POST INSTALLATION CONFIGURATION TASKS

Most Windows system administrators have a list of steps that they take when
deploying a brand new Windows server onto the network. Immediately after
completing the fresh installation you will need to do the post installation
configurations as will be discussed below.

Figure A gives you a look at the main Server Manager window in Windows
Server 2012R2.

Figure A

An overview of the Server Manager window (click on images for full-size).

1. Rename the server

Given that the installer provides the server with a generic name, most
administrators immediately rename the server to match the organization's
naming convention. This is the first option on the Server Manager window.

To change your server name, click the existing name of the server. When the
System Properties page appears, click the Change button. Provide a new
computer name in the appropriate box and click the OK button. Note that
changing the server name will require you to restart the machine.
Figure B

Change the server name and domain membership

2. Join a domain
If you look back at Figure B in item 1, you'll see information regarding domain
membership at the bottom of the window. In the domain box, provide your
domain name.

3. Disable Windows firewall

Some organizations use host-based firewalls and some don't. If you're in the
group that prefers to disable host-based firewalls, that's step three of the initial
server preparation. In Figure A, you will notice that my system currently has
the Windows firewall enabled for domain connections. To make a change to
the Windows firewall configuration, click the Domain: On label. You will get a
screen like the one shown in Figure C.
Figure C

Current Windows firewall status

At the left-hand side of the window, click the Turn Windows Firewall on or
off link to make changes. Select the radio button next to Turn off Windows
Firewall for each network as shown in Figure D.

Figure D
Disable the firewall for each network

4. Enable Remote Desktop for remote management

There are a lot of ways to manage a Windows Server, but many
administrators will install a full GUI and connect remotely to the console. It's
quick and it's easy. Item four on our list is configuring this option.

First, click the Disabled link next to the Remote Desktop entry in Server
Manager. When the Server Manager Remote page opens, select the radio
button next to Allow remote connections to this computer.

Next, you need to add users that are allowed to connect remotely to the
server. By default, the currently logged in user is granted this right once you
enable Remote Desktop. To add additional users, click the Add button (Figure
E).
Figure E

Enable and configure Remote Desktop

5. Configure the server's IP settings

In Figure A, you'll note that this server currently has an IP address provided by
DHCP. Click that entry to provide this server with a static IP address. When
you do so, a list of network adapters appears (Figure F). I have only a single
network adapter in my server.

Figure F
This system has just one network adapter.

Double-click the listed adapter to open its information page (Figure G).

Figure G

The information page for the network adapter

From here, click the Properties button to open the properties page and, from
there, double-click Internet Protocol version 4. Provide IP address information
for the server.
Figure H

Configure the adapter

6. Configure Windows Update

Keeping your server protected is of paramount importance. To get started,
click Not Configured next to Windows Update. When the screen shown
in Figure I appears, click the Turn On Automatic Updates button. Windows
will immediately begin looking for any updates that have yet to be applied to
your system. The result is shown in Figure J where you can see that
Windows Update is now enabled and there are updates pending installation.

Figure I
Windows Update is not currently enabled

Figure J

Windows Update is enabled as there are updates waiting.

You can control the time at which updates are applied. Bear in mind that some
updates require a system restart. To change Windows Update settings, click
the Change Settings option at the left side of the screen. This will bring up the
Change Settings window, shown in Figure K.

Figure K
The Change Settings window

From this screen, click the link entitled Updates will be automatically installed
during maintenance window to open the Automatic Maintenance settings
window, shown in Figure L. In this window, change the time at which
automatic maintenance should take place. Note that maintenance includes
processes that include updates, security scans, and other system diagnostics.

Figure L

Configure the system's maintenance window

8. Configure time zone settings

There are a whole lot of time zones. This one is pretty easy. Click the current
time zone setting to open the Date and Time configuration window shown
in Figure N. From there, click the Change Time Zone button and in the
resulting window, choose the appropriate time zone.

Figure N

Windows Date and Time configuration

9. Install antimalware software

Here you have to install the antimalware of your choice you can call it ant-
virus software utility.

10. Make sure the server is "enlightened"

Most new servers these days are of the virtual variety. As such, they need
tools installed which provide the server operating system with drivers that
match the virtual environment and enable some of the capabilities of
virtualization. If you're running Windows Server 2012, the Hyper-V Tools are
baked into the operating system. However, if you're running a different version
of Windows Server or are using VMware, make sure to install either the
Hyper-V or VMware Tools.

Figure O