Windows Server How-To

Windows Nano Server Deployment 101, Part 2: The Execution

Navigate the uncharted Nano Server deployment waters with this step-by-step guide.

• By Brien Posey
• 09/21/2016

Read "Windows Nano Server Deployment 101, Part 1: The Setup," here.

In the first part of this series, I explained that I had created a proof of concept, graphical installer for Nano Server. If you haven't yet read that post, I strongly recommend going back and checking it out before delving into this one, because that post discusses some critical path variables that must be set. It is also worth noting that although this script works, I have not tested every possible combination of inputs.

Getting Started
Before you will be able to use my graphical tool to deploy Nano Server, there is a bit of prep work that needs to be done. I may build this prep work into a future version of the tool if there is enough interest from the Windows Server community.

The first thing that you will need to do is to set three variables within the code. I discussed these variables in Part 1, and the code is provided at the end of this blog post.

The second thing that you will need to open an elevated PowerShell session and adjust the server's execution policy if necessary. For the sake of simplicity, I am using an execution policy of Unrestricted, as shown in Figure 1.

Now, insert the Windows Server 2016 installation media, and copy the contents of the Nano folder to a folder on your hard disk. Be sure to keep the installation media mounted, as it will be required throughout the Nano Server installation process. You will also need to copy my PowerShell script to the folder that you have created. I used a folder called C:\Nano to store the necessary files, as shown in Figure 2.

You will now need to import the Nano Server Image Generator Module into PowerShell. Assuming that the required files reside in C:\Nano, you can do so by entering these commands:

C:

  CD\

  CD Nano

  Import-Module C:\Nano\NanoServerImageGenerator.psm1  –Verbose

Notice that I included the full path to the module in the command. If you omit the path, then the command will fail, even if you are in the correct folder. You can see what this process looks like in Figure 3.

Now it's time to run the graphical installer. To do so, just type ./PoseyNano.ps1. Of course this assumes that you have used the same filename that I did.

As you can see in Figure 4, the installer prompts you for the installation type (host or guest), Windows Server edition, computer name, The type of media that you want to create (WIM or VHD), the administrator password, and the maximum size of the VHD. As you look at the figure, you will also notice that a PowerShell window remains open in the background. This is going to be important later on.

Click OK, and you will be prompted to choose which package you want to include with the Nano Server deployment, as shown in Figure 5. One of this script's limitations is that you can only choose a single package, although I might change that later. There are also a number of rules that are not currently represented. For example, the script cannot currently create a failover cluster node or a Hyper-V server. Such capabilities may be added in the next version.

Click the Create Nano Server button to generate a Nano Server. Upon doing so, the GUI will display a message saying that your Nano Server is being created. Although the GUI contains an Exit button, as shown in Figure 6, the button should not be clicked until the Nano Server has been created.

As previously mentioned, the GUI holds open a background PowerShell window. You can use this window to monitor the deployment process, as shown in Figure 7.

When all is said and done, the Nano Server components will be created in the path specified within the script. You can see what this looks like in Figure 8.

My hope is that you will find this script to be useful. If so, please let me know. If I get enough of a response, I plan to build a much more elaborate version of the tool.

So with that said, I think that I have made you wait long enough for the source code. Just copy the code below into Notepad, and save it as a PowerShell script named PoseyNano.ps1 (Don't forget that Notepad appends a hidden .TXT extension to files, and that extension will need to be removed in order for the file to be recognized as a PowerShell script.

#Load Assemblies

  [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.Windows.Forms")  | Out-Null

  [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.Drawing")  | Out-Null

$net = New-Object -ComObject Wscript.Network
# Functions and Button Click Actions
# Display the Initial Screen

  Function Acquire-NanoInfo

  {
$Form.Controls.Add($Button1)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Button2)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Label1)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Label3)

  $GroupBox1.Controls.Add($RadioButton1)

  $GroupBox1.Controls.Add($RadioButton2)

  $Form.Controls.Add($GroupBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Label4)

  $GroupBox2.Controls.Add($RadioButton3)

  $GroupBox2.Controls.Add($RadioButton4)

  $Form.Controls.Add($GroupBox2)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Label5)

  $Form.Controls.Add($TextBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Label6)

  $GroupBox3.Controls.Add($RadioButton5)

  $GroupBox3.Controls.Add($RadioButton6)

  $Form.Controls.Add($GroupBox3)

  $Form.Controls.Add($TextBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Label7)
	
  $Form.Controls.Add($TextBox2)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Label9)

  $Form.Controls.Add($TextBox3)
}
#This function controls what happens when someone clicks  the Back button

  Function Return-MainScreen

{
$Form.Controls.Remove($Label2)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($ListBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Button3)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Button4)

  $Form.Refresh()
Acquire-NanoInfo

  }
 
#Define OK Button Click Function

  Function Acquire-ServerPackage

  {
<------------- Process Selections ---------------

  If ($RadioButton1.Checked){$Global:Type='Host'}

  If ($RadioButton2.Checked){$Global:Type='Guest'}

  If ($RadioButton3.Checked){$Global:Edition='Standard'}

  If ($RadioButton4.Checked){$Global:Edition='Datacenter'}

  If ($RadioButton5.Checked){$Global:MediaType='WIM'}

  If ($RadioButton6.Checked){$Global:MediaType='VHD'}

  $Global:ComputerName=$TextBox1.text

  $Global:MyPassword=$TextBox2.text

  $Global:MaxSize=$TextBox3.text
 
#Clear the window

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Button1)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Button2)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Label1)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Label3)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($GroupBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Label4)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($GroupBox2)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Label5)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($TextBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Label6)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($GroupBox3)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($TextBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Label7)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($TextBox2)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Label9)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($TextBox3)

  #$Form.Refresh()
 
#Create Output

  Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms 
#Populate window

  $Form.Controls.Add($Label2)

  $Form.Controls.Add($ListBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Button3)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Button4)

  }
 
#Define Create Button Click Function

  Function Create-NanoServer($SelectedPackage)

  {
#Clear the window

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Label2)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($ListBox1)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Button3)

  $Form.Controls.Remove($Button4)

  $Form.Refresh()
#Create Output

  Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms 
#Create text
$Form.Controls.Add($Label8)

  $Form.Controls.Add($Button5)
 
<----------Display Summary on the text  screen----------------

  cls

  Write-Host 'Nano Server Type: ' $Type

  Write-Host 'Windows Server Edition: ' $Edition

  Write-Host 'Computer name assigned to Nano Server: '  $ComputerName

  Write-Host 'Media Type: ' $MediaType

  Write-Host 'Maximum Nano Server Size (in GB): ' $MaxSize

  Write-Host 'Selected Package: ' $SelectedPackage
<-----------Convert Maximum Size to  GB------------------------
$MaxSize = $MaxSize + 'GB'
<-----------Form Package String-----------------

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq 'DNS Server'){$SelectedPackage =  '-Packages Microsoft-NanoServer-DNS-Package'}

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq 'Desired State Configuration  (DSC)'){$SelectedPackage = '-Packages Microsoft-NanoServer-DSC-Package'}

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq 'Internet Information Server  (IIS)'){$SelectedPackage = '-Packages Microsoft-NanoServer-IIS-Package'}

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq 'Network Performance Diagnostics  Service (NPDS)'){$SelectedPackage = '-Packages  Microsoft-NanoServer-SCVMM-Package'}

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq 'Datacenter Bridging'){$SelectedPackage  = '-Packages Microsoft-NanoServer-DCB-Package'}

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq 'Secure  Startup'){$SelectedPackage = '-Packages  Microsoft-NanoServer-SecureStartup-Package'}

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq 'Shielded VM'){$SelectedPackage  = '-Packages Microsoft-NanoServer-ShieldedVM-Package'}

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq 'None'){$SelectedPackage = ''}

  If ($SelectedPackage -eq ''){$SelectedPackage = ''}
<----------Form  Paths-----------------------------------------
$BasePath = 'C:\VMs\' + $ComputerName

  $TargetPath = 'C:\VMs\' + $ComputerName + '\' +  $ComputerName + '.' + $MediaType

  Write-Host 'Your Nano Server will be created at: '  $TargetPath

  $MediaPath = 'E:\'
<----------Form Command to Create Nano  Server-----------------------
$MyNanoServer = 'New-NanoServerImage -MediaPath ' +  $MediaPath + ' -DeploymentType ' + $Type + ' -Edition ' + $Edition + '  -BasePath ' + $BasePath + ' -TargetPath ' + $TargetPath + ' -MaxSize ' +  $MaxSize + ' -ComputerName ' + $Computername + ' ' + $SelectedPackage + ' -AdministratorPassword  (ConvertTo-SecureString ' + $MyPassword + ' -AsPlainText -Force)'
Invoke-Expression $MyNanoServer

  }
<------ Define All GUI Objects-------
# Define Label - This label will be used to prompt the  administrator to populate the form

  $Label1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.label

  $Label1.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(30,20)

  $Label1.Font = New-Object System.Drawing.Font("Times  New Roman",18,[System.Drawing.FontStyle]::Bold)

  $Label1.AutoSize = $True

  $Label1.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label1.Text = "Please enter the parameters to be  used by your new Nano Server."
 
<--------Prompt for Installation Package--------------
# Define Label2 - This label will be used to prompt the  admin to select the package that they want to install

  $Label2 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

  $Label2.AutoSize = $True

  $Label2.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(20,50)

  $Label2.Font = New-Object System.Drawing.Font("Times  New Roman",18,[System.Drawing.FontStyle]::Bold)

  $Label2.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label2.Text = "Please select the package that you  wish to install."
 
<----------------Host or Guest Mode-----------------
# Define Label3 - Host or Guest

  $Label3 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

  $Label3.AutoSize = $True

  $Label3.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(50,70)

  $Label3.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label3.Text = "Will this Nano Server act as a host  or a guest?"
 
$RadioButton1 = New-Object  System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton

  $RadioButton1.Location = '5,10'

  $RadioButton1.AutoSize = $True

  $RadioButton1.Checked = $false 

  $RadioButton1.Text = "Host"
$RadioButton2 = New-Object  System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton

  $RadioButton2.Location = '100,10'

  $RadioButton2.AutoSize=$True

  $RadioButton2.Checked = $True

  $RadioButton2.Text = "Guest"
$GroupBox1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox

  $GroupBox1.Location = '300,60'

  $GroupBox1.Size = '200,30'
 
<----------------Standard or Datacenter  Edition-----------
# Define Label4 - Standard or Datacenter Edition

  $Label4 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

  $Label4.AutoSize = $True

  $Label4.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(50,110)

  $Label4.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label4.Text = "Will the Nano Server use Standard or  Datacenter Edition?"
$RadioButton3 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton

  $RadioButton3.Location = '5,10'

  $RadioButton3.AutoSize = $True

  $RadioButton3.Checked = $false 

  $RadioButton3.Text = "Standard"
$RadioButton4 = New-Object  System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton

  $RadioButton4.Location = '100,10'

  $RadioButton4.AutoSize=$True

  $RadioButton4.Checked = $True

  $RadioButton4.Text = "Datacenter"
$GroupBox2 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox

  $GroupBox2.Location = '350,100'

  $GroupBox2.Size = '200,30'
<---------------Computer Name----------------
# Define Label5 - Computer Name

  $Label5 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

  $Label5.AutoSize = $True

  $Label5.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(50,160)

  $Label5.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label5.Text = "What computer name should the Nano  Server use?"
$TextBox1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox

  $TextBox1.AutoSize = $True

  $TextBox1.Location = New-Object  System.Drawing.Size(310,155)

  $TextBox1.Text="MyMinWinPC"
<---------------Media Type----------------
# Define Label6 - Media Type

  $Label6 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

  $Label6.AutoSize = $True

  $Label6.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(50,200)

  $Label6.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label6.Text = "What type of media do you want to  create?"
$RadioButton5 = New-Object  System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton

  $RadioButton5.Location = '5,10'

  $RadioButton5.AutoSize = $True

  $RadioButton5.Checked = $false 

  $RadioButton5.Text = "WIM"
$RadioButton6 = New-Object  System.Windows.Forms.RadioButton

  $RadioButton6.Location = '100,10'

  $RadioButton6.AutoSize=$True

  $RadioButton6.Checked = $True

  $RadioButton6.Text = "VHD"
$GroupBox3 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox

  $GroupBox3.Location = '275,190'

  $GroupBox3.Size = '200,30'
 
<--------------Password----------------------
# Define Label7 - Administrative Password

  $Label7 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

  $Label7.AutoSize = $True

  $Label7.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(50,240)

  $Label7.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label7.Text = "Enter the administrative password  for this server:"
 
$TextBox2 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.MaskedTextBox

  $TextBox2.PasswordChar='*'

  $TextBox2.AutoSize = $True

  $TextBox2.Location = New-Object  System.Drawing.Size(305,235)
 
<----------Packages-------------------------
# Define List Box - This will display the choices of  packages that can be installed into the Nano Server
$ListBox1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.ListBox 

  $ListBox1.Location = New-Object  System.Drawing.Size(20,80) 

  $ListBox1.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(280,20) 

  $ListBox1.Height = 130
[void] $ListBox1.Items.Add('DNS Server')

  [void] $ListBox1.Items.Add('Desired State Configuration  (DSC)')

  [void] $ListBox1.Items.Add('Internet Information Server  (IIS)')

  [void] $ListBox1.Items.Add('Network Performance  Diagnostics Service (NPDS)')

  [Void] $ListBox1.Items.Add('Datacenter Bridging')

  [void] $ListBox1.Items.Add('Secure Startup')

  [void] $ListBox1.Items.Add('Shielded VM')

  [void] $ListBox1.Items.Add('None')
 
<-----------Exit Text-------------------
# Define Label8 - Media Type

  $Label8 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

  $Label8.AutoSize = $True

  $Label8.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(50,200)

  $Label8.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label8.Text = "Your Nano Server is Being  Created."
 
<------------VHD Size------------------
# Define Label9 - Media Type

  $Label9 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

  $Label9.AutoSize = $True

  $Label9.Location = new-object System.Drawing.Size(50,280)

  $Label9.ForeColor = "DarkBlue"

  $Label9.Text = "Enter the Maximum Size (in  GB)."
$TextBox3 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox

  $TextBox3.Size = New-Object Drawing.Size (35,20)

  $TextBox3.Location = New-Object  System.Drawing.Size(220,275)

  $TextBox3.Text="20"
<--------------Define Buttons-------------

  # Define Button 1   - This is the selection screen's OK button

  $Button1 = new-object System.Windows.Forms.Button

  $Button1.Location = new-object  System.Drawing.Size(20,320) 

  $Button1.Size = new-object System.Drawing.Size(70,30)

  $Button1.BackColor ="LightGray"

  $Button1.Text = "OK"

  $Button1.Add_Click({Acquire-ServerPackage})
 
# Define Button 2 - This is the selection screen's Cancel  button

  $Button2 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button

  $Button2.Location = New-Object  System.Drawing.Size(120,320)

  $Button2.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(70,30)

  $Button2.BackColor ="LightGray"

  $Button2.Text = "Cancel"

  $Button2.Add_Click({$Form.Close()})
 
# Define Button 3 - This is the Back button

  $Button3 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button

  $Button3.Location = New-Object  System.Drawing.Size(50,220)

  $Button3.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(70,30)

  $Button3.BackColor ="LightGray"

  $Button3.Text = "Return"

  $Button3.Add_Click({Return-MainScreen})
 
# Define Button 4 - This is the Create button

  $Button4 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button

  $Button4.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(140,220)

  $Button4.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(150,30)

  $Button4.BackColor ="LightGray"

  $Button4.Text = "Create Nano Server"

  $Button4.Add_Click({$SelectedPackage=$ListBox1.SelectedItem;Create-NanoServer  $SelectedPackage})
 
# Define Button 5 - This is button exits the wizard

  $Button5 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button

  $Button5.Location = New-Object  System.Drawing.Size(120,300)

  $Button5.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(70,30)

  $Button5.BackColor ="LightGray"

  $Button5.Text = "Exit"

  $Button5.Add_Click({$Form.Close()})
# -------- This is the end of the object definition  section ------
 
# -----Draw the empty form----

  $Form = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form

  $Form.width = 750

  $Form.height = 550

  $Form.BackColor = "lightblue"

  $Form.FormBorderStyle =  [System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle]::Fixed3D

  $Form.Text = "Brien Poseys Nano Server Installation  Tool"

  $Form.maximumsize = New-Object  System.Drawing.Size(800,600)

  $Form.startposition = "centerscreen"

  $Form.KeyPreview = $True

  $Form.Add_KeyDown({if ($_.KeyCode -eq "Enter")  {}})

  $Form.Add_KeyDown({if ($_.KeyCode -eq  "Escape") 

  {$Form.Close()}})
<----Populate the form----

  Acquire-NanoInfo

  $Form.Add_Shown({$Form.Activate()})

  $Form.ShowDialog()