Command Line Tips, Windows Server 2008 Server Core

Microsoft has released Windows Server 2008 in various editions. One of them is Server Core. There is no GUI included in the Server Core. You must perform all the commands by using the command-line tools supplied with the Server Core. Here are few important ones.

Win Tip: If you’re in a Windows environment but prefer a command-line interface to a GUI, the Server Core edition of Windows Server 2008 may be right for you. This cheat sheet of basic commands will help you get started.

To set a static IP Address: Netsh interface ipv4 set address name="" source=static address= mask= gateway=

To join Server Core to a domain: Netdom join /domain: /userd: /password:*

To restart the server: Shutdown /r /t 0

To activate the server: Slmgr.vbs -ato

To activate the server by phone, using a KMS Server, or remotely:
Cscript windowsSystem32slmgr.vbs :-ato

To rename the server: Netdom renamecomputer /NewName:

To see the list of available server roles: OCLIST

To setup a role on the server: OCSETUP

Note: OCLIST and OCSETUP are both case sensitive.

To install a Server Role: Start /w ocsetup ServerRoleName

To uninstall a Server Role: Start /w ossetup ServerRoleName /uninstall

Note: You need to know the only role name. The OCsetup command will do the rest.