How to prevent the Server Manager from loading each time with Windows Server 2012/R2

To prevent the Server Manager dialog box from loading each time upon login, click on Manage, Server Manager Properties.

Enable the checkmark to not automatically load the application at login.

How to customize the Server Manager Tools list within Windows Server 2012/R2

The Server Manager within Windows Server 2010/R2 includes a Tools menu option.

The list of shortcuts can be found at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\

To add a new entry to the Tools list within Server Manager, add an entry to this location.

Allow more than one RDP session per account with a Windows Server

To allow a Windows Server to have more than one RDP session per account, access HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server and change the value of fSingleSessionPerUser from 1 to 0.  This change does not allow more than the default number of administrative remote sessions.

PowerShell command to prevent accidental deletion

To enable the feature to prevent accidental deletion for all user objects within Active Directory, use the following PowerShell command.

Get-ADObject -filter {(ObjectClass -eq "user")} |  Set-ADObject -ProtectedFromAccidentalDeletion:$true

The command above should enable the parameter for all user and computer accounts within Active Directory.

PowerShell network cmdlets with Windows Server 2012

Below are some examples of some PowerShell network-related cmdlets within Windows Server 2012.

How to disable SMB version 1 within Windows Server 2012

Windows Server 2012 introduced a new version of the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.  SMB version 3 includes new features such as encryption.  If your environment does not have any Windows XP or earlier clients, an option is available to disable SMB version 1 to improve security.  The PowerShell cmdlet Get-SmbServerConfiguration will offer information on the current status of SMB version 1 and 2.

To disable SMB version 1, use the PowerShell command of Set-SmbServerConfiguration –EnableSMB1Protocol $false

Windows Server 2012 and removing binaries from the local disk using Features on Demand

By default, the files required for adding roles and features within Windows Server 2012 are stored under C:\Windows\WinSxS.  An option is available via PowerShell to remove certain binary files from this folder.  If a particular file is required again in the future, the operating system will attempt to obtain it via Windows Update.  One advantage is less maintenance; even if a role or feature is not being used, future updates will need to be installed to patch the binary files in question.  It can also help if free disk space on the system partition is an issue.

To remove the binary files from the local disk, use the switch –Remove with the Uninstall-WindowsFeature cmdlet.  The install state column using the Get-WindowsFeature cmdlet should display a value of “removed” if the request was successful.

Files should be missing from the WinSxS folder if compared between a before and after snapshot.

How to change the product key for Windows 8 and Server 2012

To change the product key for Windows 8 and Server 2012, launch an elevated command prompt and use the following command:

slmgr.vbs /ipk license key

How to enable or disable the GUI interface with Windows Server 2012

One disadvantage of Server Core with versions prior to Windows Server 2012 was an option was not available to switch back and forth; once a server was configured to use Server Core, it had to be re-installed to restore the GUI.  Windows Server 2012 introduces the option to enable or disable the GUI with a reboot.  A few different methods are available, but below are the PowerShell commands to accomplish the task.

Either line below will remove the GUI from a non-Core installation of Windows Server 2012.  A reboot will be required.

Remove-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell, Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra

Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell, Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra

Either line below will restore the GUI with a Core configuration.  A reboot again will be required.

Add-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell, Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra

Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell, Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra

Resolve-DNSname PowerShell cmdlet

PowerShell version 3 that is included by default with Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 offers a new DNS lookup cmdlet.  The Resolve-DNSname can resolve DNS information, and offers options such as DNS record type and which server to use for the query.