Windows Server 2019 Installation Guide

Tyler Maginnis | January 15, 2024

Windows Server 2019InstallationSetupConfigurationDeployment

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Windows Server 2019 Installation Guide

Overview

Windows Server 2019 is a long-term servicing channel (LTSC) release providing stability and reliability for enterprise environments. This guide covers planning, installation, and initial configuration for optimal deployment.

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

  • Processor: 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
  • RAM: 512 MB (2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience)
  • Storage: 32 GB (40 GB for Server with Desktop Experience)
  • Network: Gigabit Ethernet adapter
  • Graphics: Super VGA (800x600) or higher resolution
  • Processor: 2.0 GHz+ 64-bit processor
  • RAM: 4 GB+ (8 GB+ for production)
  • Storage: 120 GB+ SSD
  • Network: Gigabit Ethernet adapter
  • Graphics: 1024x768 or higher

Installation Options

Server Core

  • Minimal installation with command-line interface
  • Reduced attack surface and maintenance requirements
  • Ideal for specific roles (Hyper-V, DNS, DHCP, file servers)

Server with Desktop Experience

  • Full GUI installation
  • Complete management tools and interface
  • Suitable for servers requiring GUI applications

Pre-Installation Planning

Hardware Compatibility

# Check hardware compatibility list
# Visit Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)
# Run hardware diagnostic tools

Licensing Considerations

  • Standard Edition: Up to 2 virtual machines
  • Datacenter Edition: Unlimited virtual machines
  • Essentials Edition: Up to 25 users (small business)

Network Configuration

  • Plan IP addressing scheme
  • Configure DNS and DHCP servers
  • Prepare domain join information
  • Document network security requirements

Installation Methods

1. Clean Installation from DVD/USB

Create Installation Media

# Download Windows Server 2019 ISO
# Use Media Creation Tool or Rufus to create bootable USB
# Ensure UEFI boot support if required

Boot from Installation Media

  1. Configure BIOS/UEFI to boot from USB/DVD
  2. Start installation process
  3. Follow installation wizard

2. Network Installation (PXE Boot)

Configure WDS Server

# Install Windows Deployment Services
Install-WindowsFeature -Name WDS -IncludeManagementTools

# Configure WDS server
wdsutil /initialize-server /remInst:"D:\RemoteInstall"

3. Automated Installation (Unattended)

Create Answer File

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" 
                   processorArchitecture="amd64" 
                   publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" 
                   language="neutral" 
                   versionScope="nonSxS">
            <SetupUILanguage>
                <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" 
                   processorArchitecture="amd64" 
                   publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" 
                   language="neutral" 
                   versionScope="nonSxS">
            <ComputerName>SERVER2019-01</ComputerName>
            <RegisteredOrganization>Company Name</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>IT Department</RegisteredOwner>
            <TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

Step-by-Step Installation

Step 1: Boot and Language Selection

  1. Boot from installation media
  2. Select language, time, and keyboard settings
  3. Click "Next" and "Install now"

Step 2: Product Key and Edition

  1. Enter product key (or select "I don't have a product key")
  2. Choose Windows Server 2019 edition
  3. Accept license terms

Step 3: Installation Type

  • Custom: Clean installation (removes existing OS)
  • Upgrade: Keep files, settings, and programs (limited scenarios)

Step 4: Disk Configuration

  1. Select target disk for installation
  2. Create/modify partitions as needed
  3. Format partitions (NTFS recommended)

Disk Partitioning Best Practices

C: (System)     - 80-120 GB (OS and applications)
D: (Data)       - Remaining space or separate disk
E: (Logs)       - 20-50 GB (optional, for logs)
F: (Backup)     - Separate disk for local backups

Step 5: Installation Process

  1. Wait for file copying and installation
  2. System will restart multiple times
  3. Installation typically takes 15-30 minutes

Step 6: Initial Configuration

  1. Set Administrator password
  2. Configure network settings
  3. Complete initial setup wizard

Post-Installation Configuration

Step 1: Windows Updates

# Check for updates
Get-WindowsUpdate

# Install updates
Install-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll -AutoReboot

Step 2: Configure Server Manager

  1. Open Server Manager
  2. Configure local server properties
  3. Add roles and features as needed

Step 3: Network Configuration

# Configure static IP address
New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -IPAddress 192.168.1.100 -PrefixLength 24 -DefaultGateway 192.168.1.1

# Configure DNS servers
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -ServerAddresses 192.168.1.10,192.168.1.11

Step 4: Computer Name and Domain

# Rename computer
Rename-Computer -NewName "SERVER2019-01" -Restart

# Join domain (after restart)
Add-Computer -DomainName "company.local" -Restart

Step 5: Windows Firewall

# Configure Windows Firewall
Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled True

# Allow specific services
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Desktop"
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)"

Step 6: User Account Control (UAC)

# Configure UAC settings
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" -Name "EnableLUA" -Value 1

Server Roles Installation

Common Roles

# Install common server roles
Install-WindowsFeature -Name Web-Server,DNS,DHCP,File-Services,Print-Services -IncludeManagementTools

# Install Hyper-V
Install-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V -IncludeManagementTools -Restart

Active Directory Domain Services

# Install AD DS
Install-WindowsFeature -Name AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools

# Promote to domain controller
Install-ADDSForest -DomainName "company.local"

Storage Configuration

Disk Management

# List available disks
Get-Disk

# Initialize disk
Initialize-Disk -Number 1 -PartitionStyle GPT

# Create partition
New-Partition -DiskNumber 1 -UseMaximumSize -AssignDriveLetter D

# Format partition
Format-Volume -DriveLetter D -FileSystem NTFS -NewFileSystemLabel "Data"

Storage Spaces

# Create storage pool
New-StoragePool -FriendlyName "DataPool" -StorageSubsystemFriendlyName "Windows Storage*" -PhysicalDisks (Get-PhysicalDisk -CanPool $true)

# Create virtual disk
New-VirtualDisk -StoragePoolFriendlyName "DataPool" -FriendlyName "DataVolume" -ResiliencySettingName "Mirror" -Size 500GB

Security Configuration

Windows Defender

# Enable Windows Defender
Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $false

# Configure exclusions
Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\CustomApp"

BitLocker

# Enable BitLocker on system drive
Enable-BitLocker -MountPoint "C:" -UsedSpaceOnly -TpmProtector

Security Policies

# Configure account lockout policy
net accounts /lockoutthreshold:5 /lockoutduration:30 /lockoutwindow:30

# Configure password policy
net accounts /minpwlen:8 /maxpwage:90 /minpwage:1

Performance Optimization

Virtual Memory

# Configure page file
$cs = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_ComputerSystem
$InitialSize = [Math]::Round($cs.TotalPhysicalMemory / 1MB * 1.5)
$MaximumSize = [Math]::Round($cs.TotalPhysicalMemory / 1MB * 2)

$PageFile = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_PageFileSetting
$PageFile.InitialSize = $InitialSize
$PageFile.MaximumSize = $MaximumSize
$PageFile.Put()

Services Optimization

# Disable unnecessary services
Set-Service -Name "Fax" -StartupType Disabled
Set-Service -Name "TabletInputService" -StartupType Disabled

Monitoring and Maintenance

Windows Admin Center

# Download and install Windows Admin Center
# Install-WindowsAdminCenter.ps1

Performance Monitoring

# Enable Performance Toolkit
Add-WindowsFeature -Name Windows-Server-Backup

Event Log Configuration

# Configure event log sizes
Limit-EventLog -LogName System -MaximumSize 64MB
Limit-EventLog -LogName Application -MaximumSize 64MB
Limit-EventLog -LogName Security -MaximumSize 128MB

Backup Configuration

Windows Server Backup

# Install Windows Server Backup
Install-WindowsFeature -Name Windows-Server-Backup

# Configure backup
wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -include:C: -allCritical -quiet

System State Backup

# Create system state backup
wbadmin start systemstatebackup -backupTarget:E: -quiet

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  1. Installation fails
  2. Check hardware compatibility
  3. Verify installation media

  4. Check system requirements

  5. Driver issues

  6. Update drivers from manufacturer
  7. Use Windows Update for drivers

  8. Check Device Manager for conflicts

  9. Network connectivity

  10. Verify IP configuration
  11. Check DNS settings
  12. Test network adapters

Diagnostic Tools

# System information
Get-ComputerInfo

# Network diagnostics
Test-NetConnection -ComputerName "google.com" -Port 80

# Event log analysis
Get-EventLog -LogName System -EntryType Error -Newest 10

Best Practices

  1. Planning
  2. Document installation requirements
  3. Plan disk layout and partitioning

  4. Test installation in lab environment

  5. Security

  6. Install latest updates immediately
  7. Configure Windows Firewall

  8. Enable antivirus protection

  9. Performance

  10. Optimize services and startup programs
  11. Configure appropriate page file size

  12. Monitor resource usage

  13. Backup

  14. Implement regular backup strategy
  15. Test backup restoration
  16. Document recovery procedures

Post-Installation Checklist

  • [ ] Install Windows Updates
  • [ ] Configure network settings
  • [ ] Set computer name
  • [ ] Join domain (if applicable)
  • [ ] Configure firewall
  • [ ] Install antivirus
  • [ ] Configure backup
  • [ ] Install server roles
  • [ ] Configure storage
  • [ ] Set up monitoring
  • [ ] Document configuration

Conclusion

Proper installation and initial configuration of Windows Server 2019 provides a solid foundation for reliable server operations. Following best practices ensures optimal performance, security, and maintainability.

Next Steps

  • Install and configure required server roles
  • Implement monitoring and alerting
  • Configure backup and disaster recovery
  • Set up remote management tools