Windows server 2019 datacenter Retail Digital License

In today's article I will quickly show you how to install Windows Server 2019. The truth is that the process is not a mystery. Let's get down to business, but first of all I will leave a link with all the new features of Windows Server 2019. What's new in Windows Server 2019

First of all, obviously, we download the Windows Server 2019 ISO. We create a virtual machine or install it on our physical server, the procedure will be the same.

Once the ISO is loaded, we select the language.

Click Next and Install Now.

We select the version we want to install. Note! If you want the graphical environment, select Desktop experience.

We accept the license.

We select the disk and create the partitions.

And the file copying and installation will begin.

After a few minutes it ends and we will have to restart the server.

Once restarted, we will enter our Administrator password.

And now we can log in.

Once logged in, we find the Server Manager so well known since Windows Server 2012.

With this we will have Windows Server 2019 installed. In future articles I will show you how to install other roles.

You can download the Windows Server 2019 ISO from the following link.

https://www.microsoft.com/es-xl/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2019

Previous requirements

Before you begin this guide, you'll need to boot from the installation media. For a physical server, insert the disc or USB drive and select it in your boot options if necessary. For a virtual server, set it to mount the ISO or pass through the server's optical drive or USB port. Then, change the boot order or one-time boot options.

1) Boot from the installation media

If you booted from the installation media, you will see the screen below.

Choose your Language, Time and currency format y Input method or keyboard, and click Next.

2) Click Install Now.

3) Choose the version.

Choose the version that fits your license and needs, then click Enter.

Please note:

Choosing Windows Server 2016 Standard or Windows Server 2016 Datacenter will install without a desktop experience. This was previously known as Server Core. If you want the graphical interface, be sure to choose one of the options with (Desktop Experience).

4) Accept the license terms

Click the “I accept the license terms” box and then click “Next.”

5) Choose your installation type.

We assume that Windows Server is not installed on this machine.

Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

6) Choose the unit.

Select the drive you would like to install to and click Next.

7) Let the installation complete.

See examples of progress below.

8) Enter the administrator password.

Enter the password you want to use for the administrator account, and then click Finalize or press Enter.

9) The installation is now complete!

You are now on the login screen.

You can now log in using the administrator credentials you created earlier.

Feel free to use the links at the top of the page to configure your server.

Here is a quick procedure to install Windows Server 2012 R2.

You will need a server or virtual machine (VM) and a copy of Windows Server 2012 R2. In the post-configuration section, I will install the operating system and configure the server as per my requirements.

Windows Server 2012 R2 is a server operating system developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It is the successor to Windows Server 2012 and was released in October 2013. This edition brought several enhancements and new features to improve functionality, security, and management capabilities in server environments.

Some key features of Windows Server 2012 R2 include:

• Improved storage spaces: Windows Server 2012 R2 introduced enhancements to Storage Spaces, providing better storage management and virtualization capabilities. It enables administrators to create resilient and scalable storage solutions.
• Hyper-V Improvements: Hyper-V, the virtualization platform, received updates such as increased scalability, better performance, and new features such as Generation 2 virtual machines, which offer better security and performance compared to their predecessors.
• Windows PowerShell 4.0: This version of Windows Server includes an updated version of PowerShell, Microsoft's scripting and automation framework, which gives administrators more powerful tools to manage and automate tasks.

• Dynamic Access Control (DAC): DAC is a feature that allows administrators to control access to files and resources based on their content and user attributes, providing a more granular level of security.
• Web Application Proxy: Windows Server 2012 R2 introduced the Web Application Proxy role, which enables secure remote access to web applications and services through a reverse proxy.
• Network feature improvements: The operating system includes improvements to networking capabilities, such as enhancements to Hyper-V networking, better DHCP management, and support for network virtualization.
• Joining the workplace and work folders: These features improve the integration of devices into the corporate environment, providing more flexibility for users while maintaining security and control for administrators.

Windows Server 2012 R2 has been widely used in various enterprise environments, offering a robust and feature-rich platform for managing and deploying server-based solutions. It is important to note that as technology evolves, newer versions of Windows Server have been released, such as Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019, each bringing additional improvements and features.

Step 1 – Boot the Windows Server media

Procedure: Starting Windows Server 2012 R2 on a physical server

Requirements:

• Windows Server 2012 R2 installation media (DVD or USB).
• Physical server with the necessary hardware specifications.

Steps:

Insert the installation media:

• If you have a DVD, insert the Windows Server 2012 R2 DVD into the server's optical drive.
• If you are using a USB drive, insert the USB drive into a USB port on the server.

Power on the server:

• Press the power button on the server to turn it on.

Access BIOS/UEFI settings:

• Press the appropriate key to enter BIOS or UEFI setup during initial boot. This key is usually displayed on the screen during boot and may be DEL, F2, F10, or something else depending on the server manufacturer.

Set the boot order:

• In BIOS/UEFI settings, navigate to the “Boot” or “Boot Order” section.
• Set the boot order to prioritize the media that contains the Windows Server 2012 R2 installation files. Depending on your configuration, this may be the DVD drive or the USB drive.

Save and exit:

• Save any changes you made to the boot order and exit the BIOS/UEFI setup. This is usually done by selecting the “Save and Exit” option or a similar option.

Restart the server:

• Reboot the server to apply the boot order changes.

Boot from the installation media:

• As the server reboots, it should boot from the Windows Server 2012 R2 installation media.
• If you are using a DVD, you may see a prompt to press any key to boot from the DVD. If you are using a USB drive, the process should start automatically.

Windows Setup Screen:

• Once the server successfully boots from the installation media, the Windows setup screen will appear. Follow the on-screen instructions to continue with the installation.

Select language and keyboard input:

• Choose your preferred language, time, and keyboard input method when prompted.
• On the first screen presented, change the “Time and Currency Format” to “English (United Kingdom)” – Next.
• Click “Install Now”.
• Select “Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard (Server with GUI) – Next”.
• Accept the terms and conditions – Next.

Step 2 – Install the operating system

• Start the installation: Click the “Install Now” button to begin the Windows Server 2012 R2 installation process.

• Enter product key:
  • Enter the product key: Enter your product key when prompted. This key is usually found in the Windows Server packaging or provided separately.
• Accept the license terms:
  • Read and accept the license terms to continue with the installation.

• Select installation type:
  • Select the installation type (typically “Custom” for a clean install).

• Partition and install:
  • Create partitions as needed and choose the partition where you want to install Windows Server 2012 R2. Click “Next” to begin the installation.

• Wait for installation:
  • The installation process will take some time. Allow the setup to complete the installation of Windows Server 2012 R2.

Step 3 – Log in and configure the operating system

• Set the administrator password:
  • When prompted, set a strong password for the administrator account.

• Complete setup:
  • Follow any additional on-screen instructions to customize your settings and complete the installation.

• Finish the installation:
  • Once the installation is complete, the server will rwill boot. Remove the installation media (DVD or USB) to ensure that the server boots from the newly installed operating system.

Step 4 – Post-installation configuration steps for Windows Server 2012 R2

• Login to the server:
  • Use your administrator credentials to log on to Windows Server.

• Send CTRL-ALT-INSERT:
  • If you are accessing the server through a virtual environment, use the CTRL-ALT-INSERT key combination to send the secure attention sequence (SAS) and proceed to the login screen.
• Enter password:
  • Enter the password for the administrator account and press Enter to access the desktop.
• Open Server Manager:
  • Locate and open Server Manager from the Start menu or taskbar.
• Select “Local Server”:
  • In Server Manager, select the “Local Server” option from the left menu.
• Enable Remote Desktop:
  • In the “Properties” section, find the “Remote Desktop” settings.
  • Click on "Able" next to "Remote Desktop” to start the setup.
• Allow remote connections:
  • Check the option “Allow remote connections to this computer.”

• Click “OK”:
  • Click on "To accept" to confirm and apply the Remote Desktop settings.
• Open Command Prompt:
  • Open a Command Prompt window by searching for “CMD” in the Start menu.
• Check IP address:
  • At the Command Prompt, type ipconfig /all and press Enter to display the network configuration details, including the server IP address.
• Configure Windows Firewall:
  • Go back to Server Manager and click on “Windows Firewall” on the panel.
  • Click on “Activated public” to enable the firewall for public networks.
  • Go to "Advanced settings” for more granular control.

• Disable firewall for Private, Public and Domain:
  • In the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window, navigate to “Domain Profile,” “Private profile” y “Public profile.”
  • Disable the firewall for each of these profiles. Note that I am behind a CISCO physical firewall. Therefore, I need to disable them.

• Remote Desktop Connection:
  • Use a Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) client to connect to the server using its IP address.
• Check Remote Desktop Connection:
  • Confirms successful remote connection to the server.

Step 5 – Additional recommended configuration tasks