I've always struggled with the point of Core. Core sounds appealing, until you consider it doesn't save much patching and it requires a different support model. I had a long discussion with a senior MCS guy about whether Core was a fit for us and one of the things he said stuck with me, that many MCS consultants mostly saw Core as a Microsoft answer to single-purpose Linux boxes in the data center (for example, running DHCP or DNS).
-Malcolm -----Original Message----- From: Free, Bob [mailto:r...@pge.com] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 16:41 To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Server Core What is interesting is if you talk to the product group and PSS the adoption of Server Core, and RODC for that matter, is abysmal, particularly based on all the desire for the features from customers and the amount of dev that went into them. Less than 10% of expectations I was told. Those I have heard speak about it are pretty disappointed considering that 80% of the AD dev time in the 2K3 timeframe was devoted to Branch Office functionality....functionality that customers were screaming for -----Original Message----- From: Chris Blair [mailto:chris_bl...@identisys.com] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 12:58 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Server Core They sure push Server Core hard in the 70-640 test. -----Original Message----- From: Kurt Buff [mailto:kurt.b...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 2:56 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: Server Core Interesting, and good to know. Still, the more they can support on core, the better, IMHO. On Thu, Jun 3, 2010 at 12:48, Free, Bob <r...@pge.com> wrote: > Remember the purpose of core was not to be an application platform but > to > “provide a minimal environment for running specific server roles that > reduces the maintenance and management requirements and the attack > surface for those server roles.” > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/r2-compare-core-insta > llation.aspx > > Caveat to the snippet below- R2 now supports 11 roles rather than the > original 9 and we also have .NET now but the underlying message is the > same- > > From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd184076.aspx > > Consider again the nine server roles you can install on Server Core: > > AD DS > AD LDS > DNS > DHCP > File Services > Print Services > Streaming Media Services > Web Server (IIS) > Hyper-V > > This list of roles should immediately suggest some possible usage > scenarios for Server Core within your organization. Here are some ways > that you could use Server Core to make your network more secure, more > reliable, easier to manage, and easier to maintain: > > Infrastructure servers. Domain controllers, DHCP servers, and DNS > servers are the backbone of your network. Running these roles on > Server Core can strengthen this backbone in every way. > Branch office servers. Because Server Core installations are more > secure and require fewer software updates than Full installations, > they are ideal for use in remote locations, such as branch offices > where you have few (or no) information technology (IT) staff and less > physical security than at your head office location. For example, you > might deploy a Server Core installation as a read-only domain > controller with BitLocker for added security at a branch office. > Server consolidation and testing. Because Hyper-V is a supported role > on Server Core, you can use Server Core to consolidate multiple > servers onto a single system while still keeping them isolated. This > can help lower your TCO by reducing your hardware requirements and > your power, cooling, and management costs. Server Core running Hyper-V > also provides a convenient environment for deployment testing. > Extending hardware life. Because Server Core has lower disk and memory > requirements than Full installations, you may be able to get more life > out of old systems. For example, when you need to upgrade your e-mail > or database servers, those boxes could be moved down the line to > become network infrastructure servers running Server Core. > > Non-Usage Scenarios > > What shouldn't you use Server Core for? The main thing to understand > is that Server Core is intended to run only the nine server roles listed > previously. > Nothing else. In other words, Server Core can't be used as a platform > for running server applications such as Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL > Server, or third-party server applications like SAP. You also can't > use it for running Microsoft Office System applications or Microsoft > Office SharePoint Server. And you can't (or at least shouldn't) use it > to run custom applications you've developed in-house. In short, Server > Core is not an application hosting platform. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Kurt Buff [mailto:kurt.b...@gmail.com] > Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 11:31 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: Re: Server Core > > > > Uh, > > > > So what needs a GUI on top? > > > > On Thu, Jun 3, 2010 at 11:22, Michael B. Smith <mich...@smithcons.com> > wrote: > >> Server core is good for anything that doesn’t need a gui on top. > >> > >> > >> > >> Regards, > >> > >> > >> > >> Michael B. Smith > >> > >> Consultant and Exchange MVP > >> > >> http://TheEssentialExchange.com > >> > >> > >> > >> From: David Lum [mailto:david....@nwea.org] > >> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 2:19 PM > >> To: NT System Admin Issues > >> Subject: Server Core > >> > >> > >> > >> Would I be correct in telling my fellow SE’s that Server Core typical >> uses > >> are remote DC (along with RODC), hyper-V hosts and web servers? > >> > >> David Lum // SYSTEMS ENGINEER > >> NORTHWEST EVALUATION ASSOCIATION > >> (Desk) 971.222.1025 // (Cell) 503.267.9764 > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
