Windows 2012R2

The objective of this document is to set up a Server 2012 for a lab environment. Ideally this will be in a VM so you can rollback missteps easily.

Installing Windows Server 2012 R2

As long as your hardware is up to the job the basic install of Windows Server 2012 R2 is straightforward, you put in the disc/iso and let it rip. It's what comes afterwards that is the issue.

Once the server is up and running it will bring you to Server Manager. Clicking on Local Server is the machine you are on. From here you can do a few things that are pretty important: Set the Computer name (once you start installing software it often does not like changing the computer name. Especially Exchange.) Turn off the firewall Setting the IP address Turning off IE Enhanced Security Configurations Setting the Timezone (very important) and finally Install latest updates

If you are on a VM this is a good time to take a snapshot.