Microsoft released Gui and Core Modes from Windows Server 2008, how ever there was no option to convert Core Operating System to GUI and Vice Versa. Re-install OS is the only option in Windows 2008 and 20082.
Microsoft incorporated the Server GUI as separate component in Features of 2012 Operating System
Here are the advantages of Using Core over GUI
- Secured from attacks when compare to GUI as very less software is running
- Reduction in Disk space usage,
- Reduction in CPU and Memory usage ( No GUI),
- No need to install patches related GUI which means reduction in downtime.
Windows 2012 Server can be configured in the following modes.
- Full Server
- Server Core
- Server Core with GUI Management (Minimal Server Interface)
Converting 2012 Gui to Core.
Convert GUI to Core all you need to do is uninstalled Features “Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure” and “Server Graphical Shell” from Uninstall Features option i.e., Windows Server 2012 without “Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure” and “Server Graphical Shell” is Windows Core. Below Power shell command can also be used to un-install the features
uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell, Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra -Restart
Converting 2012 Core to Gui.
To convert a Core Operating System to GUI all you need to do is installed the features “Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure” and “Server Graphical Shell”. Below is the Powershell Command.
Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell, Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra -Restart
Converting 2012 Gui to Core with Gui Management (Minimal Server Interface)
Converting Gui to Core with Gui Management will provide Server Manager console along with Command prompt. Below is the power shell command line for it.
Uninstall-Windowsfeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra -Restart
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