What is Nano Server?
Nano Server is the similar to Server core which is very small in size. It doesn’t have Local Login access or Terminal Services support. Only Way to manage nano Server is Remote Powershell
It uses very less disk space and faster boot up. It is required very less patches and not required multiple reboots. Thus helps to keep services up time.
Mentioning Above, It gives below features also
- As a “compute” host for Hyper-V virtual machines, either in clusters or not
- As a storage host for Scale-Out File Server, either in clusters or not
- As a container or virtual machine guest operating system for applications that are developed entirely in the cloud
If you want to know more about the Nano Server, Please watch Jaffrey Snower and Andrew Mason‘s video The Nano Server: The Future of Windows Server Starts Now
How to Install Nano Server?
Nano Server is not a new a topic. it is introduced in the Server Edition of Server 2008 as Server Core wherein Server core allowed Local login and there is no much difference between Server GUI and Server Core apart from reducing the few functionalities. Wherein in Nano Server, complete Server Local login access and terminal access as been removed. the disk space utilization is very less. in my test lab it took only 412 MB Hard Disk Space.
Nano Server is available with Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 2 on-wards. Since it still in Preview there will more changes in the content. we will wait for final release for exact features.
When I am righting this article, There Server 2016 technical Preview Version is 3. Click here to download Server 2016 Technical Preview 3.
Okay, Let’s see how to install.
1. Mount the Server 2016 technical Preview 3.
2. Copy the two Scripts new-nanoserverimage.ps1 and convert-windowsimage.ps1 to local folder Nano Server (TargetFolder).
3. Open Powershell and run the ..New-NanoServerImage.ps1. You have to use Doube Dot(..)
4. Run the Command New-NanoServerImage -MediaPath H:\ -BasePath .\Base -TargetPath .\Nano1 -ComputerName Nano1 –GuestDriver
Provide the Administrator Password
5.You can see the VHD created in Targetpath.
6. Open Hyper-V Manager and Create New Virtual Machine
7.You can see only Login screen in Nano Emergency Management Console. NEMC will help you in case your Nano Server not taken DHCP IP Address or Server not reachable.
8. Login with Credentials which you provided during creation of VM.
9. You can see only Network Card details in the Nano Emergency Management Console.
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