SharePoint 2013 Installation - Part 2

Part 1: Preparing the environment. 

Part 2 : Installing Windows Server 2012 
Part 3: Adding Active Directory Domain Services
Part 4: Promoting to Domain Name Server



Part 2: Installing Windows Server 2012

In part 1 of the document we saw initial requirement for installing SharePoint 2013 and how to get setup with Virtual Machine. In this part we will see how we can install Windows Server 2012 and get a working machine.Once we have a working machine then we can enable Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) if this is the first machine or join the existing Domain if you have one set up already.

Once the VM is ready to boot the VM will boot and ask for Server 2012 License. Once you enter your License Key depending on key you will be able to install the version. Once you enter the key System will let you choose how you want to install the OS.



You can choose Core installation which is lightweight and contain only essential components. Most of your operation in core installation will be done through Powershell scripts. If you are comfortable with command line interface this is the best option and this also boots up fast because it does not have any additional components to load.

I chose the option to install with GUI so that i can document it for everyone, but I am planning to do another installation pretty soon with just code and while i do that i will make sure to document it share it here.

Accept the License terms and click next

Now you will prompted to choose installation type. If you are upgrading from existing install (Preview etc.) choose this otherwise choose custom install

Once you hit next you will prompted to select the disk where you want to install the OS. Select the disk and click next

now windows will start installing which should take about 5 to 10 minutes. So sit back and relax and if you prefer can have a coffee or beer too. But don’t have too much because we aren’t done yet.

Once windows comes back up you will be prompted to enter Administrator Password. Enter a strong password that you can remember. Click next now windows is installed and you login screen will appear.

Enter the administrator password that was created in the previous step and once you are in you should see server management come up and show you the status of the system.

Now we are almost done i say this because we want to rename the computer so that when we add ADDS it looks better.

Open Control plan by searching from the Charms which appear when you move your mouse to the end. (This is the new way of accessing applications in Windows). click search and type Control panel


Once you are in the control panel click on system and rename computer as shown below.

Rename your computer and restart the machine for the changes to take effect.



Boom.. Now we have a working Windows 2012 server environment. This is a best time to take a snapshot of your VM as well as take a Copy of this VM and store it separately. This would come handy in many scenarios like when you want to quickly create a VM with windows server 2012. You can also sysprep this VM and use it as clone similar to the way that Amazon is doing for is AWS.

I am working on the side to understand sysprep process and once i get hold of things i will surely share that information here so we all can benefit and not have to spend time spinning up VM.