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Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook
Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook

Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook: Over 80 hands-on recipes to effectively administer and manage your Windows Server 2012 R2 infrastructure in enterprise environments

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Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook

Chapter 1. Learning the Interface

In an effort to become familiar with the look and feel of Windows Server 2012 R2, you will learn how to navigate through some daily tasks using the graphical interface. On our agenda in this chapter are the following recipes:

  • Shutting down or restarting the server
  • Launching Administrative Tools
  • Using WinKey + X for quick admin tasks
  • Using the Search function to launch applications quickly
  • Managing remote servers from a single pane with Server Manager
  • Using PowerShell to accomplish any function in Windows Server
  • Installing a role or feature
  • Administering Server 2012 R2 from a Windows 8.x machine
  • Identifying useful keyboard shortcuts in Server 2012 R2
  • Setting your PowerShell Execution Policy
  • Building and executing your first PowerShell script
  • Searching for PowerShell cmdlets with Get-Help

Introduction

I meet new server administrators almost daily, from all types of businesses and walks of life. Often during our projects, we introduce the very first Windows Server 2012 R2 server into an environment. This gives me the unique opportunity to observe first interactions with the updated interface, and most of the time first impressions are pretty terrible. Now don't get me wrong, after using Windows Server 2012 R2 for only a little while, I think you'll all agree that it has some of the best functionality and stability we have ever seen out of a server operating system. What I see people struggle with all the time when starting to use 2012 R2 is the user interface. This is the same challenge that has plagued Windows 8 since its release. Everything seems to look and feel different than the Windows we have always known, trying to find applications can be futile, and what in the world is that "tablet-touch-screen-wannabe-thing" that consumes my entire screen all the time? And the charms bars that pop out? Don't get me started.

These big changes in the way that we interact with the operating system can be a nuisance on a client Desktop machine, but can be downright dangerous on a server until you have a good handle on managing the interface. When you are working within three levels of Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), bouncing from one server to another, all of these little differences are compounded. It suddenly becomes difficult to know which server it is that you are changing. Let's have a show of hands, how many of you have mistakenly rebooted the wrong server? Or even more likely, how many of you have rebooted your own computer while you were trying to reboot a remote server? I know I have! And not just once.

Hope is not lost! I promise you that once you learn to manage the interface, rather than letting it manage you, some of these changes may start to seem like good ideas. They can increase productivity and the ease of accomplishing tasks—we just need some pointers on making the best use of the new interface.

The recipes in this chapter are dedicated to doing just that. Let's work together to gain a better understanding of why the interface was built the way it is, and learn to take advantage of these new screens and settings.

Shutting down or restarting the server

I just couldn't resist starting with this one. Yes, this seems trivial. Silly even. However, the amount of times that I have watched a simple server restart consume more mouse clicks than creating a Domain Controller has convinced me that this needed to be in the book. Perhaps the shutdown and restart options were hidden away purposefully, because once your system is up and running, there is not often a need to accomplish either of these tasks. When first configuring the box though, it is very common to have to reboot a couple of times, or to shut down a machine to move it to another location.

Getting ready

To step through this recipe, you will need a Windows Server 2012 R2 system online. There are no other prerequisites.

How to do it...

Let's take a look at three different ways to shut down or restart your system. The first two are the most commonly employed. The third is less commonly known, but is by far my preference when tasked with restarting a remote server.

The first option would be to use the power button on the Start screen. So far, I don't think that many administrators have stumbled into this one, because it didn't exist in Server 2012.

  1. Click on your "Start Button", or rather your button in the Taskbar that opens your Start screen. You will see a power icon in the top-right corner of that Start screen.
  2. Click on this for Shut down and Restart options.
    How to do it...

The second method to accomplish shutting down or restarting is by using the charms bar. The charms bar is the little menu that presents itself when you have your mouse sitting near the upper-right corner of your screen. On a touchscreen computer, you swipe your finger from the right side of the screen toward the middle to make it appear. Go ahead and hover the mouse in the upper-right corner of your screen until the charms bar appears. Then click on Settings, and then on Power. Unfortunately, this is the most common way to attempt to restart a Server 2012 R2 machine. I say unfortunately because it is so easy to hover in the corner and display the wrong charms bar, the one for your own Desktop for example.

Many mistaken reboots are caused by this.

How to do it...

The most definitive, and dare I say most fun way of restarting your server is to utilize Command Prompt. Doing this gives you the opportunity to double check that you are manipulating the correct machine. Open up Command Prompt and run a quick hostname check to make sure you are restarting the one you really intend to. Then utilize the shutdown command to take care of the rest. This process can be especially helpful when logged into remote servers using RDP. Use the following commands to perform the explained operations:

hostname
shutdown /r /t 0

If you were to simply type shutdown, the server would shut itself down in 60 seconds. Using /r indicates a restart rather than a shut down, and /t 0 is a timing flag that indicates the number of seconds the server should wait before restarting. Specifying slash zero here tells it to wait for zero seconds before initiating the restart.

How to do it...

How it works...

Shutting down or restarting a server doesn't require a lot of explanation, but I hope that this small recipe gets some thought going about creative ways to do regular tasks. As you will see throughout this book, you can accomplish anything in Windows Server 2012 R2 through the use of commands or scripts. You could easily turn the shutdown command, the last example that we tested in this recipe, into a batch file, and place it on the Desktop of each of your servers as a quick double-click option for accomplishing this task.

However, I work with RDP windows inside RDP windows very often. When you're bouncing around between a dozen servers that all have the same background, I have decided that the only sure-fire way to make sure you are restarting the correct device is to do a quick hostname check before you initiate the restart. If you are interested in discovering all of the available flags that are available to use with the shutdown command, make sure to type in shutdown /? some time to take a look at all of the available options.

Tip

Using the command prompt is also an easy way to log off a server. Let's say you are layers deep in RDP and want to log off from a single server (not all of them). Are you sure you clicked on the Start button of the right server? Instead, open up a prompt and simply type Logoff.

Launching Administrative Tools

Earlier versions of Windows Server placed all of the Administrative Tools in a self-named folder right inside the Start menu. Server 2012 R2 no longer has a Start menu, but rather a full Start screen. It is my experience that administrators prefer to stay on the Desktop as much as possible, and do not like switching back and forth between the two. In other words, they want to accomplish everything without having to use the Start screen. Let's take a look at some ways to launch Administrative Tools right from your server's familiar Desktop interface.

Getting ready

All you really need is a Windows Server 2012 R2 machine online. The more roles and services that you have running on it, the more options that you will see on your screen as we navigate these menus.

How to do it...

To launch Administrative Tools from your Desktop, perform the following steps:

  1. Open up Server Manager. In fact, if you just logged into the server, it's probably already open for you.
  2. Click on Tools in the upper-right corner.

There you go. A full list of all the admin tools installed onto that server. Heading into this list is also a quick way of taking a look into what a particular server is doing, which you can take an educated guess at based on what roles and services are installed. By looking at the screenshot below, we can see that this is a pretty standard server instance that is not yet running any big roles. Once added, the management tools for the Windows roles will present themselves in this list.

How to do it...

How it works...

Since Server Manager likes to open automatically when logging in, let's make quick use of it for opening the tools that we need to do our jobs. Another way to have easy access to your tools from the Desktop is to create shortcuts, or to pin each of them to your Taskbar. Sometimes this isn't as easy as it sounds. In the past, these tools were all grouped together in the Administrative Tools folder, so you didn't have any reason to memorize the exact names of the tools. If you were to head into the Start screen and try to recall the name of the service you are looking for to type into the Search field, it may not immediately come to you. If you're a consultant working on someone else's server, you may not want to pin anything to their Desktop anyway, and you certainly don't want to resort to using Bing in front of them to look up the name of the service. So I like to stick with launching Administrative Tools from Server Manager.

Using WinKey + X for quick admin tasks

There are some functions in Windows that a server administrator needs to use all the time. Instead of making shortcuts or pinning them all to the Taskbar, let's get to know this hidden menu that is extremely useful for launching these commonly used admin tools.

Getting ready

A running Windows Server 2012 R2 machine is all we need to highlight this one. In fact, this menu also exists on any Windows 8.x computer, so make use of it often!

How to do it...

There are two ways to open this little menu. While you are in the Server 2012 R2 Desktop, you can perform either of these steps:

  • Hold down your Windows key on the keyboard and press X
  • Hover your mouse over the Windows flag in the lower-left corner of the Desktop. You know the button that opens the Start screen if you left click on it. Now go ahead and right-click on that button and you will see a menu as shown in the following screenshot:
    How to do it...

How it works...

This little "quick-tasks admin menu" is very easy to open, and is very convenient for launching programs and settings that are accessed often. I won't talk too much about what particulars are in the menu as it's pretty self-explanatory, but I use this menu multiple times per day to open up the System properties and the command prompt. Particularly the command prompt, as it has an option to open an administrative command prompt right from the menu.

Tip

Look at that, you can also shut down the server from here!

Using the Search function to launch applications quickly

We are finally going to make some use of that Start screen. While many server administrators prefer to work outside of this screen 100 percent of the time, the powerful Search functions of the Start screen are definitely something that you should be aware of.

Getting ready

For this recipe, you will need a Windows Server 2012 R2 system online.

How to do it...

To search in Windows Server 2012 R2, we have to make our way to the Start screen. Fortunately, this is extremely easy to do. No matter where you are or what application you are in, if you press the Windows key or click on the Start button, you will be taken to the Start screen.

How to do it...

Now you simply start typing. Search results for anything found on the system that relates to the word you are inputting are automatically displayed. Once you see the item you are looking for, you can press Enter or click on it. Additionally, if you right-click on the item or hold down the Ctrl key while clicking it, you will receive additional options that you can perform with this application. For example, right-click or Ctrl click in order to launch command prompt as an administrator.

How to do it...

By default, your search will encompass the entire operating system. If you would rather narrow the scope of your search down to only Settings or Files, you can use the Everywhere dropdown and choose accordingly.

How to do it...

You can see it is very easy not only to open applications, but also its specific settings.

How to do it...

How it works...

From the Start screen, we can search for anything on the server. This gives us the ability to quickly find and launch any program or application that we have installed. This includes Administrative Tools. Rather than moving into Server Manager in order to launch your administrative consoles from the Tools menu, you can also search for them on the Search screen, and launch from there. It also gives us the ability to find files or documents by name. Another powerful way to use the Search function in Windows Server 2012 R2 is to open any kind of setting that you might want to change. In previous versions of Windows, you had to either memorize the way to get into the settings that you wanted to change or you had to open up Control Panel where you had to poke and prod your way around until you stumbled upon the one that you were looking for. Now it is a very simple matter of pressing the Windows key, typing the first few characters of the setting or program you want to launch, and pressing Enter.

Another common task to perform from the Search screen is to right-click on the application that you are trying to launch and pin it somewhere. When you right-click on a program from the Search screen, you see options to pin the program to either your Start screen or to the Taskbar. This will create a quick-launch shortcut on either the main Start screen or on the Taskbar of the Desktop mode, giving you easier and faster access to launch those applications in the future.

Managing remote servers from a single pane with Server Manager

As you have already noticed, Server Manager has changed significantly as of Server 2012, and has been made even better in Server 2012 R2. Part of these changes are a shift in mindset where emphasis is now placed on remote management of servers. Server Manager in Windows Server 2012 R2 can be used to manage and administer multiple systems at the same time, all from your single pane of glass, the monitor where you are sitting. In this recipe, you are going to learn how to manage both the local server we are logged into, as well as a remote server, from the same Server Manager window.

Getting ready

For this recipe, we need two servers. One is the machine we are physically logged into. Another is a server on the same network that we can contact from our primary server, so that we can manage it from our local Server Manager.

How to do it...

To manage a local as well as a remote server from the same Server Manager window, perform the following instructions:

  1. Log in to your primary server and launch Server Manager. You will see in the upper-left corner that the only server you have listed is the Local Server that we are logged into.
    How to do it...
  2. Now head over toward the top-right of Server Manager and click on the Manage button. In this menu, click on Add Servers.
    How to do it...
  3. If your servers are part of a domain, finding remote machines to manage is very easy by simply selecting them from the default Active Directory tab. Since mine are not yet part of a domain, I need to head over to the DNS tab and specify the name or IP address of the server that I want to connect to.
    How to do it...
  4. Now if you go ahead and click on All Servers in the left window pane, you will see the additional servers listed that you have selected. If you double-click or right-click on those remote server names, you have many options available to you to remotely manage those machines without having to log into them.
    How to do it...

How it works...

Server Manager makes use of the Windows Remote Management (WinRM) tools to remotely manipulate servers. Historically, most of us who are administering Windows Servers make extensive use of RDP, often having many windows and connections open simultaneously. This can cause confusion and can lead to tasks being accomplished on servers for which they are not intended. By using Server Manager from a single machine to manage multiple servers in your network, you will increase your administrative efficiency as well as minimize human error by having all management happen from a single pane of glass.

This recipe is written with the most common network scenario in mind, which is a domain environment where both servers have been joined to the domain. If you are working with standalone servers that are part of a workgroup, rather than being joined to a domain, you will have some additional considerations. In the workgroup scenario, WinRM will need to be enabled specifically, and the Windows Firewall will have to be adjusted in order to allow the right ports and protocols for that WinRM traffic flow to happen successfully. In general though, most of you will be working within a Microsoft domain network, in which case these items are not necessary.

See also

  • The Administering Server 2012 R2 from a Windows 8.x machine recipe
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Description

This book is intended for system administrators and IT professionals with experience in Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012 environments who are looking to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to manage and maintain the core infrastructure required for a Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 environment.

Who is this book for?

This book is intended for system administrators and IT professionals with experience in Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012 environments who are looking to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to manage and maintain the core infrastructure required for a Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 environment.

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Publication date : Jan 28, 2015
Length: 310 pages
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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781784394226
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Microsoft

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Length: 310 pages
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ISBN-13 : 9781784394226
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Table of Contents

11 Chapters
1. Learning the Interface Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Core Infrastructure Tasks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Security and Networking Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Working with Certificates Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Internet Information Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Remote Access Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Remote Desktop Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Monitoring and Backup Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Group Policy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. File Services and Data Control Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

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abhimanyu singh rathore Apr 09, 2015
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This book covers the topic which are the most needed for system admins, i definitely recommend this book
Amazon Verified review Amazon
William R James Jun 28, 2015
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Simple, straight forward, meaningful, to the point, not long-winded.
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Charbel Nemnom Mar 05, 2015
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I recommend this book for every IT Pro, you will know how to take your Windows Server 2012 R2 - powered server and turn it into any common infrastructure role that might be required in your organization.Get your copy today and enjoy!
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William Payne Mar 29, 2016
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Excellent book
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Charles W. Hayes Jul 14, 2016
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A great book for system admins.
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