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Determining if Server Core Fits Your Server Appliance

  • Article

6/22/2010

There are several factors to consider when you evaluate if the Server Core installation option for Windows Server meets the operating system needs of your server appliance. The considerations are the same whether you are evaluating an existing server-appliance platform running a previous version of Windows, a platform with a full, current installation of Windows Server, or a new platform that is in development.

The following table shows the factors you might consider while evaluating whether Server Core is the best fit for your server appliance.

Factor Key question

Server-appliance management

Is the desired method for managing the server appliance, for example a Web-based interface, available if the server appliance is running Server Core?

Software platform

Does Server Core include all of the server roles and Windows platform technologies that your server appliance requires?

Application compatibility

Are all of the applications that will be installed on the server appliance compatible with Server Core?

Server-Appliance Management

Server Core is designed for a computer system that is remotely managed, where users rarely log on directly. Server Core requires administrators to be experienced in using scripting techniques or a command prompt because Server Core provides no graphical user interface for many typical operations in Windows.

The following table shows characteristics to consider.

Server Core might be a good fit if Server Core does not fit if
  • The server appliance is designed to be managed remotely through a custom interface; for example, a Web-based interface or remote scripts.
  • The administrators of the server appliance are experienced using command-line or script-based administration.
  • Direct access to the server appliance is infrequent, either by logging on directly or by using Terminal Services.
  • The server appliance requires the full Windows Explorer shell for management and configuration of Windows, or for management and configuration of an application.
  • The management interface for the server appliance requires that Microsoft Management Console (MMC) runs directly on the server appliance.
  • Users and administrators log on directly to the server appliance as part of its normal operation and expect the graphical user interface in Windows to be present.

Software Platform

Server Core includes a subset of the server roles and Windows technologies available in a full installation of Windows Server.

The following table shows characteristics to consider.

Server Core might be a good fit if Server Core does not fit if
  • The server appliance requires a server role or Windows technology that is not included in Server Core.
  • The server appliance requires a Web browser to be installed locally.

Application Compatibility

Application support on Server Core is a subset of application support in a full installation of Windows Server.

The following table shows characteristics to consider.

Server Core might be a good fit if Server Core does not fit if
  • All software to be installed on the server appliance can run on Server Core.
  • The server appliance uses functionality included with Server Core combined with functionality of your custom application, and does not require third-party applications to be installed.
  • Custom applications are written in Win32 native code, or written to the subset of the .NET Framework that is supported on Server Core for Windows Server 2008 R2. For information about supported versions of the .NET Framework, see .NET Framework Support on Server Core.
  • Your application is based on Active Server Pages (ASP) 3.0, or an earlier version of ASP.
  • Your application is based on ASP .NET and you use Server Core for Windows Server 2008 R2.
  • You have access to source code for the applications that need porting work to run on Server Core.
  • An application to be installed on the server appliance does not support running on Server Core, and cannot be ported to run on Server Core.
  • Access to source code is not available for an application that needs additional development work to run on Server Core.
  • An application is written in a version of the .NET Framework, or other development technology, that is not supported on Server Core, and if the application cannot be modified to run on Server Core.
  • Your application is based on ASP .NET and you use Server Core for Windows Server 2008. Support for ASP .NET in Server Core was not introduced until Windows Server 2008 R2.

See Also

Other Resources

Developing an Application for Server Core
Evaluating an Application for Compatibility With Server Core