/win-server-essentials

Instructions for creating an ISO of essential Windows Server utilities, along with script to install them all

Windows Server Essential Tools

Instructions for creating an ISO of essential Windows Server utilities, along with script to install them all.

The following instuctions are for OS X as that is my main workstation. There is nothing in the overall process specific to OS X. One need only:

  • Download programs
  • Create ISO of programs

Essential Tools

These are tools that every Windows Server should have. They will make things easier and open up possibilities. Please let me know of other tools that you think are essential

Download the following tools:

  • Google Chrome: because IE, especially with it's default enabled IESC is just plain annoying [1]
  • Active Python: simply because Python is awesome. Active Python also installs the win32 integration properly
  • Git
  • Vim: Vim may not be for everyone, but if it's for you, it's hard to be without it. The installer from the Cream project allows for silent installs.
  • PuTTY: pretty much the one and only SSH client on Windows
  • 7zip: The solution for all your (de)compression needs
  • BGInfo: Very useful info, especially when using RDP to access servers
  • Notepad++: A usable notepad replacement

(Optional)

OS X

  • Place all of the above downloads in a folder, along with the install_server_essentials.cmd script from this project.

  • Open up Disk Utility

  • Go to File->New->Disk Image from Folder or press CMD-SHIFT-N

  • Select the folder containing the programs and installation script

  • Select DVD/CD master

  • Specify a location and filename for the new image

  • Open up Terminal

  • Run the following, replacing <filename> and <source> with the proper paths.:

    hdiutil makehybrid -iso -joliet -o <filename>.iso <source>.cdr

Footnotes

[1]I have had mixed success with downloading the .msi on Mac. usually Google just sends a .dmg. Downloading on windows will yield a .msi