Manage Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel images and instances

Manage an instance by using PowerShell

PowerShell runs on.NET Framework and uses object-oriented scripts. This allows you to manage Windows instances in the same manner as you would by using SSH. For example, if the public IP address of your instance is 172.16.1XX.183, you can perform the following steps to manage your instance by using PowerShell:

1. Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
2. Enter PowerShell on the command line to start PowerShell.
3. Run the following commands in PowerShell of the instance:

   Enable-PSRemoting -Force
   Set-NetFirewallRule -Name "WINRM-HTTP-In-TCP-PUBLIC" -RemoteAddress Any

4. Add rules to a security group to which the instance belongs to allow access over HTTP port 5985 and HTTPS port 5986. For more information about how to add rules to a security group, see Add security group rules.
5. Enter PowerShell on the command line of the on-premises computer to start PowerShell.
6. Run the following command in PowerShell of the on-premises computer:

   Set-Item WSMan:localhost\client\trustedhosts -value 172.16.1XX.183 -Force

   Note 172.16.1XX.183 indicates that only your instance is trusted. You can use * to indicate that all PCs are trusted.
7. Run Enter-PSSession '172.16.1XX.183' -Credential:'administrator' in PowerShell and enter the password of the instance as prompted.

Now you can manage your Windows instances on the on-premises computer.

Install Windows Admin Center

Windows Admin Center is a browser-based GUI management tool. It can replace server management tools or Microsoft Management Console (MMC) when the Server Core mode is used. For example, if the public IP address of your instance is 172.16.1XX.183, you can use one of the following methods to install Windows Admin Center:

• Use commands
  1. Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
  2. Add rules to a security group to which the instance belongs to allow access over HTTP port 5985 and HTTPS port 5986. For more information, see Add security group rules.
  3. Enter PowerShell on the command line to start PowerShell.
  4. Run the following commands in PowerShell of the instance:

     Enable-PSRemoting -Force
     Set-NetFirewallRule -Name "WINRM-HTTP-In-TCP-PUBLIC" -RemoteAddress Any

  5. Run the following commands to download Windows Admin Center:

     wget -Uri http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/8/A/E8A26016-25A4-49EE-8200-E4BCBF292C4A/HonoluluTechnicalPreview1802.msi -UseBasicParsing -OutFile c:\HonoluluTechnicalPreview1802.msi
     msiexec /i c:\HonoluluTechnicalPreview1802.msi /qn /L*v log.txt SME_PORT=443 SSL_CERTIFICATE_OPTION=generate

  6. Run the cat log.txt command to check the download progress.
     When information similar to the following content is displayed in the log file, Windows Admin Center is installed:

     MSI (s) (14:44) [09:48:37:885]: Product: Project 'Honolulu'(Technical Preview) -- Installation completed successfully. 
     MSI (s) (14:44) [09:48:37:885]: Product installed by Windows Installer. Product name: Project 'Honolulu' (Technical Preview). Product version: 1.1.10326.0. Product language: 1033. Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation. Installation success or error status: 0.

• Use a browser
  • Prerequisites

    PowerShell is configured and can be used to manage instances. If you want to install Windows Admin Center by using a browser, you must complete the installation on the on-premises computer. For more information, see the Manage an instance by using PowerShell section.

  • Procedure
    1. Click here to download Windows Admin Center and install it.
    2. Open https://localhost/ after you install Windows Admin Center.
    3. Click Add. In the dialog box that appears, add the IP address of the instance.

  Now you can use Windows Admin Center to manage instances in Microsoft Edge or Chrome.

FAQ

Question 1: How do I copy files to a Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel instance?

Question 2: How do I stop or restart a Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel instance from inside?

• Use an RDP application
  1. Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
  2. Enter sconfig on the command line, select 13 to restart the instance or 14 to stop the instance, and then press the Enter key.
• Use PowerShell
  1. Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
  2. Enter PowerShell on the command line to start PowerShell.
  3. Run one of the following commands to restart or stop the instance:

     shutdown -r -t 00 :: Restart the instance in 0 seconds by using the command line.
     shutdown -s -t 00 :: Stop the instance in 0 seconds by using the command line.
     Stop-Computer -Force # Stop the instance instantly by using PowerShell.
     Restart-Computer -Force # Restart the instance instantly by using PowerShell.

• Use PowerShell
  1. Start the Windows instance.
  2. Enter PowerShell on the command line of the on-premises computer to start PowerShell.
  3. Use PowerShell to manage the instance. For more information, see the Manage an instance by using PowerShell section.
  4. Run the following commands to restart or stop the instance:

     Enter-PsSession -ComputerName 172.16.1XX.183
     Restart-Computer -Force # Restart the instance.
     Stop-Computer -Force # Stop the instance.

• Use Windows Admin Center
  1. Start the Windows instance.
  2. Configure Windows Admin Center. For more information, see the Install Windows Admin Center section.
  3. Start Windows Admin Center and select the Windows instance. In the left-side navigation pane, click Overview. On the Overview page, click Restart or Shutdown.

Question 3: How do I install the IIS service?

• Use an RDP application
  1. Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
  2. Enter PowerShell on the command line to start PowerShell.
  3. Run the following commands to install IIS:

     Import-Module ServerManager
     Add-WindowsFeature Web-Server, Web-CGI, Web-Mgmt-Console

• Use PowerShell
  1. Start the Windows instance.
  2. Enter PowerShell on the command line of the on-premises computer to start PowerShell.
  3. Use PowerShell to manage the Windows instance. For more information, see the Manage an instance by using PowerShell section.
  4. Run the following PowerShell commands on the on-premises computer:

     Enter-PsSession -ComputerName 172.16.1XX.183
     Import-Module ServerManager
     Add-WindowsFeature Web-Server, Web-CGI, Web-Mgmt-Console

• Use Windows Admin Center
  1. Start the Windows instance.
  2. Configure Windows Admin Center. For more information, see the Install Windows Admin Center section.
  3. Start Windows Admin Center and select the Windows instance. In the left-side navigation pane, click Roles & Features. On the Roles & Features page, click Web Server. Select the suitable features based on your needs and click Yes.

Question 4: How do I reopen a command line window that I accidentally closed during an RDP session?