This topic describes how to manage an ECS instance that is created from a Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel image.
Background information
Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel runs in Server Core mode and is entirely command-line based. Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel offers some significant advantages, such as support for remote management, lower requirements for hardware, and a reduction in the need for updates. Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel instances exclude Resource Manager, Control Panel, and Windows Explorer. These instances do not support the \*.msc command line option such as devmgmt.msc. You can manage these instances by using tools such as Sconfig, Server Manager, PowerShell, and Windows Admin Center.
- Windows Server Version 1809 Datacenter Edition
- Windows Server Version 1709 Datacenter Edition
- Windows Server Version 1903 Datacenter Edition
- Windows Server Version 1909 Datacenter Edition
- Windows Server Version 2004 Datacenter Edition
Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel runs in Server Core mode. We recommend that you use advanced management tools such as PowerShell and Windows Admin Center. For more information, visit Manage a Server Core server in Microsoft Docs.
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:
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
- Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
- 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.
- Enter PowerShell on the command line to start PowerShell.
- Run the following commands in PowerShell of the instance:
Enable-PSRemoting -Force Set-NetFirewallRule -Name "WINRM-HTTP-In-TCP-PUBLIC" -RemoteAddress Any
- 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
- 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
- Click here to download Windows Admin Center and install it.
- Open https://localhost/ after you install Windows Admin Center.
- 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.
- Prerequisites
FAQ
Question 1: How do I copy files to a Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel instance?
- Use a Remote Desktop (RDP) application
- Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
- Copy the files from the on-premises computer.
- Enter notepad on the command line of the instance.
- Choose Paste. . In the dialog box that appears, right-click the destination directory and select
- Use PowerShell
- Start the Windows instance.
- Enter PowerShell on the command line of the on-premises computer to start PowerShell.
- Use PowerShell to manage the instance. For more information, see the Manage an instance by using PowerShell section.
- Run the following commands on the on-premises computer:
$session = New-PSSession -ComputerName 172.16.1XX.183 Copy-Item -ToSession $session -Path C:\1.txt -Destination c:\2.txt
Note C:\1.txt is the source file directory on the on-premises computer. C:\2.txt is the destination file directory on the Windows instance.
- Use Windows Admin Center
- Start the Windows instance.
- Configure Windows Admin Center. For more information, see the Install Windows Admin Center section.
- Start Windows Admin Center and click the Windows instance. Click File, select the file, and then click Upload.
Question 2: How do I stop or restart a Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel instance from inside?
- Use an RDP application
- Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
- Enter sconfig on the command line, select
13
to restart the instance or14
to stop the instance, and then press the Enter key.
- Use PowerShell
- Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
- Enter PowerShell on the command line to start PowerShell.
- 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
- Start the Windows instance.
- Enter on the command line of the on-premises computer to start PowerShell.
- Use PowerShell to manage the instance. For more information, see the Manage an instance by using PowerShell section.
- 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
- Start the Windows instance.
- Configure Windows Admin Center. For more information, see the Install Windows Admin Center section.
- 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
- Connect to the Windows instance. For more information, see Connect to a Windows instance from a local client.
- Enter PowerShell on the command line to start PowerShell.
- Run the following commands to install IIS:
Import-Module ServerManager Add-WindowsFeature Web-Server, Web-CGI, Web-Mgmt-Console
- Use PowerShell
- Start the Windows instance.
- Enter PowerShell on the command line of the on-premises computer to start PowerShell.
- Use PowerShell to manage the Windows instance. For more information, see the Manage an instance by using PowerShell section.
- 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
- Start the Windows instance.
- Configure Windows Admin Center. For more information, see the Install Windows Admin Center section.
- 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?
- Press Ctrl+Alt+End if an MSTSC connection is used. In other cases, press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
- Select Task Manager and press the Enter key.
- In Task Manager, choose cmd and click OK. . Enter