Chapter 4 Initial Configuration Tasks. Understanding the Initial Configuration Tasks window Microsoft now provides a new feature, the Initial Configuration

Chapter 4

Initial Configuration Tasks

Understanding the Initial Configuration Tasks window

• Microsoft now provides a new feature, the Initial Configuration Tasks window.

• This feature leads you through the task of configuring your server for use.

• The interesting part about the Initial Configuration Tasks window is that you can perform the tasks in any order. For example, if you don’t know what do to about networking now but you do know that you want to add a particular role, you can configure the roles first and work on the networking as you gain information about the server configuration.

Understanding the Initial Configuration Tasks window

• The Initial Configuration Tasks window suggests a particular configuration order, and you see that order described in this chapter. The only reason for the suggested set of steps is to ensure that you bring your server online with the correct features in place at the right time.

• For example, you don’t want to expose the server to the public without first having set the required security level.

Initial Configuration Tasks window

Understanding the Initial Configuration Tasks

• Because the Windows Server 2008 installation doesn’t perform any initial configuration, it’s important to know about the default settings that could cause problems for your server.

Setting Name Default Setting Description

Administrator Password Blank Provides default access to the system. The system is wide open when you start, so setting the password is a must-do .



Computer Name Random Value Defines the computer’s name on the network and provides the name others will use to access the computer. The random name that Microsoft provides will be hard to use.

Domain Membership The computer is joinedto a workgroup named WORKGROUP

Defines the computer’s connectivity on the network. For a small company or a groupwithin an enterprise, a work-group may work fine, but most organizations rely on a domain.



Windows Update Off Automatically updates the computer as needed. You need to turn on this feature after performing the initial update to ensure that the server receives required updates.

Windows Firewall On Provides security for incoming and outgoing network traffic. The default Windows Firewall configuration is set to disallow any form of network traffic, to ensure that no one can access the server while you configureit.



Roles None Installed Specifies the tasks that theserver can perform. If you don’t define any roles, the server looks more like a workstation than a server. In fact, it doesn’t even make a good workstation.

• A role is a major server activity, such as providing file servicesor acting as a DHCP server. • A feature is software you add to help the server perform its tasks, such as Windows PowerShell or Group Policy Management.

Reopening the Initial Configuration Tasks window

• It’s important to remember that the Initial Configuration Tasks window is just that — for initial configuration. Even after you’ve worked with the server for a while, you may find that you need to add more roles or features to it. You can always display the Initial Configuration Tasks window as needed until the server is set up perfectly.

Reopening the Initial Configuration Tasks window

1. Choose Start Run.➪2. Type OOBE in the Open field and press Enter.

Change the Time Zone1. Click Set Time Zone.

Change the Time Zone

2. Click Change Time Zone3.Select a time zone from the Time Zone field.4. Click OK to close the Time Zone Settings

dialog box.

Providing a computer name and domain

1. Click Provide Computer Name and Domain.


2. Type a description for your server in the Computer Description field.

3. Click Change.4. Type a name for your server in the Computer

Name field.5. Select either Domain or Workgroup in the

Member Of field.6. Type the name of the domain or workgroup in

the Domain or Workgroup field (as appropriate).


7. Click OK to close the Computer Name\Domain Changes dialog box.

Windows makes the required configuration changes (it may require a few moments). You see at some point a Welcome dialog box that says you successfully joined a workgroup or domain.

8. Click OK to clear the welcome message.Windows displays a message telling you to restart

your computer to make the changes permanent.


9. Click OK to clear the restart message.10. Click Close to close the System Properties dialog

box.Windows asks whether you want to restart your system.

You must restart it to have the name change take effect.

11. Click Restart Now.Windows restarts your server. When your system

reboots, it uses the new computer name you provided and is part of the chosen workgroup or domain.

Configuring networking

• Even though the Configure Networking option appears second on the list, you probably want to perform the Provide Computer Name and Domain task first.

• Networking relies on the correct configuration of these two items, so it doesn’t make sense to try to configure networking when you can’t be sure of connecting to anything.

• After you configure the computer name and domain or workgroup, come back to this step.

Adding roles

• roles determine major functionality of a server.• Microsoft provides a special wizard for installing roles

on Windows Server 2008– You access this wizard by clicking Add Roles

• All you need to do is check the roles you want to add and then click Next

• Notice how the Description field, at the right side of the Add Roles Wizard, tells you about the particular role you have highlighted. If you want additional information about the role, simply click the link

Adding roles

Adding roles

• Whenever you choose a role that has additional requirements, the Add RolesWizard displays an additional dialog box, such as the one shown in the following Figure

Enabling Remote Desktop

• This feature lets you see the server desktop as if you’re sitting in front of the server, without actually being there

• When you click Enable Remote Desktop, you see the Remote tab of the System Properties dialog box, shown in the Figure


• Remote Desktop allows two levels of connection.

• Select the first Allow Connections setting when you want to connect using an older Windows client, such as Windows XP.

• This setting is less secure because it doesn’t provide the detailed security checks on the caller that newer versions of Windows can provide.


• Use the second Allow Connections setting when you want to connect using a Vista or newer version of windows client.

• This option provides far greater security, and you should use it when you can

• In all cases, the Administrators group automatically has access to the server using Remote Desktop. If you want to use Remote Desktop for administration tasks only, don’t add any users to the list of people allowed to connect to the server.

Homework

1. Change the time zone in your server2.Chang your computer name at the server to

your full name (first name and family name)3.Restart the computer and paste a snap shot

that shows the new name of your computer 4.Submit it next lecture

Documents

Chapter 4 Initial Configuration Tasks. Understanding the Initial Configuration Tasks window Microsoft now provides a new feature, the Initial Configuration