Since Windows Server 2008 we have the possibility to install Windows without the GUI. A so called core installation. I have tried it a few times but never really like it. Managing it was not so easy. And it was only possible to use it for a limited set of server roles. Like Active Directory Services or File Services. It was also possible to use it as a Web Server, but with limitations. For example it was not possible to use ASP.net.
With Windows Server 2008 R2 the Server Core installation became more useful and also more manageable. Even with all the improvements I never really used it.
In Windows Server 2012 the Server Core installation is now the default option. The Windows Server team made a lot of improvements to it. You can use it for almost every Server Role and managing it has become more easy. Also because it is shipped with Powershell 3.0.
So it is time to explore Server Core again. My main focus will be to find out how useful Server Core is as a Web Server and what kind of troubles or limitations I will get into and how to deal with them.
This is it for now. I need to build my test environment first. But I will be back soon with the next part Windows Server Core: Installation & Configuration.
