Configure Basic Settings
- Set a password for the Built-in Administrator.
- Turn Off Network Discovery
- Activate Windows
- For detailed instructions, visit my post Activate Windows.
Set Static IP Address
- Open Server Manager.
- Navigate to Local Server.
- Click on the network adapter labeled Ethernet.
- Double-click the network adapter and click Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
- (Optional) Disable IPv6 if not required.
- Enter the static IP Address, Subnet Mask and Gateway in the appropriate fields.
- For Preferred DNS server, enter the server’s IP address.
- For Alternate DNS server, use a public DNS resolver (e.g., Google: 8.8.8.8 or Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1).
- Click OK to apply the settings.
Enable Remote Desktop
- Navigate to Local Server.
- Click on Remote Desktop to open the System Properties window.
- Select Allow remote connections to this computer.
- Click Apply then OK to save changes.
Change Computer Name
- Navigate to Local Server.
- Click on the current Computer Name.
- Click the Change button.
- Enter the new computer name and click OK.
- Choose to restart the server immediately to apply the changes.
Allow ICMP Echo Reply
- Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security console.
- Click on Inbound Rules.
- In the right-hand Actions pane, click New Rule.
- Select Custom and click Next.
- Choose All programs and click Next.
- In the Protocol type dropdown, select ICMPv4 and click Next.
- Leave the default settings and click Next.
- Select Allow the connection and click Next.
- Check all network profiles and click Next.
- Enter a name for the rule and click Finish.
Run Windows Update
- Open Server Manager.
- Navigate to Local Server.
- Click on Windows Update.
- In the Windows Update window, click Check for updates.
- Install any available updates and follow the prompts to complete the update process.
- Restart the server if prompted to apply the updates.
