when converting a minimal server interface to server with a gui, what feature must be installed?

I'm i of those people that run Windows Server on their desktop workhorse. The reason for this is that this gives me the server features for rapid testing, scripting and taking screenshots for documentation. When you tweak information technology right y'all accept a very nice desktop that doesn't lack annihilation in functionality compared to a desktop but you practice get the extras I only mentioned. An culling is to run a Virtual Machine locally. The latter has become a lot easier & better now we have Hyper-Five in the client .

This subject leads to another interesting adequacy of Windows 8. You lot tin can install Windows 8 as Server Cadre or Server with GUI, which is the full GUI pick. But there is a earth between those. This is the Minimal Server Interface pick. How exercise these differ? Well actually "only" by the features that are enabled.

The feature Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure is the set up of features that makes up the deviation between a Server Core installation and the Minimal Server Interface option of a Full server installation. This means that uninstalling this feature will convert a Full server to a Server Core installation. Server Graphical Shell cannot live without the Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure as both are needed to get the full GUI server.

Server Graphical Trounce is the aforementioned user interface that is installed past default when you choose the Server with GUI installation choice during Setup. This ever installs "Graphical Direction Tools and Infrastructure" as a prerequisite. To decrease the servicing requirements of your server while still beingness able to use Microsoft Management Console (MMC) locally, you tin can uninstall the Server Graphical Beat out using Server Manager, leaving you with the Minimal Server Interface. As stated to a higher place the Minimal Server Interface requires the "Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure" feature to exist installed.

The existent proficient news is that you lot can switch betwixt these server options with reinstalling. Y'all can switch from Total Server with all whistles & bells to Server Core by enabling or disabling features. This an very nice improvement compared to Windows 2008 (R2) as with those versions you're stuck with your option and only a reinstall is the fashion to change this. Not simply that simply I can help out when you need the GUI for some reason temporarily.

A Walk Through of Installing The Desktop Experience

Fifty-fifty for lab environments it too can be handy to have some tools available. On my Windows Server 8 Beta Machine I needed the Snipping Tool for example. So I had to install the Desktop Feel feature.

Using the GUI

In Windows Server viii you'll find that nether Server Manager, Manage "Add together Roles and Features".

The "Add Roles and Features Wizard " pops up at the default first screen which you can elect to skip for futurity use.

Select the Installation Type.

Select the server on which yous want to work.

The Desktop Experience is a feature so go direct to "Features". Scroll down until y'all see User Interfaces & Infrastructure (Installed), open the tree and you'll see that yous can select Desktop Experience.

As you can see The Desktop Experience feature requires that you also install the Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure and Server Graphical Shell features, meaning it will simply run of the Full Server GUI choice.

Once yous select that a message will pop upwards telling you that the Ink Support feature under Ink and Handwriting services and the Media Foundation Feature are required for the Desktop Experience characteristic. Accept the defaults and click Add Features.

Y'all can gyre along the GUI to bank check these features have indeed been selected.

Click adjacent and yous'll be asked to confirm the installation of the features. You can opt to restart automatically when needed.

The Add together Roles and Features Sorcerer starts the installation/ Delight annotation that you can close the wizard and get o with something else. You don't have to babe sit down the GUI.

When finished the shows you demand a restart.

If you closed the wizard and came back to server director late it will warn you about the fact something is awaiting with the yellow exclamation marking.

Using PowerShell

To install Desktop Feel with Windows PowerShell, utilize the post-obit commands:

Import-Module ServerManager

Install-WindowsFeature Desktop-Experience

You'll find that this also installs the "Ink Support" under "Ink and Handwriting Services" automatically for yous. Note below than wen using DISM you' have to manage all that yourself.

To install Media Foundation with Windows PowerShell, use the following commands:

Import-Module ServerManager

Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation

Using DISM

This works only you need to practise some more work. Each and every unmarried feature part needs to be installed separately. You lot need Server Media Foundation, Desktop Experience, just here you'll demand to add Ink Support AND the yourself or you lot may run in to problems. In the Example below nosotros left out ink support.

dism /online /enable-characteristic /all /featurename:ServerMediaFoundation

dism /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:DesktopExperience

That means Information technology looks like you have no Desktop Feel installed in the GUI while the actress tools do announced on your desktop.

Then to ready this nosotros need to add Ink Back up just as well Ink And Handwriting Services as summit level feature. If yous don't it wont be "grayed in" to indicate sub features have been selected (in our case the Ink Support).

dism /online /enable-characteristic /all /featurename:InkAndHandwritingServices

dism /online /enable-characteristic /all /featurename:InkSupport

Yous might have noted that DISM is a bit more than hands on than PowerShell. PowerShell is perhaps the best automation tool to use but don't forget that DISM has off line editing capabilities that can come in handy for all kinds of stuff from injecting drivers to fine tuning your deploy image. Powerful stuff!

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Source: https://blog.workinghardinit.work/2012/03/12/windows-8-server-with-gui-minimal-server-interface-server-core-lesson-with-the-desktop-experience-feature/

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