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Windows Server Installation

Windows Server Installation

Welcome to your first hands-on experience with Windows Server if you've never used it before. Here I will be going through the installation process with you to get an idea as to what to look for. We will be installation Windows Server 2022 as it's currently the one I'm most comfortable with. I will going a blog write up of Windows Server 2025 when time permits.

First things first. Let's grab a copy of Windows Server 2022. You can find that here: Download Windows Server 2022

As with my opnsense router. I will be creating a Virtual Machine using my ESXi server.

Creating a Virtual Machine for Windows Server 2022

Click Create/Register VM

Select creation type

Select Create a new virtual machine and then click NEXT

Select a name and guest OS

I'm planning on making this server my domain controller so I will call it DC-01. The rest of the details are as follows:

  • Compatibility: ESXi 8.0 U2 virtual machine
  • Guest OS family: Windows
  • Guest OS Version: Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (64-bit)

Click Next once you're done:

Select creation type

Next it will ask me where I would like to storae my virtual machine files. I have a few option but I will choose DS2-1TB and then click next:

Select creation type

Next it will want me to customize my settings. Here's what I want:

  • CPU - 4 vCPU
  • Memory - 8196MB or 8GB
  • Hard Disk1 - 90GB
  • Network Adapter 1 - PGroup19100 - This network is connected to my opnsense LAN.
  • CD/DVD Drive1 - Select the Windows Server 2022 ISO file.

Once you're done with everything, click Next

Select creation type

Then Finish

Select creation type

Installing Windows Server 2022

Once you're done with the creating the virtual machine. It's time to start it up and install Windows Server

Select creation type

Press any key to boot from CD or DVDs

Select creation type

The installation process is fairly simple and straight-forward. First you will be asked the following:

  • Language to Install - English (United States)
  • Time and currency format - English (United States)
  • Keyboard or input method - US

Select creation type

Click Install now to begin the installation

Select creation type

On the Select the operating system you want to install I will choose Windows Server 2022 Datacenter (Desktop Experience) has a GUI whereas Windows Server 2022 Standard and Windows Server 2022 Datacenter will install the server core version of Windows Server. NOTE: If you install Server Core you cannot enable the GUI experience, you will have to reinstall Windows

Select creation type

Accept the License terms and agreement and proceed

Select creation type

For Which type of installation do you want? Choose Custom: Install Microsoft Server Operating System only (advanced) to install a fresh copy of Windows Server.

Select creation type

Next we're ask Where do you want to install the operating system? I only have one drive available so I will click Next

Select creation type

Click next will begin the installation process

Select creation type

Once the installation is completed, it will automatically reboot the System within 10 seconds, you can also, click restart to reboot right away.

Select creation type

Windows Server 2022 Initial Configuration

Once Windows Reboot it will ask you to create an Administrator password. Enter and Re-enter your password and click finish.

Select creation type

Windows will then then you to the log in screen. Press CTRL+ALT+Delete to bring up the login prompt

Select creation type

Enter the password you create to log into Windows

When I logged in, I'm asked if I want my PC to be discoverable by other PCs, since this is a server I will say no. You might or may not get this prompt.

Select creation type

Next I am asked if I want to Manage my Windows using Windows Admin Center. I will say Don't show this message again and close it

Select creation type

Now that I'm in my operating system. they are a few things I would like to do as part of my initial configurations:

  • Change the Timezone Zone
  • Enable Remote Desktop
  • Change the name
  • Set a Static IP address

Thankfully I can do most of these directly from my Server Manager. I simply click on Local Server below Dashboard to begin:

Select creation type

First I will change my Timezone, I can click on the link next to Timezone to change this. I will select Eastern Time as my timezone.

Select creation type

Select creation type

Select creation type

Select creation type

Select creation type

Select creation type

Next I would like to configure my IP address. Back inside of Server Manager. My Network adapter is called Ehternet0, so I will click on the link next to it to configure my IP address.

Select creation type

I will use the following IP address for this server:

  • IP address: 192.168.100.20
  • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
  • Gateway: 192.168.100.254
  • DNS Server: 192.168.100.20
  • DNS Server: 192.168.100.21

After click on the link, you will be bring to your network connections. Right click on your network adapter and click properties

Select creation type

Then I will click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties

Select creation type

And here I will enter my IP address information

Select creation type

Once I'm done, I will click OK then click the Properties of Ethernet0 and lastly, I will close to network connections window.

From here I will Enable Remote Desktop by clicking on the link next to Remote Desktop

Allow Remote Connections to this computer

Allow Connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (recommended) - I will uncheck this box as I will be remote into my Server through a computer that is not a part of the Domain.

Once I've made from choices I will click Apply then OK

Select creation type

Select creation type

To change the name of my server I will click on the link next to computer name:

Select creation type

Then I will click on Change

Select creation type

And enter the name dc-01 as my computer name. My naming scheme comes from what role my server will fulfill. Since this server will be a First Domain Controller it will be called dc-01.

Select creation type

Once I am done it will tell me that I need to reboot to apply the changes and will give me to option to reboot now or later. I will reboot now.

Select creation type

Select creation type

Select creation type

This is basically how I will be creating all of my Windows Servers. Usually in my production environment I will have a License key to use but since I'm doing this in my homelab that will be blown away after I'm done, it's not currently needed. The only things I will change will be the Computer Name and the IP Address.

Installing the Windows Server operating system is really just to first step. Currently you just have a Computer, it currently doesn't server an purpose but we will change that when we start adding different roles and features to our Servers.

My next step will be to install the Active Directory Role on my new DC-01 Server.