Getting Started with Server Core - Networking Commands

The purpose of this article is not to give you every last detail to Server Core but to provide you with what you need to know it get it up and running in your environment in particular to networking commands.  I will be writing other articles that go over other topics shortly.

Here is the start of you Networking and Firewall related commands for Server Core.  To configure the IP address you will have to remember (or learn) Netsh.  In my example I use "Local Area Connection"  The quotes are needed due the spaces.  If you renamed your connection name then you will want to use the new name in its place.

Configure a Static IP Address on Server Core:
Netsh int ipv4 set address Local Area Connection static 10.1.1.10 255.255.255.0 10.1.1.1
Netsh int ipv4 set dnsserver Local Area Connection static 10.1.1.5 primary
Netsh int ipv4 set winsserver Local Area Connection static 10.1.1.6 primary

Configure a Dynamic (DHCP) IP Address on Server Core:
Netsh int ipv4 set address Local Area Connection source=dhcp

Change the name of the network interface on Server Core:
Netsh int set interface name = Local Area Connection newname = Primary Network 

The Windows Firewall is a blessing to some and a curse to others. Either way it is installed by default and you have to understand the commands that are needed to configure the basics and in some cases some advanced commands.

Disable firewall:
netsh firewall set opmode disable

Server Core can be managed by using MMCs from a remote server. However with the firewall being on by default you will have to allow these tools to work remotely.  The first thing to note here is how to translate the MMC Snap-in to Windows Firewall Rule Group.

Event Viewer - Windows Firewall Rule Group - Remote Event Log Management
Services - Windows Firewall Rule Group - Remote Services Management
Shared Folders - Windows Firewall Rule Group - File and Printer Sharing
Task Scheduler - Windows Firewall Rule Group - Remote Scheduled Tasks Management
Reliability and Performance - Windows Firewall Rule Group - Performance Logs and Alerts and Windows Firewall Rule Group - File and Printer Sharing
Disk Management - Windows Firewall Rule Group - Remote Volume Management
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security - Windows Firewall Rule Group - Windows Firewall Remote Management

To enable all of these rules follow use this command:
Netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=remote administration new enable=yes

Feel free to add your own Networking related commands.  

Thanks,
Brian