Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 4)

Introduction

Part 1 – Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 1)

Part 2 – Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 2)

Part 3 – Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 3)

Part 4 – Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 4)

Part 5 –

This was the Introduction, New Features and Enhancements section in my Migration from Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 to 2012 book. Because of some changes in the format and content of this book, we have decided not to include any introduction or new features section in this book. The focus of the book is to provide more hands-on and step-by-step instructions on migration. So I decided to add Introduction, New Features and Enhancements section in my blog in 5 different parts. You can read the rest of the sections in the book.

 

Infrastructure and Security

The infrastructure services such as DNS, DHCP, WINS etc. are the backbone of any Microsoft network. The native support for high availability, centralised management or regulatory compliance can provide a great value to any organization. In this version, you will see many enchantments in this arena to accommodate these customer requirements. The following section will provide an overview:

DHCP High Availability

Microsoft has introduced a true failover and loadbalacing solution for DHCP in Windows Server 2012. It sycnhronizes IP addresses and lease information between DHCP servers. There are two options available in Windows Server 2012 – Hot Standby and Load Sharing mode. In Hot Standby mode, the secondary server in the failover relationship will act as a standby server and will respond to the client queries only if the primary server is not available. In Load Sharing mode, both DHCP servers will be active and will respondto the client DHCP request is based on the load ratio configued on these severs.

In the above screenshot the default mode is Load Balance mode. In this mode, you can modify the Load Balance percentage parameter on the local and partner servers. In hot standby mode, you can select the reserved addresses for the standby server.

IP Address Management (IPAM)

IP Address Management (IPAM) provides a framework for a centralized managment and administration of IP address. During the configuration process, you can select either of the two provisioning options – Manual or Group Policy Object (GPO) based. In Manul option, you have to manually configure Security groups, Networkshare, Firewall shares etc on each managed servers. If you are using GPO based provisioning, you can deploy these settings through a GPO.

NIC Teaming

NIC Teaming is natively supported on Windows Server 2012. It doesn’t require any additional or third party software to enable NIC teaming in Windows Server 2012. It can support multiple vendor NICs and can support upto 32 NICs in a team.

Windows Software Update Service (WSUS)

Microsoft Windows Software Update Service (WSUS) is a new Role in Windows Server 2012. Unlike Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, the software does not have to be installed separately.

Cluster Aware Updating (CAU)

This is one of the most awaited features. As an administrator, installing updates on cluster nodes can be a challenge. In Windows Server 2012, Microsoft has introduced a new feature called Cluster Aware Updating (CAU). It is a cluster aware service. During the update process, Cluster Aware Updating (CAU) process will move all services to an available cluster node, install the patches and restart the cluster nodes automatically as required.

Dynamic Access Control

It is a powerful security and compliance feature in Windows Server 2012. With this feature, you can define a centralized file access policy and apply this policy on to servers in an Active Directory domain. The file can be classified based on an attribute value or a tag. It can be fully automated (dynamically) based on these values. The Kerberos user and device claims are supported.

Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS)

The 2.1 version of Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) is part of Windows Server 2012. You can add this Role using Server Manager. ADFS 2.1 supports Kerboros based claims and it can integrate with Windows Server 2012 Dynamic Access Control.

Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA)

Microsoft has introduced a new concept called Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) in Windows Server 2012. The Managed Service Account (MSA) in Windows Server 2008 R2 is considered as a “standalone” account since it is tied to a single server. In other words, if you have multiple servers, you will have to create multiple Managed Service Accounts (MSA) in the Active Directory. This limitation has been removed by introducing the Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) concept in Windows Server 2012. The gMSA can support multiple servers.

File System and Storage

Like other technologies in Windows Server 2012, you will see some major changes in the file system technology also. The Storage Spaces and Resilient File System (ReFS) are the two key new features on Windows Server 2012. The following section gives you a high level overview of these features:

Storage Spaces and Pools

In Windows Server 2012, you can virtualize the physical disks into different containers. These containers are called Storage Pools. The virtual disks can be carved out from these storage pools without the need to administer each physical disk separately. More physical disks can be added to these storage pools at a later stage to support additional storage space.

Resilient File System (ReFS)

A new file system called Resilient File System (ReFS) is introduced in Windows Server 2012. This is not a replacement of the NTFS or any other file system. This new file system improves the performance and scalability by automatically fixing the data corruption errors. You will not be able to convert existing file system into ReFS.

Data Deduplication

The new Data Reduplication feature provides a native option to identify and reduce the duplicate data on a disk volume. You will see the Reduplication Rate details from Server Manager itself (File and Storage Service -> Volume).

What is Next?

The following topics and step-by-step instructions are included in the book:

· Windows Server 2012 Core and GUI installation and configuration

· Windows Server 2012 local and remote administration

· Windows Server 2012 Roles and Feature deployment

· Active Directory and domain controller migration

· Network Services (DNS and DHCP) migration

· Data and file server migration

· Printer and print server migration

· Hyper-V and virtual server migration

· Decommissioning old servers and domain controllers

This book currently available in all major stores.

PactPub – http://www.packtpub.com/migrating-from-2008-and-2008-r2-to-windows-server-2012/book

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/1849687447/?tag=packtpubli-20

Barnes & Nobile’s – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/?keyword=Instant+Migration+from+Windows+Server+2008+and+2008+R2+to+2012+How-to+%5BInstant%5D

Safari Books Online – http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9781849687447?cid=packt-cat-readnow-9781849687447

Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 2)

Introduction

Part 1 – Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 1)

Part 2 – Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 2)

This was the Introduction, New Features and Enhancements section in my Migration from Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 to 2012 book. Because of some changes in the format and content of this book, we have decided not to include any introduction or new features section in this book. The focus of the book is to provide more hands-on and step-by-step instructions on migration. So I decided to add Introduction, New Features and Enhancements section in my blog in 5 different parts. You can read the rest of the sections in the book.

Administration

As an administrator, the key to efficiently and proactively manage servers is to use the right administration tool. With the new features and enhancements in Microsoft Windows Server 2012, now an administrator can achieve this by using the native administrative tools. The details of these new features are explained in the following sections:

Multi-Sever Administration

Unlike other Microsoft server Operating Systems (OS), the Server Manager included in the Windows Server 2012 provides remote and multi-server administration and management capabilities. The previous versions of the Server Manager, has the ability to manage only a single server from a management console at a given time. In Windows Server 2012, Microsoft has redesigned the entire Server Manager application to support more “standard-based” management capabilities. With this new Server Manager, you can manage, monitor and administer multiple servers concurrently from a single dashboard.

In the background, the new Server Manager uses standard Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and PowerShell cmlets to query and collect data from local and remote servers. By default, the new Server Manager collects data every 10 minutes. However, this threshold value can be customized from the Server Manger. You can also manually refresh the data from dashboard using the Refresh button which will trigger a polling operation. The new Server Manager has the potential to manage a very large number of servers simultaneously. However the drawback of this is that it would be challenging for an administrator to monitor the events and alerts coming for these server into a single console.

Roles and Features

You will see two new options when adding Roles or Features in Windows Server 2012 – Roles based or Feature based Installation and Remote Desktop Service Installation.

The new Server Manager is fully customizable based on your requirements and the roles or features installed on these servers. For example, you can create a group called Houston and add all servers from the Houston data center to display the events and alerts from that particular location or you can add types of servers based on Roles to see only alerts from these types of servers. You will see more details of this in the Administration of Windows Server 2012 section (Chapter #3) of this book.

Server Manager – At a glance

Here are some of the key highlights of the new Server Manager:

1. Can manage multiple severs by Groups, Names, Roles and Features.

2. Deploy Roles and Features from a single hyperlink. In Windows 2008 and Windows 2008 R2, while installing we had to identify whether it is a role or feature, but in Windows Server 2012, you will be able to select both Roles and Features from a single console and hyperlink.

3. Can manage Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 but with limited functionalities. You won’t be able to add roles or features, collect performance data etc. In-order to access and manage remote servers that are running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, you need to install the Windows Management Framework Targeted Release (WTR) on these servers.

4. Ability to deploy Roles and Features to remote servers and offline virtual disks.

Note: A 64 and 32 bit version of Remote Server Administration Tool (RSAT) is available for Windows 8.

There is no Remote Server Administration Tool (RSAT) tool for Windows 7. You have to use Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

You cannot install Server Manager on Server 2012 Core. However, you can manage Sever 2012 Core from Server Manager

ISO Support

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) file formats are natively supported in Windows Server 2012. As you can see in the following screenshot, you can right click an ISO image and mount it as an image file without any additional tools. It is part of the Operating System.

PowerShell

In Windows Server 2012, Microsoft has introduced the next version of PowerShell – PowerShell 3.0. PowerShell 3.0 includes a total of 2300 cmdlets, 260 core cmdlets and 239 modules. These additional and improved PowerShell cmdlets provides more efficiency and automation to manage servers locally and remotely in an enterprise.

In a nutshell, Windows Server 2012 and PowerShell 3.0 offers the following out-of-the box capabilities:

1. Easy and automated administration

2. Scheduled job creation

3. Workflow capabilities

4. Disconnect and reconnect remote sessions

5. New PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)

6. IntelliSense support

7. Snippets support

8. PowerShell history viewer

9. Help file on-demand

10. Windows PowerShell Web Access

11. Show Command Window

PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)

By default, PowerShell and PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) are installed on any version of Windows Server 2012. The new PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) is equipped with IntelliSense and Snippets support to provide full development platform and experience for administrators.

IntelliSense

IntelliSense is an auto completion feature by Microsoft. Most of the programmers are familiar with this feature in the development platform. However, this is the first time Microsoft is integrating this feature into PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE). Now you don’t feel like PowerShell is just about commands and command line options.

In the following screenshot, you can see an example of IntelliSense support:

Snippets

This term is popular in the development world. However, this is also new in PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) on Windows Server 2012. Snippet provides sample codes and syntax details inside a development environment. The following screenshot depicts an example of a Snippet code:

You will also see a new Command Window on the right pane. By default, this displays all available modules. From this window, you can search a cmdlet or module to get more information.

PowerShell Web Access

The PowerShell Web Access is a new feature in Windows Server 2012. This provides a PowerShell gateway service to remote servers. As the name sounds, this is a web based Windows console and it doesn’t require PowerShell or any plug-ins on the local computer. The remote machines can be managed from a web browser.

As you can see in the above screenshot (in the Optional Connection Settings), delegation of administration (or alternate credentials) is supported in PowerShell web access. You can use one account for the Gateway access and another account for the actual destination server access.

Note: Even though Server 2012 is shipped with PowerShell 3.0, you can add Windows PowerShell 2.0 as an additional feature for backward compatibility.

You can install PowerShell Add-Ons to enhance the administration and automation process with PowerShell ISE. These Add-Ons can be downloaded from the Microsoft site.

---

What is Next?

The following topics and step-by-step instructions are included in the book:

· Windows Server 2012 Core and GUI installation and configuration

· Windows Server 2012 local and remote administration

· Windows Server 2012 Roles and Feature deployment

· Active Directory and domain controller migration

· Network Services (DNS and DHCP) migration

· Data and file server migration

· Printer and print server migration

· Hyper-V and virtual server migration

· Decommissioning old servers and domain controllers

This book currently available in all major stores.

PactPub – http://www.packtpub.com/migrating-from-2008-and-2008-r2-to-windows-server-2012/book

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/1849687447/?tag=packtpubli-20

Barnes & Nobile’s – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/?keyword=Instant+Migration+from+Windows+Server+2008+and+2008+R2+to+2012+How-to+%5BInstant%5D

Safari Books Online – http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9781849687447?cid=packt-cat-readnow-9781849687447

Migrating to Windows Server 2012 – Intro (Part 1)

Introduction

This was the Introduction, New Features and Enhancements section in my Migration from Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 to 2012 book. Because of some changes in the format and content of this book, we have decided not to include any introduction or new features section in this book. The focus of the book is to provide more hands-on and step-by-step instructions on migration. So I decided to add Introduction, New Features and Enhancements section in my blog in 5 different parts. You can read the rest of the sections in the book.

“The” User Interface (UI)

When talking about new features, we have to start with one of the most debated feature – the new User Interface (UI). This will be the “new start menu” in Windows Server 2012. This new interface is called Metro style interface. Metro is a Microsoft code name for content and typography based language. It is developed by Microsoft and was first widely used in Windows 7 phones. As you might know, Typography is not a new concept. We have seen these types of directions and instructions everywhere especially at the airports.

Start Screen

After the initial installation of Windows Server 2012 with GUI option (these installation option details are explained in the later chapters of this book) , you will see eight tiles on the Start Screen– Server Manager, Windows PowerShell, Administrative Tools, Computer, Task Manger, Control Panel, Internet Explorer and Desktop. More tiles will be automatically added based on roles, features and tools installed on the local server. In other words each tile represents each role, features or application on the local computer. The “tile” approach is a great way to visually identify (typographically) the required programs from a server instead of navigating through the menu buttons and program files. However, keep in mind that, if the desktop gets too crowded with these tiles, it will become difficult to identify the required administrative “tiles”. When more tiles are added, you can scroll the screen to left or right based on your requirement. Of course you will have the option to Pin or Unpin these tasks into the desktop as required. You will also see “Run as different User” option from the start window itself.

Note: You won’t be able to enable (even through registry changes) old Start menu option in Server 2012. Metro Style UI is the standard and default interface for Windows Server 2012. So get familiarized with this interface!

Operating System

Windows Server 2012 is only available in 64 bit version. The installation options are limited to the following two levels:

1. Server Core – Server Core is considered as the default installation for Windows Server 2012. You can use RSAT for remote server administration and management. Managing these servers using PowerShell is also supported.
2. Server with a GUI – The “Server with a GUI” option can be compared to the full installation option available in Windows Server 2008 R2. However, you will notice that some of the features like Directory Service (DS) commands are not available as part of the Operating System in Windows Server 2012.

Note: Server Core can reduce up to 50% patches compared to a server with a GUI.

Configuration Levels

A major change in Windows Server 2012 is that you can choose different “configuration levels” when installing OS or you can modify these levels after the installation. Unlike Windows 2008 and Windows 2008 R2, now you have an option to convert Full Server to Server Core and vice versa. As you might know, in Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, your only option is to re-install the entire Operating system. However, in Windows server 2012 the Operating System consists of three layers – Core, Core+Full Server and Core+Full Server +GUI. You can add or remove these layers to customize your installation into your desired state. In other words, you can achieve all these without reinstalling the entire Operating System.

In Windows server 2012, Microsoft has introduced three new features – Graphical Management tools and infrastructure, Server Graphical Shell and Desktop Experience. When you add or remove these features to a server core installation, you will get the desired result as shown the following diagram:

 

For example, if you remove the Server Graphical Shell, you will get Minimal Server Interface version of Windows Server 2012. This is similar to a Server with a GUI installation, but Internet Explorer 10, Windows Explorer, the desktop, and the Start screen will not be available. Then Microsoft Management Console (MMC), Server Manager, and a subset of Control Panel will be available. The Desktop Experience feature includes Desktop Themes, Windows Media Player, Photo Management etc. Windows PowerShell is part of all versions of Windows Server 2012. You can read more about Converting from Core version to GUI and vice versa in the installation and configuration section of this book.

Features on demand

In Windows Server 2012, you can customize the installation by removing the installation binaries from the hard drive (Disabled with payload removed) or by installing the required features or roles on the server (“features on demand”). When installing these features you have an option to select the local or remote media, Windows image file (WIM) or Windows Update service as the source file.

Note: Unlike Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008, Directory Service (DS) commands are not part of Windows Server 2012 Operating System.

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