If like me you like to configure your systems from the command line or automation scripts, here is a quick reminder on how to do basic setup of Windows Server 2008

Configure a network adapter

Configure the IP address

First you need to find out the index of the network adapter you want to assign the address to. To do so, run the following command:

netsh interface ipv4 show interface

Then run the following command to configure the adapter.

netsh interface ipv4 set address name="<idx>" source=static address=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx mask=255.255.255.0 gateway=yyy.yyy.yyy.yyy

Configuring the DNS

netsh interface ipv4 add dnsserver name="<idx>" address=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx index=1

Configure remote administration

Enabling remote administration

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Enabling the firewall rule for remote access

netsh advfirewall set currentprofile settings remotemanagement enable

Useful sites

• http://www.windowstipspage.com/2010/11/remote-desktop-terminal-services-how-to.html
• http://www.petri.co.il/configuring-windows-server-2008-networking-settings.htm
• http://www.petri.co.il/remotely-managing-windows-2008-server-core-firewall.htm