Windows Server 2008 Core installation (MSMQ batteries not included)

Windows Server 2008 comes with an option to install just the bare components necessary, something customers have been asking for for many years.

I quote from MSDN:

"Server Core is a minimal server installation option for computers running on the Windows Server 2008 operating system. Server Core provides a low-maintenance server environment with limited functionality."

"Server Core is an installation option that is capable of five well-known server roles: File Server, DHCP Server, DNS Server, Media Services, and Active Directory. Server Core is not a development platform for new server applications. Although Server Core is not an application platform, it does support the development of management tools, utilities, and agents."

What is important from the MSMQ perspective is that:

  • MSMQ files are not present on the machine with the Server Core option
  • MSMQ cannot be added to a machine installed with the Server Core option
  • MSMQ would not be supported if you found a way to somehow setup MSMQ on a Server Core installation

Also, MSMQ is a feature of the operating system and "message server" is not a server role. Definitely a major oversight. Function envy, I expect.

[[December 1st 2008]]

This also applies to the forthcoming Windows 7 operating system