Windows 2012 Server Core: How To Install Minimal Server Interface

The Minimal Server Interface includes Microsoft Management Console (MMC), Server Manager, and a subset of Control Panel.  It is similar to a Server with a GUI installation, but Internet Explorer 10, Windows Explorer, the desktop, and the Start screen are not installed.

In order to install Minimal Server Interface on server core, the following steps need to be carried out:

1.    Create a new folder in C:\ drive by issuing the below command at the command prompt:

       C:\> mkdir c:\mount

2.    Put the Windows 2012 DVD into the DVD drive (i.e. D:\)

3.    Open Powershell, then issue the below command to mount the windows image:

       PS C:\> mount-windowsimage –path c:\mount –imagepath d:\sources\install.wim –index 2 -readonly

4.    At the Powershell prompt, issue the below command to install the “Server Graphical Management Tools & Infrastructure” feature on the server core:

       PS C:\> install-windowsfeature server-gui-mgmt-infra –restart –source c:\mount\windows\winsxs

5.    Restart the server after the installation completed.

The Server Manager and command prompt will appear after you login to the server.

Upgrade Symmetricon SyncServer S300 With Latest Firmware

NTP and other UDP-based protocols can be used to amplify denial-of-service attacks.   Servers running the network time protocol (NTP) that use the default unrestricted query configuration are susceptible to a reflected denial-of-service (DRDoS) attack. The Symmetricom SyncServer S300 is susceptible to this vulnerability as it currently do not restrict the NTP query configuration.

Symmetricom released the latest firmware with a feature to turn off/disable the ntp query. 

Here are the steps to upgrade the firmware:

1.    Log in to Web GUI. Go to SYSTEM > Upgrade page.

2.    Click BROWSE... button to select the firmware. Then click UPLOAD button.

3.    Click the firmware inside Current Files window. Then click INSTALL button.
 

4.    Log into CLI via SSH after the upgrade.

5.    Type “ntp_query” and press Enter. This should show “Queries are not restricted and will be responded to”

 

6.    Type “ntp_query disable” and press Enter. Type “Y” to confirm the change.

7.    Log in to Web GUI. Go to NTP > Sysinfo page. Click the RESTART button below.

8.    Log in to CLI. Type “ntp_query” and press Enter. This should show now “Queries are restricted and will not be responded to”