access to your Digital eBook purchase
Product feature icon Download this book in EPUB and PDF formats
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want

Product Details

Publication date : Jun 30, 2017
Length: 406 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785284656
Vendor :
Microsoft

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Table of Contents

10 Chapters
Introduction to Nano Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Getting Started with Nano Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Deploying Nano Server in a Virtual Machine and on Physical Hardware Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Deploying Hyper-V Cluster on Nano Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Deploying, Managing, and Monitoring Nano Server with System Center 2016 Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Managing Nano Server with Windows PowerShell and Windows PowerShell DSC Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Managing Nano Server with Third-Party Tools Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Running Windows Server Containers and Hyper-V Containers on Nano Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Troubleshooting Nano Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Running Other Workloads on the Nano Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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Charbel Nemnom Sep 11, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
As always, excellent book! In fact, a full course of Nano Server.I doubt anyone goes through that book and does not feel tempted to buy it. It serves as a quick reference or even a complete study!Congratulations to the author and publisher for the excellent work. I enjoyed reading it.Do not waste any time with other books, this is your ideal choice!Thank You!
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