Distributed File System (DFS) is a technology that lets you group shared folders on different servers into one logically structured namespace. As the name suggests, the files are distributed across various file servers and locations, and you can use DFS to access the shared folders of those servers from a single path. The components of DFS are Namespace and Replication. This article covers the DFS Namespace. Additionally, we are using two servers running Windows Server 2022 (SR1-technig and SR2-technig) to install and configure the distributed file system namespace.

Install Distributed File System (DFS) on Windows Server 2022

The DFS technology is part of the File and Storage Services, and you need to install this role on your system. I will install the DFS Namespace using the Server Manager.

1. Open Server Manager.
2. Click Manage > Add Roles and Features.
3. Click Next on the Welcome screen.
4. Select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next.
5. Select the server where you want to install DFS and click Next.
6. On the Server Roles page, expand File and Storage Services and select DFS Namespaces.
7. Click Add Features and then click Next.
8. On the Features page, select the features that you want to install and click Next.

9. Click next on the Select feature wizard, and confirm the installation selection. Review the installation summary and click Install.
10. Wait for a few seconds. The installation might take some time. Click Finish to close the wizard.

Note: You must install the Distributed File System (DFS) on all the servers where you want to implement DFS.

How to configure distributed file system namespace

After the installation, you can create your Namespace following the below procedures. But, first of all, let’s create a folder on each server and share them in the network. To do that, I create a new folder on each server and put a text file in it.

Once the installation is complete, you will need to configure the DFS namespace. Here are the steps on how to do it:

1. Open the DFS Management console.
2. Right-click Namespaces and select New Namespace.
3. In the New Namespace Wizard, enter the namespace name and click Next.
4. Select the type of namespace that you want to create and click Next.
5. Select the servers that will host the namespace and click Next.
6. Review the configuration settings and click Create.

The following are the real example:

1. On server SR1-technig, I create a new folder SR1-Sales, and a text file SR1-TextFiles.
2. On server SR2-technig, I create another folder, SR2-Sales, and a text file, SR2-TextFiles.

Moreover, I share these folders on the network. If you do not know how to share files on the network, please read the Share Files over the Network:

To see whether your folder is shared on the network, press the Windows +R buttons and write the \ServerName in the Run and enter. You see the shared folder appear.

How to create Distributed File System (DFS) Namespace

Once the namespace is created, you can start adding shared folders to it. Here are the steps on how to do it. Now let’s create a namespace by the name of Sales in the DFS Management.

1. Right-click the namespace that you want to add the shared folder to and select New Folder.
2. In the New Folder Wizard, enter the folder name and click Next.
3. Select the shared folder that you want to add to the namespace and click Next.
4. Review the configuration settings and click Create.

Following are the real scenario of adding shared folders to the namespace.

1. In the server manager window, click on administrative tools.
2. Find the DFS Management and open it.
3. You see the two components of the DFS on the left-hand side; right-click on the Namespace> New Namespace.

4. Write or browse the server’s name to host the Namespace and click next.

5. Enter the name of the Namespace. I name the namespace Sales.

6. Click on the Edit Settings button to customize the users’ permissions for the shared folders in the Namespace, and then click the Ok button. Click next.

There are two types of namespaces: domain-based namespaces and standalone namespaces. Domain-based namespaces can be stored on one or multiple namespace servers and in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). Standalone namespaces, on the other hand, are stored on one namespace server. If you choose to create a domain-based namespace, you will need to enable Windows Server 2008 mode.

7. Select the type of Namespace and click next.

8. After reviewing all the settings, click on the Create button.

9. Finally, you have created the Namespace and now close the Wizard by clicking on the Close button.

Create DFS Folders

It is time to bring together all those shared folders from different servers under one Namespace in one server. To do that:

1. In the DFS Management, open the Namespace.
2. Right-click on the newly created Namespace and then New Folder.

3. Click on the Add button to connect the folder to the target path.

4. Browse for the target path, select the shared folder, and click the Ok button.

5. Click on the Ok button to return to the New Folder Wizard, give the folder name, and click the Ok button.

6. Again, right-click on the Namespace, Create New Folder > Add button, browse or write another server’s name, select their shared folder, give it a name, and then click on the OK button.

You can add multiple shared folders from multiple servers and add them into one Namespace.

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type ComputerName and press Enter to check the new namespace you created. If you open that namespace folder in the network, you will see subfolders that are shortcuts to the folders you added to your namespace. These subfolders are linked to the shared folders on other servers. Now, you can access all of those shared folders from different locations under a single path.

Conclusions

In this article, you learned how to install the Distributed File System (DFS) namespace on Windows Server 2022 and configure the DFS namespace to group shared folders from different servers into one namespace. Since this article is already long, we will cover DFS replication in another session. Please feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comment section below.

Related: How to Install and Enable Data Deduplication on Windows Server 2022

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You can free download Windows server 2012 R2 essentials ISO file and virtual machine image for your virtual server lab. The Windows licence works for 180 days. Just download and install, then update to secure the 180 days.

Windows Server Essentials (formerly Windows Small Business Server or SBS. is an integrated server suite from Microsoft designed for running network infrastructure (both intranet management and Internet access) of small and midsize businesses having no more than 25 users or 50 devices. Application server technologies are tightly integrated to provide and offer management benefits such as integrated setup, enhanced monitoring, Remote Web Workplace, a unified management console, and remote access.

Since the release of SBS 2003, the same service packs as those for Windows Server or other server products can be used to update the OS.

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials is a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices. Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials is an ideal first server that not only helps to reduce costs and increase productivity, but it also can be used as the primary server in a multi-server environment for small businesses.

Download Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials ISO File

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials enables small businesses to protect, centralize, organize, and access their applications and information from almost anywhere using virtually any device.

Need more information about Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials? See the product details page.

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• Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials 64-bit ISO
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The link to free download Windows server 2012 R2 essentials iso file. The server virtual image is only available for Azure online.

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Here is all the system administrator (MSC shortcut commands) you need to access faster to each service consoles in Windows server 2016 and other Windows Servers. It might not complete command list, but you can add the new command to this list via command section.

All MSC Shortcut Commands in Windows Server

The complete Windows Server management – Keyboard Shortcuts and Commands for quick access to managing Windows servers inside your network environment.

Active Directory Shortcut Commands

Windows Server Shortcut Commands

Server Core Shortcut Commands

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You can free download the Windows server 2012 R2 ISO file from the below direct link. The Windows Server 2012 R2 provides a wide range of new and enhanced features and capabilities spanning server virtualization, storage, software-defined networking, server management, and automation, web, and application platform, access and information protection, virtual desktop infrastructure, and more.

Download Windows Server 2012 R2 ISO File

Windows Server 2012 R2 is available for download from the Microsoft Evaluation Center. To download the Windows Server 2012 R2 ISO file for free, you need to register and obtain the download link. Here is a direct link to download the Windows Server 2012 R2 ISO file.

Windows Server 2012 R2 Benefits

At the heart of Microsoft’s Cloud OS, Windows Server helps customers transform the data center, taking advantage of technological advances and new hybrid cloud capabilities to increase resilience, simplify management, reduce cost, and speed the delivery of services to the business.

Related: MCSA Lab Manual Articles

Windows Server 2012 R2 is a proven, enterprise-class cloud and data center platform that can scale to run your largest workloads while enabling robust recovery options to protect against service outages. It helps accelerate time to value by simplifying your underlying infrastructure and allowing you to reduce costs by taking advantage of industry-standard hardware. Windows Server 2012 R2 helps you build, deploy, and scale applications and websites quickly and gives you the flexibility to move workloads between on-premises environments and the cloud. It enables you to provide flexible, remote access to corporate resources while managing identities across your data center and federated into the cloud, and it helps you protect critical business information.

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Software deployment is the most important task for System Administrator on the network. Here we just show you an easy way to deploy software using Group Policy on network client computers. It’s not difficult but needs some basic networking and Windows Server knowledge.

Deploy Software using Group Policy

Let’s start with installing some software in Windows 10 through group policy. I’m using Windows 10 as a client and Windows Server 2012 R2 for Server. It works the same for Windows server 2019 as well.

1. Create a folder in Server and share it with appropriate permission for domain users to execute MSI files.

Here I have created an AppDeployment folder. The folder contains all software we need to install them through group policy.

2. Now go to Server Manager Dashboard and open the Group Policy Management or simply type “Gpmc.msc” in Windows Run.

3. In Group Policy Management console, create a new GPO and link it to your domain. I have created App Deployment for Technig.local domain.

4. Right-click the App Deployment and click edit, in order to edit the policy. In the opened Group Policy Management Editor, go to the Software installation through Computer Configuration > Policies > Software Settings > Software Installation.

5. To create a new software package, right-click the Software installation > New then click Package.

6. In the opened window, using the UNC path of the software select the software MSI file you want to deploy. Here I want to install 7zip software for Technig.local clients.

7. On the Deploy Software window select Assigned then click OK.

8. Now, Navigate to Properties of software MSI file on the Deployment tab, check the Install this application at logon then click OK. Finally, close all opened windows and update the Windows Policy by typing “Gpupdate /force /logoff” command on Command Prompt. You might need to restart your PC after executing the group policy update command.

Testing Software Deployment on Network Computers

Now you can test the software deployment with group policy on one of your client computer. Here I test it on a Windows 10 PC. I have just updated the group policy and restart my computer. Now the 7zip has been installed successfully.

You can see the 7zip has been installed successfully on Windows 10 at login through group policy. Try to apply this article to deploy software using group policy on your network environment. Please comment us if you have any issue with deploying software with group policy in Windows server.

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In this article which is related to Windows Server 2012 R2 Core configuration, I’m going to show you how to convert Server Core to Full GUI and Convert from Gui to Windows Core? Before doing the conversion to full GUI and vice versa, you must know the basic configuration of Windows Server 2012 R2 Core.  The preview article was about essential Configuration of  Windows Server 2012 R2 Core?“.

This is the capability of Windows Server 2012 R2 that allows administrators to install servers with the full Gui, use the graphical tools to perform the initial setup and then convert them to Server Core to conserve system resources. In case of needed any changes, it is possible to reinstall the Gui components or remove them again. We can do it this conversion with Powershell and DISM command line utility.

Method 1: Convert Server Core to Gui using PowerShell

Get ready to convert Server Core to Full Gui using Windows PowerShell. In order to do this, log in to Server core with an administrator account and open the PowerShell through opened command prompt.

1. To open PowerShell type “start PowerShell” on command prompt and press Enter. The PowerShell will open in a new window. See the screenshot.

Now convert server core to full Gui using with the following “install-WindowsFeature” PowerShell command.

2. First of all gets the name of GUI features with “Get-WindowsFeature *GUI*” command.

You see the two Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure and Server Graphical Shell which we need to install it.

3. Type the command “Install-WindowsFeature -Name Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell –Source:E:\sources\install.wim” to install the GUI on Server core.

The “E:” is the DVD ROM of my computer and the Windows Server 2012 R2 is already in.

4. OK, when the installing features have finished successfully, restart the server core using “Shutdown -r -t 0” command.

After rebooting the system, you will see the Windows Server with full Gui and all necessary graphical management tools.

Finally, Windows Server with full Gui is here.

Method 2: Convert Windows Server Full Gui to Server Core

OK, let’s convert Server from full Gui back to Server Core using “Uninstall-WindowsFeature” PowerShell command. We can do it with graphical as well, but the command is easy and you must learn for the exam.

Uninstall-WindowsFeature -Name Name Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell -Restart

The command will uninstall and remove features and convert Server GUI to Server Core. After restarting the system, you will see your old Server core with only one opened a command prompt.

Method #2: Convert Server Core to Full Gui using DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM.exe) is a command-line tool that can be used to service a Windows image or to prepare a Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) image. DISM can be used to service a Windows image (.wim) or a virtual hard disk (.vhd or .vhdx). But here we are using DISM to Install Windows Features or convert Server Core to full Gui with DISM.

Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:ServerCore-FullServer /featurename:Server-Gui-Shell /featurename:Server-Gui-Mgmt /Source:E:\sources\install.wim 

After installing Windows features with DISM, type “Y” to restart the system.

Remove Windows Features with DISM

To remove the Gui features or Convert Server full Gui back to Server Core, do with the following command.

Dism /online /Disable-feature /featurename:ServerCore-FullServer /featurename:Server-Gui-Shell /featurename:Server-Gui-Mgmt

OK, that’s all you need to know to convert Server core to full Gui and vice versa. For the exam 70-410, you don’t need to know all of these, but you shout ready to involve with such questions about the conversion of Windows Server to full Gui and back to Core.

Hope this has been informative for you.

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The step by step guide to install and configure DHCP Server in Windows Server 2012 R2. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the core networking protocol to deploy Internet Protocol (IP) address automatically for network clients. In a small to medium and large networks, the IP address deployment has performed by DHCP Server. A DHCP Server assigns IP addresses to client computers and reduces IP management tasks.The DHCP protocol is available on most used Wireless Access point devices with preconfiguring of basic DHCP services for home users.

But in the enterprise network, DHCP Server require installation and configuration. In Microsoft Windows Server it a role base service. You must install it first and configure to work correctly. So I don’t take about DHCP Server on Cisco routers now because this article is about DCHP installation and configuration of Windows Server 2012 R2. 

 1. Install and Configure DHCP Server Role

To install DHCP Serve go to Dashboard on Server Manager and click Manage then click Add Rules and Features.

In the Role installation window select Role-based or feature-based installation the click Next.

Choose the server you want to install DHCP from the Server pool. Here we have one server and select by default.

From the Roles list select DHCP Server. When the Add Roles and Features Wizard Page opened, click Add Features then Click Next. That will install required features for DHCP Server.

In the Features window, do not change anything, just click Next.

Once read the information about DHCP Server and click Next button.

In the Confirm Installation page, select Restart the destination server automatically if required. Click Yes the warning window and click Install.

The installation will take a minute,when it has completed successfully click Complete DHCP Configuration link.

Read DHCP Post-Install configuration wizard description and click Next.

Set the appropriate user for management of DHCP Server. Here I leave it by default because the administrator (Shais) has the right privilege to perform DHCP Server configuration.

On the DHCP summary window clicks Close and close the DHCP Installation page also.

2. Configure DHCP Server and Create Scope

Now try to set up the installed DHCP server and create Scope to lease IP address for clients.

Type dhcpmgmt.msc in Windows Run and press enter to open DHCP management console.

On DHCP console window expends the domain name and IPv4.  Right, click the IPv4 the click New Scope.

Click Next on the New Scope Wizard page.

In the Scope, name defines the name of Scope and write any description then click Next.

Assign the start IP address range and the end IP address range. I have set from 192.168.100.1 to 192.168.100.254 which is a class C IP address. Leave the length 24 by default and click Next.

Add the exclusive range prevent them from leasing to the client by DHCP Server. The IP address range which reserved is use for Network Servers and popular workstation. Here I add 192.168.100.1 to 192.168.100.15.  Just set the IP address and click Add button then click Next.

Let the Lease Duration by default and click Next.

Only click Next the Configure DHCP Options, and Yes, I want to configure these options now must be checked.

If you have a router in your network, set the router IP address and click Add button, then click Next.

Type your domain name, and it’s IP address then click Next.

Do nothing for WINS Servers, because we don’t use WINS Server ether. Just click Next.

In Active Scope, windows click Next. Be sure the Yes, I want to active this scope now must check.

Finally, click Finish to close and finalize the installation of DHCP Server in Windows Server 2012 R2.

Now you can assign the IP address to your network clients automatically trough this DHCP Server.

How to Install DHCP Server on Windows Server 2016?

If you don’t like to read more details, just watch this simple lab manual to install and configure DHCP Server on your Windows Server.

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As a Server Administrator, you should know how to install and configure print server in your network environment. Printers are the essential required network devices in a small office to an enterprise network offices. In your office you might need one printer. So you don’t need to install and configure print server on a Windows server, but when you need to deploy for a large office, you must know the deployment of printers for office users.

In this article, we are going to install and configure print server in Windows Server 2012 R2. So to do this task, you should know the basic server roles, services installation.

Install and Configure Print Server

In your Windows Server login as domain admin and open the Server Manager console. You must installed some roles on your server. In my testing lab, I have installed Active Directory, DHCP Server, and DNS Server.

You see the installed roles and features on the server.

To install and configure the print server in Windows Server, you must install Print and Documents Services role. Go to Server Manager dashboard click Manage tab then click Add roles and features.

On the Before You Begin page click Next and select Role based or feature base installation then clicks Next.

On the Server Selection page, choose the server you want then click Next.

Select and tick the check box of Print and Document Services on the Server Roles page.

Now the component and features want to be install. Just click Add Features and then click Next.

Leave the Features page by default and click Next. You don’t need to install any features for print and document services, so do nothing on this page.

On the Print and Document Services page read all notification and click Next. It is necessary once to read this page carefully.

Select the Print Server and Internet Printing options from Role Services. 

Click Add Feature to install IIS web server with components and features.

Print and Document Role Services: 

• Print Server is the core print management and services.
• Distributed Scan Server is for Document Scanner if you have it.
• Internet Printing will let you manage your printers through the browser.
• LDP Services will share printers between Linux and Unix base OS.

So don’t change anything Web Server, just click next on Web Server Roles (IIS), Role Services and Confirmation page to finish the IIS Web Server options.

Finally click Close to finish the installation process. The Print and document services complete successfully.

Install Printers

Install printers from print management. Open the print management console from tools tab on Server Manager.

There is no printer installed on print management. Let’s connect a printer or add some printer.

Expand the Print Servers to Printers then right click Printers and click Add printer. On Printer installation page select Add a new printer using and existing port and click Next.

Select Install a new driver on Printer Driver page and click Next.

Select a proper printer then click Next. I have selected a LaserJet 2500n HP printer.

Fill the information and tick the check box of Share this printer and click Next twice.

Finally, click finish to accomplish the installation task.

Go to the print management console and see the new printers. I have installed another printer, and now I have two printers.

Sharing Printers for Clients

When we are installing a printer, we select the sharing checkbox of first print to share the printer in the network. The sharing occurs, but it is not accessible to network directory for client PCs while you have not ticked the check box of

Now the printer is available for client PCs in the network.

OK, that is enough for now, in the next article we will work on advanced features and settings of printers and printer and document services.

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Install and configure DNS Server which is a standard network protocol and a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network.

Install and Configure DNS Server in Windows Server

From Windows Server 2012 R2 dashboard, click on Manage tab and then click Add Roles and Features to open the Add Roles and Features Wizard page and click Next.

On the opened page select Role-based or features-based installation and click Next.

We want to install on the local machine, so select the server you want to install DNS from server pool section and then click Next.

In the Server Roles page, select DNS Server, in the opened page click Add Features. These are the required features needed to install with DNS Server, and then click Next.

On the Features page, do nothings and click Next.

The DNS Server page read the information and click Next.

On the Confirmation page, tick the Restart the destination server automatically if required and click Yes warning page then click Install.

The installation process will take a few minutes. When the installation succeeded, close the page and open the DNS Server console.

The installation has accomplished successfully. Now to to create DNS Zone.

How to Create DNS Zone in Windows Server 2012 R2

Creating zone in DNS Server is easy, but need some basic knowledge to understand the difference between zones and types of zone you need to create.

   Primary zone: When a zone that this DNS server hosts is a primary zone, the DNS server is the primary source for information about this zone, and it stores the master copy of zone data in a local file or in AD DS. When the zone is stored in a file, by default the primary zone file is named zone_name.dns and it is located in the %windir%\System32\Dns folder on the server.

Secondary zone: When a zone that this DNS server hosts is a secondary zone, this DNS server is a secondary source for information about this zone. The zone at this server must be obtained from another remote DNS server computer that also hosts the zone. This DNS server must have network access to the remote DNS server that supplies this server with updated information about the zone. Because a secondary zone is merely a copy of a primary zone that is hosted on another server, it cannot be stored in AD DS.

Stub zone: When a zone that this DNS server hosts is a stub zone, this DNS server is a source only for information about the authoritative name servers for this zone. The zone at this server must be obtained from another DNS server that hosts the zone. This DNS server must have network access to the remote DNS server to copy the authoritative name server information about the zone. Read more: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771898.aspx

So we try to create Primary Zone. From DNS Manager console right click Forward Lookup zones and click New Zone. 

On the New Zone Wizard page click Next.

Select Primary zone from Zone type page and then click Next.

Type the Domain Name or your domain to Zone name then click Next go to the next page.

On the Zone File page, just click Next.

Leave the Dynamic Update configuration by default and click Next.

Finally click Finish to complete the installation.

That’s all the step by step installation and configuration of DNS Server on Windows Server 2012 R2.

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The essential Hyper-V configuration article is related to preview “Hyper-v Beginner: A Practical Guide to Virtualization” articles. But in this paper, we will do the initial Hyper-V configuration for our Virtualization Lab in Windows 8.1, 10 or Windows Server 2012 R2 and Server 2016.

If you are new in Virtualization, especially Hyper-V read the preview article from here: Hyper-v Beginner: A Practical Guide to Virtualization.

Essential Hyper-V Configuration

Let’s start the essential Hyper-v configuration in Windows 8.1. All configuration is same on all Windows, but some options differ between Windows client and Server.

Open the installed Hyper-v using Windows search and pin it to the taskbar for quick access to hyper-v Manager console.

You see the hyper-v manager. There is no guest operating system installed yet. Before installing operating systems and start working, we should do configure some basic settings.

1. Change Default Virtual Machine Directory

By default, Hyper-v keeps installed operating systems on Windows drive, and that is not a good practice. You should modify the default directory. Because if you lose your Windows directory, you still must have the guests operating systems and that is also a good practice to keep separate Windows and System files from other files.

To change directory, click Action then click  Hyper-v Settings or from the right side of Hyper-v Manager click Hyper-V Settings. 

On the Hyper-v Settings page click Browse and select the directory where you want to keep virtual machines hard disks and configuration files.

2. Create Virtual Switch

Virtual Switch in Hyper-v will let you join computers and create a network.

There are 3 type of virtual switch in Hyper-v  Private, Internal and External

• External: Create a switch that allows the Hyper-v guests directory connect to the Internet with your host physical Network Interface Card (NIC).
• Internal: With this type of virtual switch, you can internetwork host with guests machines. You can directly transfer files between virtual machines and the host system.
• Private: Create a private and isolated network which mostly using for testing Lab.

So let’s create a private virtual switch. From Hyper-v Manager page click Action then click Virtual Switch Manager.

On the Virtual Switch Manager page select Private and click Create Virtual Switch button.

Now type the name and description whatever you want then click OK to create the new private switch. See the result, and you must have the newly created Virtual Switch.

Creating Internal virtual switch is the same as a private virtual switch, but you must select internal from the connection type.

To create an External virtual switch, you must select the physical network card from connection type. See the screenshot.

So that is enough for essential Hyper-v configuration. Now try to learn how to create a virtual machine on hyper-v?

3 Creating Virtual Machine on Hyper-V

Now the Hyper-v installed and ready to use for virtualization. So try to create some virtual machines to create your testing Lab.

To create a virtual machine click on the Action > New and Virtual Machine or just click New on the right side of Hyper-v Manager.

On the Before You Begin page read the information and click Next.  If don’t want to see this page again, check the Do not show this page again. 

On Specify Name and Location page, type a name for the new virtual machine according to the operating system you want to install. And specify the location, where you want to keep the virtual machine files, then click Next.

Leave generation 1 selected by default on Specify Generation page and click Next.

Assign the appropriate memory for your new system and then click Next. Here I have assign 2 GB RAM for a Windows 10 virtual machine.

Select one of the virtual switches which we had created previously at virtual switch manager section of this article. When you choose a virtual Switch, click Next.  Remember, you can add more virtual switch later for your virtual machine. But at the time of creating a new virtual machine, you only allow selecting one virtual switch.

Specify the site of hard disk for a new computer. By default, hyper-v set 127 GB dynamic hard disk for a Windows machine.  For now, leave the default and click Next.

On the Installation Options page, select Install an operating system from a bootable CD/DVD-ROM, then select the Image file (.sio) and Browse to the directory of Operating system image. Choose the image of windows you want to install it and then click Next. I have selected Windows 10 image.

On the Completing the New Virtual Machine Wizard page click Finish to finalise the process. 

Here is the newly created Windows 10 Pro for essential Hyper-v configuration. Now you completely know how to build a virtual machine. Create as much as a virtual machine you need for your Lab.

4. Import an Old Virtual Machine to Hyper-V

Sometimes you have a Virtual machine from the preview Hyper-v or transferred from other Hyper-v Server. Now try to import it into a new Hyper-v Server.

To import a machine click, Action then clicks Import Virtual Machine. 

On the Import Virtual Machine page browse and select the folder of the virtual machine. Only select the folder which contains the virtual machine hard disks and configuration files and then click Next.

Select the virtual machine and click Next.

On the Choose Import, Type page select Register the virtual machine in-place (use the existing unique ID) and click Next. 

Select the location of the Virtual Hard disk and click Next to go to the summary page and click Finish. 

That’s all, hope you enjoy this essential Hyper-v configuration articles.

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The Active Directory snapshots are a point-in-time view of Active Directory from Windows Server 2008, which are created by using the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS). In Windows Server 2012 R2 we are going to simply create Active Directory Snapshots using the Ntdsutil.exe command. It works the same on Windows Server 2012 and 2016.

How to Create Active Directory Snapshots?

In order to create active directory snapshots using ntdsutil command-line tool, you should open the cmd or PowerShell with domain admin privilege. So run the command prompt as administrators.

1. Run the PowerShell as Administrators and type “Ntdsutil” then press enter.

You can get the help by typing the “help” command or “?“. It is better to use the help guide when you don’t know the exact structure of the command.

2. Type the “Snapshot” command to enter the snapshot environment.

3. Try to set the specific AD LDS instance as the active instance by typing “Activate Instance ntds” and then press enter.

4. Type the List all to check whether the previews snapshots exist. Then create the active directory snapshots by the “Create” command. Type “Create” and press enter.

The snapshot was created successfully. Now try to mount and see the contents of the snapshot with active directory users and computers console.

How to Mount Active Directory Snapshots?

To mount an AD snapshot, use the “Mount” command and followed by the snapshot order number.

1. From the preview open PowerShell type “List all” to display the list of all snapshots. Then type “mount 2” and press enter to mount the snapshot with the order number of “2“.

Then Snapshot mounted successfully on drive c:\$SNAP_********$\. Go to drive C and see the mounted snapshot.

2. Try to connect to the mounted snapshot with the “Dsamain“ command.

dsamain –dbpath C:\$SNAP_201508140026_VOLUMEC$\ADDB\ntds.dit –ldapport 34000

Note: Currently the Dsamain command is not working with PowerShell, try to run it with Command Prompt.

3. Now open the Active Directory Users and Computers with “dsa.msc” shortcut in Windows Run or open from Server Manager.

4. Right-click the Active Directory Users and Computers then click Change Domain Controller.

5. Select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance and type the directory server name and port then hit enter and click OK to apply it.

6. Finally, you can see and explore all contents of mounted active directory snapshots using AD DS.

When you do the task with the mounted snapshot, at the end try to unmount it with the “unmount” command.

ntdsutil
snapshot
activate instance ntds
list all
unmount 4
unmount 2 
list mounted

That’s all. Hope you learn something new about Windows Server 2012 R2.

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