Windows Server Core is a stripped down version of 2008. It has no explorer, and most GUI functionality is removed.
A great solution when you don’t want any extra software running on a production server.
Soo much is missing that it can get frustrating when you just want to make a few changes before you put the server into production.
When you boot, it simply launches a command line:
![Windows 2008 Core R2 GUI Config](http://www.intelliadmin.com/images/Core%20Server%20Cmd%20Line.jpg)
With the latest version, it has improved…they do include a console interface to make configuration changes:
![Windows 2008 Core R2 Cmd Line Config](http://www.intelliadmin.com/images/Core%20Command%20Line%20Config.jpg)
Still, that is too limited, and leaves you frustrated
You end up having to go through a lot of hoops to even make simple changes.
There is an answer to this – The Windows 2008 Server Core Configurator.
It comes in the form of an ISO, so you can burn it to a CD or add it to your VMWare storage.
Once you mount the ISO, or pop in the CD, you can launch it from the command line like this:
start_coreconfig
The first time you run it, it will check to make sure it has all of the software needed to run…namely powershell.
Once it is done, it launches – then you can easily make your configuration changes:
![](http://www.intelliadmin.com/images/Core%20Configurator%20Main.jpg)
You can change network settings
![Windows 2008 Core Server Network Configuration](http://www.intelliadmin.com/images/Core%20Configurator%20Network.jpg)
Firewall
![Windows 2008 Server Core Firewall Configuration](http://www.intelliadmin.com/images/Core%20Configurator%20Firewall.jpg)
Remote Desktop
![Windows 2008 Server Core Remote Desktop Configuration](http://www.intelliadmin.com/images/Core%20Configurator%20Remote%20Desktop.jpg)
Services
![Windows 2008 Server Core Services Configuration](http://www.intelliadmin.com/images/Core%20Configurator%20Services.jpg)
And much more. The best part is, you make your changes pop out the CD and it leaves nothing behind.
You can download it for free from here: