Windows Server 2016 has a new installation option: Nano Server . It is a remotely managed server operating system optimized for data centers and private clouds. It is similar to Windows Server in Server Core mode , but it is much smaller, has no local logon capabilities, and only supports 64bits agents, tools, and applications.
Unfortunately, you can not simply mount the image of Windows Server 2016 and choose Nano Server as the desired edition. To deploy Nano Server, you need to prepare custom images using the newly introduced PowerShell cmdlets and modules.
The strong points of a Nano Server:
It takes up a lot less disk space
Installs much faster
Needs a lot less updates and reboot
Very fast startup
What you need :
Download the evaluation version here: evaluate-windows-server-2016
A Microsoft tool that you can test, Nano Server Image Builder: Nano Server Image Builder
Download Windows Server 2016
Fit the ISO Server 2016
The Windows Server 2016 image contains a Nano Server folder and a Nano.wim image . Nano Server Image Builder needs access to these OS system folders and files to build a custom Nano Server image .
That's why you have to mount the ISO (Daemon Tools) and copy the NanServer folder and put it in a location of your choice (easily accessible)
Image creation with PowerShell
PowerShell command
Start Windows PowerShell. We will load the module New-NanoServerImage from the NanoServer directory that you copied from the Windows Server 2016 ISO.
Open the script below from Windows PowerShell ISE. The following services will be installed in addition to:
Web server (IIS)
DNS service
$ path = "F: \ ISO" // This is where the NanoServer folder copied from the Windows Server 2016 ISO
$ NanoVHDPath = "F: \ ISO \ NanoServer.vhd"
$ BasePath = ". \ Base "
$ DeploymentType = " Host "
$ Edition = " Standard "
$ MaxSize = 20GB
$ Computername = " pixelabs "
$ password =" password "
$ SecurePassword = ConvertTo-SecureString $ password -AsPlainText -Force
$ ServerPackages = " Microsoft-NanoServer-Host -Package " ,
"Microsoft-NanoServer-IIS-Package" ,
"Microsoft-NanoServer-DNS-Package" ,
"Microsoft-NanoServer-OEM-Drivers-Package"
# ------------------ -------
New NanoServerImage -DeploymentType $ DeploymentType ` -Edition $ Edition ` -MediaPath $ path ` -BasePath $ BasePath ` -TargetPath $ NanoVHDPath ` -maxsize $ MaxSize ` -ComputerName $ Computername `
-package $ ServerPackages `
-EnableRemoteManagementPort `
-AdministratorPassword $ SecurePassword `
# -------------------------
Since the Shell part at the bottom, position yourself on the directory NanoServer > NanoServerImageGenerator
cd F:\ISO\NS2016\NanoServer\NanoServerImageGenerator
Import-Module .\NanoServerImageGenerator -Verbose
Run the script: F5
Wait until the following message is displayed:
PS F: \ ISO \ NS2016 \ NanoServer \ NanoServerImageGenerator> C: \ Users \ Pixel \ Desktop \ NanoServer.ps1
Done. The log is at: F: \ ISO \ NS2016 \ NanoServer \ NanoServerImageGenerator \ Base \ Logs \ 2018-03-17_11-17-14-77
VM Nano Server
I will just use Oracle VM Virtualbox for the virtual machine. It's very fast.
New VM
Name: Nano Server
Type: Microsoft Windows
Version: Windows 2016 (64-bit)
Memory size: 1 GB
Hard Disk : Using an Existing Virtual Hard Disk File
Select the VHD file you just created via PowerShell: NanoServer.vhd
Validate the creation of the VM (Create)
Go to VM Settings: Network > Select Bridge Access
Start Nano Server
Start the VM : After a few seconds, the login page appears. Sign in. (the keyboard is in QWERTY )
User: Administrator
Pass: password
Recovery Console:
Use the keyboard and tab keys to navigate.
Here I stop friends, below a simple method to create a bootable USB key via the Microsoft Nano Server Image Builder tool. It's up to you to test it.
See you soon,
Download Nano Server Image Builder
Installing NS Image Builder
Note: Nano Server Image Builder did not work for me , I have the image and after installation, arriving at the login screen, I can not do anything, the keyboard is not recognized .
Download the Nano Server Image Builder tool by clicking on the link below then install by default. Nothing complicated
Nano Server Prerequisites
The procedure is quite simple. All you need to install as a prerequisite is two features:
Windows Assessment
Deployment Kit
When you launch the tool, it asks you to install them. Click OK.
Choose a location for installation:
Check the No box and click Next .
Accept the License.
Tick the two features in question: (you can leave the other boxes checked if you wish, in this case, it must provide more than 6 GB of disk space
Click on Install
Have a coffee
Image Creation / Bootable USB Stick
Create bootable USB media
When done, restart Nano Server Image Builder . Two choices are available to you.
Create a new Nano Server image
Create bootable USB media
If you plan to install Nano Server on a physical server, choose the 2nd option (bootable USB key). Here we will create a bootable USB key.
So click on Create bootable USB media
Click on: Next > x2
Select the file NanoServer.win : it is in the ISO file of Windows Server 2016> NanoServer> NanoServer.wim
after a few seconds, it displays information about the ISO.
Click on: Next >
Select your USB drive from the list: USB drives available
Click on: Next >
Choose the boot mode: UEFI - For a VM under Virtualbox, choose BIOS
Nano Server will automatically create the necessary partitions that you can of course edit.
Click on: Next >
Summarize it, click Create
Wait for the bootable key to be created: Job success must be displayed under the progress bar.
You can then create the image from the USB key.
Put in the Create a bootable ISO ... field : the path + the output name with the extension .ISO > Example: C: \ server \ NanoServer_en .iso
Click Create
Done, the ISO is 446 MB
Nano Server Virtual Machine
Start Nano Server
I will just use Oracle VM Virtualbox for the virtual machine.
New VM
Name: Nano Server
Type: Microsoft Windows
Version: Windows 2016 (64-bit)
Memory size: 1 GB
Create a virtual disk now
Hard disk file type: VDI
Dynamically allocated
Size: 15 GB
Validate the creation of the VM
Note: When creating the Nano Server image, we selected the UEFI boot mode . Under Virtualbox, this mode is not enabled by default. Go to the settings of the VM Nano Server and activate the UEFI mode: Settings > Enable EFI (Special OS only), despite this option, it may not work.
Go to: Storage > Select the ISO Nano Server
Go to: Network > Select Access by bridge
Start the VM : Warning: Without the US keyboard, we can not go very far unfortunately, this tool does not work properly ... At startup, we can not do anything. Hoping for a quick update ...
You can of course test on your side and tell me about your results.
See you soon for the next chapter> Administering Nano Server via PowerShell
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