Windows Server 2012 goes live

I feel like someone needs to say,"Gentlemen, start your servers." :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
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    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Hi downloaders.

Have they fixed the flash player problem yet -- I could never get any video stuff using flash on IE 10 to play in Windows 2012 server but sound worked just fine. (Using the previous RTM - TechNet version -- not a Torrent),

All I got for example say using the BBC web site was the sound (worked perfectly) but the video remained as either a grey or black box --whatever settings I made in IE10 on Windows server 2012.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
I'm getting a spinning green circle followed by an error at the present time from MSDN with this download. The other products seem ok.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
It's showing for me on TechNet. Getting now ! :)

~edit~

My downloading is halting with an error message :( Will try later !
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10.0.10122
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My Build - Vorttex Ultimate
    CPU
    Core i7 @ 4500 MHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-Plus
    Memory
    32GB DDR3 @ 1822 MHz (OC)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon R9 280X 3GB @ 1180 / 6800 MHz
    Sound Card
    7.1 HDA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD LG 22" + CRT LG 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1760 x 1320 / 1280 x 960
    Hard Drives
    1 x 240 GB SSD (System)
    3 x 500 GB HDD (Data/Media)
    1 x 2000 GB e-HDD (Backup)
    PSU
    ThermalTake 1000W PSU
    Case
    Corsair Carbide R300
    Cooling
    Corsair H60 (Push-Pull)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60 Mbps (Down) 5 Mbps (Up)
    Browser
    IE, FF, Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2015
    Other Info
    Some wired stuff
Mine came down with no problems at all, I did switch to IE for the download though as technet always seems to screw up my downloads in FF.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    me
    CPU
    i9
Yeah, I always use IE for my MSDN downloads. We also use Microsoft Dynamics at work as a CRM. Those are the only 2 things that I use IE for.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
BTW: It's downloading now, whatever problem I was having earlier has cleared.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
We'll see shortly. My understanding was that TIFKAM only showed up if you enabled the "desktop experience" thingamajig. I didn't see it in my RC machine - that one went right to the desktop. (Hmmm ... wonder if that can be done in Windows 8? :sarc:)

Download was flawless for me but I had to wait until I got home to fire up VMware and start an installation. That's running now.

Edit: Goes straight to the desktop out of the box, and then opens the Server Manager Dashboard. No TIFKAM by default.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64
But do you get a start button, or when you hit the Start key on the keyboard, does it to take you to tiles?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
There is no start button, and if you press the Windows key or go to the bottom left corner, you get the new start screen. However, in Windows Server 2012, you have virtually no reason to leave the Dashboard.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Server 2012 Standard w/Hyper-V
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ProBook 4430s
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-2310M
    Memory
    16GB DDR3
    Hard Drives
    80GB Intel 320 SSD
    500GB Samsung Momentus
Uhhhh, I just looked at the info on Wikipedia and I'm reading that Server 2012 comes with the Metro UI. Are you F'ing kidding me, this is in the server product too????


Windows Server 2012 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hi there
Server 2012 -- you don't have to enable the Desktop experience then you don't get Metro in Server -- background quite ugly then in this case - boring grey desktop -- but it's a SERVER so OK.

(Actually you can even install it without a GUI - runs from Command line with enhanced set of commands also).

Not sure why you would need Metro on a server.

BTW anybody tried IE 10 yet -- and got flash to work.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
Yeah, I don't want an eye candy desktop, but the Server Core version has been a bit of a pain to work with in the past. I'm totally comfortable with Linux with no GUI, but not Windows server.

I haven't tried IE10 under Server 2012 with Flash. Surfing the web with a server is something I practically never do.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I haven't tried IE10 with Flash in WS2012.

Yes, the Start screen is there but there isn't a lot to it. What little bit I did I was able to launch from Server Manager.

Background is indeed the ugly gray though I haven't looked to see if that can be changed to something else. As was pointed out, servers are not meant to be "pretty" - just functional.

I do like the new server groups - something worth looking into in more detail. It would be nice to configure a group of servers at a time for a common function. I might just have to set up a second server to see for myself how the group thing works.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64
This new version is a bit frustrating. Here is an example. I installed Server 2012 standard from MSDN and included a server GUI...since almost all Windows server admins are used to having a GUI.

It needs a key to install. After install, I wanted to double check and ensure it was activated.

Normally, I would right click on My Computer > Properties to check this. However, in Server 2012, there is no "My Computer" icon on the desktop. Also, there is no Personalization right click option on the desktop (by default). And yes, I know that I can flip over to the "Start" screen...but I don't want to have to do this.

Now, I was able to find the ability to modify the desktop icons by SEARCHING for "icons" in Control panel and "Show or hide common icons on the desktop" shows up under Display. HOWEVER, if you just open Control Panel and look under display, you do NOT see "Show or hide common icons on the desktop". You actually HAVE to search, using the searchbox, or it appears the option isn't there.

I also found that if you install the Desktop Experience feature, which is buried in the "User Interfaces and Infrastructure (INSTALLED) subgroup...you will get the Personlization option back in the right click Context menu. But once you install this feature, you NOW boot directly into the Start Screen...rather than the desktop as it was originally.

It's a bit disheartening that a seasoned Windows systems admin has to spend nearly 15 minutes trying to figure out HOW to add a My Computer icon to the server desktop, so that I can quickly right-click and check Properties and see if my server is activated, what it's hostname is, what CPU I have installed, how much RAM is there, and whether it's in a workgroup or a domain.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
In WS2K12, the Dashboard will handle almost all, if not all of those tasks without the need for other tools. Spend some time in the Dashboard, and I think you'll come to love it. Also, Microsoft is really trying to push people away from directly managing a server, instead relying on remote management tools (which is a better practice anyway).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Server 2012 Standard w/Hyper-V
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ProBook 4430s
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-2310M
    Memory
    16GB DDR3
    Hard Drives
    80GB Intel 320 SSD
    500GB Samsung Momentus
In WS2K12, the Dashboard will handle almost all, if not all of those tasks without the need for other tools. Spend some time in the Dashboard, and I think you'll come to love it. Also, Microsoft is really trying to push people away from directly managing a server, instead relying on remote management tools (which is a better practice anyway).

Hi there

these days IMHO ALL servers should be run as Virtual Servers anyway - so the issue of IE 10 is a moot point.

However my point here was that if you try and run this as a Workstation OS ( actually provided you eliminate a lot of the "Core Nags" in servers such as shutdown log nag prompts etc -- you can very successfully run a server as a desktop OS), you encounter problems with IE10 -- which works fine in W8 enterprise RTM but gives problems in W2012 server.

On W2012 server - flash doesn't work (in spite of being installed) - in trying to access a flash site all you'll get is either a grey or black border for the video. Audio works fine.

If you try and use the VLC player -free of course - which recognizes and plays more codecs straight from the box than any other comparable program - you'll still get a black /grey screen on the Video - but sound wil;l be fine.

Don't confuse this with bog standard DVD playing - W2012 works fine with this (using VLC player).

This is where the IE 10 problem rears it's ugly head -- IE on a server isn't that important - but when running the server as a "Desktop" OS" then problems.

My best ever -- still beats nearly every other Windows release

W2003 Server as a desktop OS -- it JUST FLEW. OK Windows R8 is a different ballgame as is W2012 Server but sometimes it's worth "Desktopifying" a server to run as a Workstation OS !!!

( How to convert your Windows Server 2003... to a Workstation! )

Other links for different servers such as W2008 server are also possible - although Win2008 server loses audio but audio in W2012 server works.

Cheers
jimbo
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
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