Windows Server 2008 (R2) blog by Kurt Roggen [BE]

Configuring Windows Server 2008 Server Core installations can be quite challenging... surely if you are not familiar with your command line tools!!
MVP Guy Teverovsky decided to build a GUI for performing the typical initial configuration tasks on Server Core installations, such as:

• Product Activation
• Configuration of display resolution
• Clock and time zone configuration
• Remote Desktop configuration
• Management of local user accounts (creation, deletion, group membership, passwords)
• Firewall configuration
• WinRM configuration
• IP configuration
• Computer name and domain/workgroup membership
• Installation of Server Core features/roles

Some screenshots below:

You do not actually need to install the application. The 4 files in the program's folder can be copied and used on other Server Core installations without installing the application.

Download here

For more information: Guy Teverovsky's blog: Windows Server Core - CoreConfigurator to the rescue

Related reading:

• Deploying Windows Server Core
• Server Core Product team blog

Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools enables IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server® 2008 from a computer running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Remember that Group Policy Preferences have been added to the Windows Server 2008 Group Policy Management Console (which is also included in the Remote Server Administration Toolset (RSAT) GPMC for Windows Vista SP1!!).

Download below:

• Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista SP1 32-bit Edition (KB941314)
• Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista SP1 64-bit Edition

Related reading:

Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions are available for download
Group Policy Preferences in Windows Server 2008
Installing RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) components unattended

As I mentioned in a previous post on Volume Activation for Windows Server 2008, the current Windows Server 2003 based KMS (Key Management) activation infrastructure requires an update to support Windows Server 2008 systems and Virtualization.

Microsoft Key Management Service (KMS) for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and later is part of Microsoft Windows Volume Activation 2.0. 
It allows enterprise users to host KMS on Windows Server 2003 to enable activation of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 using a KMS key.

Microsoft Volume Activation 2.0 is a set of technical and policy solutions provided by Microsoft’s Software Protection Platform (SPP) that gives Microsoft customers more secure and easier methods to manage their volume license keys.

KMS based activation allows enterprise customers to host a local service (read: KMS) within their environment to enable activation of machines running Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 volume editions within their environment, instead of activation directly with Microsoft.
Computers that have been activated using KMS are required to reactivate by connecting to a KMS host at least once every 6 months + 30 days (Out of Tolerance).  KMS keys are provided through Microsoft’s Volume Licensing System portals (MVLS, eOpen). The KMS host needs to be activated once with Microsoft either online or via telephone.

KMS version 1.1 for Windows Server 2003 provides the same feature set as version 1.0 and the following additional functionality:

Download here (x86) or here (x64).

Related reading: Windows Server 2008, Volume Activation 2.0 and KMS (Key Management Server)

Evaluate Windows Server 2008 free for 60 days (extendable to 240 days) or register for a guided evaluation experience and receive periodic e-mail with links to valuable technical resources.

Editions available for evaluation:

• Windows Server 2008 Standard (x86 and x64)

• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise (x86 and x64)

• Windows Server 2008 Datacenter (x86 and x64)

• Windows Web Server 2008 (x86 and x64)

• Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems

Related reading: Q948472 - How to extend the Windows Server 2008 evaluation period