Developing an Application for Server Core

6/22/2010

This section provides information about developing a new application for a server appliance when the server appliance is based on Server Core. This information is important if you have access to the source code for your application, even if you are only updating or porting an existing application.

When using Server Core as an application platform, consider the following:

• Server Core offers a subset of the APIs that are available in a full installation of Windows Server.
• The Windows shell is not present in Server Core.

In This Section

• Application Development Platforms Available on Server Core
  Describes the subset of APIs that are available in Server Core.

• General Development Considerations for Server Core
  Identifies constraints on the user experience for Server Core compared to a full installation of Windows Server, particularly the constraints that affect application functionality.

• Application Types That Are a Best Fit for Server Core
  Lists the types of application that are the best fit for a server appliance that is based on Server Core.

Related Sections

• Determining if Server Core Fits Your Server Appliance
  Provides information that helps you determine if Server Core is a good fit for the server appliance that you are developing.

• Evaluating an Application for Compatibility With Server Core
  Describes how to verify that an application is compatible with Server Core.

  Refer to this information if you do not have access to the source code for an application, or if you are integrating existing applications into a server-appliance design.