Manage Windows Server 2016 core

After you install Windows Server 2016 core, you will only see a command prompt. Below is how to manage:


  1. sconfig.cmd - with sconfig.cmd, you can perform below tasks:

    1. Setup IP, hostname, join domain ,etc
    2. Enable remote desktop
    3. Enable remote management
    4. Disable Windows Updates
  2. PowerShell at server
    1. Run powershell.exe in the command window
  3. Task Manager
    1. Run taskmgr.exe at server.
  4. Enable Remote PowerShell
    1. Server side: via sconfig.cmd, or run PS command: Enable-PSRemoting
    2. Client side: PS command: Enter-PSSession
  5. Enable  WinRM with Server Manager
    1. Server side: command prompt: winrm qc
    2. Server side: Enable firewall rule at PS:
      PS:
      Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Service Management"
      PS:
      Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Windows Firewall Remote Management"
    3. Client side: download and install Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT)
    4. Client side (for Workgroup)
      1. Go to Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
      2. Browse to  Local Computer Policy - Computer Configuration - Administrative Templates - Windows Components - Windows Remote Management (WinRM) - WinRM Client 
      3. Change "Allow CredSSP authentication" = Enabled.
      4. Change "Trusted Hosts" to Enabled and add the IP or DNS to "Trusted Hosts".
  6. Enable File Sharing
    1.  Server side: netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”File and Printer Sharing” new enable=Yes
  7. Enable remote Event Viewer:
    1. Server side: PS: Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Event Log Management"
  8. Enable Disk Management
    1. Servier side:  PS: Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Volume Management"
  9. Enable remote task scheduler
    1. Servier side:  PS: Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Scheduled Tasks Management"
  10. Reference for commonly used text mode commands.
    1. Add credential to non-domain servers at client PC:
      cmdkey /add: /user: /pass:

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