I asked a coworker to find the method/command to run updates on Server Core and he came back with a link to this nice little script:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa387102(VS.85).aspx

And every time I forget the command to do something in Server Core, when I do a search to find it, I always come back with a link to this post:

http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sanderberkouwer/archive/2007/08/13/changing-server-core-s-look-and-feel-part-1.aspx

And just because I am lazy, and don't particularly like the command line (even though I like Server Core), I have created a folder with a few batch files that I use when I am setting up a Server Core machine.  For instance, I have a batch file that has the product key in it already and I run it to install the product key and activate. 

We are currently considering moving one of our DHCP servers to a VM on Hyper-V.  I was looking for something else and saw this thread on the TechNet Forums, and I want to keep it for later reference:

http://forums.technet.microsoft.com/en-US/winserverhyperv/thread/8004c699-1a22-4f33-9fcd-7271bfcaf74e

So I posted that I feel dumb some days, but when I wrote that, it was related to how frustrated I was trying to figure out System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 Beta.  I thought that I had be shown the light by someone in the product team posting detailed instructions on how to do what I was trying to accomplish.  I would just like to set the record straight and say that IT STILL DIDN'T WORK!

Now I am running Hyper-V RC1 so SCVMM 2008 Beta doesn't work with that yet anyway...  Ah, the joys of life on the bleeding edge....

Quoted from a blog by Sander Berkouwer

Add or remove programs

Again there are two ways to get information on the software that is installed onto your Server Core installation in absence of the "Add or Remove programs" Control Panel applet. (also known as appwiz.cpl)

Registry

The first way is by checking the registry keys underneath the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Luckily Server Core offers regedit.exe and regedt32.exe to digg deep into the registry of our Server Core box. Actually the "Add or Remove programs" Control Panel applet checks these registry keys at well. Since we all know how long it takes to get a complete list of all the software on your windows box it's obvious this method takes a lot of time.

As this TechNet page points out the software packages that are listed underneath the Uninstall registry key all have a registry value associated with the UninstallString. You can use this value as a command to uninstall the software.

WMI

The things that are better left unspoken : Add or Remove programs in Server Core

And some days, I just am dumb...

I have been working with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (before that I had been working with Hyper-V Beta, and RC-0) and trying to configure the SCVMM and System Center Operations Manager connection.  It would help if I were fluent with the SCOM (or OpsMgr if you prefer) environment and how it all works...

Anyway, I have been posting in the TechNet Forums for a few days now and I think someone may have figured out how to educate me... The Virtual Machine Manager team has posted the instructions on their Blog.

Thanks to Brian Ehlert for alerting me to the post.

I have been working on configuring my laptop (a Lenovo Thinkpad T61) with all the tools and gadgets and STUFF that I like to have on my laptop.  Of course the Office products installed just fine, but when I went to install some of the other little things I use, like Windows Live Writer and Windows Live Messenger I got what anyone else will get if you just go to the Live site and try to install them:

Luckily, I managed to find a post where someone else was having the same sort of problem and that led me to a link to the actual installer instead of the WLinstaller.  The WLinstaller doesn't do anything on 2008 except tell you it doesn't like any Server OS.  Here is a link to a nice person who has the installer for just Windows Live Writer.  Go to the bottom of the page for the one that works.

For Windows Messenger, so far I have only been able to get 8.1 to install.  If anyone finds how to get the latest version installed, let me know...  I am guessing you should be able to do it if you can figure a way around that stupid installer...

I have come across a few articles that talk about how Server 2008 is what Vista hoped to be.  Here is an article that a Microsoft person wrote about it:

The Way I See It : Using Windows Server 2008 as a SUPER workstation OS

Also, this article talks about some performance testing:

Windows "Workstation" 2008 - Vista Done Right?

And if you want to run Hyper-V on your laptop, you may want to see this article about how to get the Wireless to be available to the VMs:

Using Hyper-V with a Wireless Network Adapter 

or

Using Wireless with Hyper-V

To change the time zone on a computer running a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008, run control timedate.cpl.

http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/47a23a74-e13c-46de-8d30-ad0afb1eaffc1033.mspx?mfr=true

In the past, I have used mstsc /console to get to "session 0" on remote machines.  With Vista and Windows Server 2008 that isn't the correct command though.  Instead it has been changed to mstsc /admin.