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