Reducing the Server Core Disk Footprint

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:55:05 GMT

There's an interesting entry on the TechNet blogs about how to further reduce the amount of disk required for running Server Core.

Server Core is tiny compared to a full installation of Windows Server 2008, sacrificing the GUI and .NET to reduce RAM & disk requirements as well as reducing the attack surface. It supports a number of roles whose install files are on the hard disk. You can uninstall those packages using the instructions on the linked blog entry.

This is a one-way deal. You cannot re-install those packages. To get them back you have to re-install the OS. You will no longer be able to install the functionality of the packages once you remove them.

Why would you consider this? If you're installing Core, you've probably got a very set idea of what the server will do, e.g. it will be nothing but a file server, or a DC, or maybe even a Hyper-V host. In fact, a Hyper-V host is a perfect example. It should be nothing but a Hyper-V host. Uninstalling the other packages will guarantee that and you'll have minimised how much disk the OS needs, thus freeing up space for VM's ... although it's not going to all that much!

This Sucks: CoreConfigurator Is Discontinued

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:01:01 GMT

The author of CoreConfigurator has had to pull the plug on CoreConfigurator. Like many of us, he had that awful clause in his employment contract that gives the employer ownership rights over all intellectual property he created while employed by that firm, even if he did it on his own time and at home.

That one brought up some interesting discussions when I took my current job because some of the things I've been writing are already the property of a publisher. My employer was able to confirm that legally the contract could not extend to my independent work at home.

The author, Guy Teverovsky, has had to hand over ownership to his now former employers. What they'll do with the code is uncertain. This sucks because it was a great little tool for those new to the ways of command prompt.

But, not that I condone piracy in any way, you will find this tool out and about in the wilds of the Internet if you Google hard enough.

Aidan Finn: W2008

Reducing the Server Core Disk Footprint

This Sucks: CoreConfigurator Is Discontinued