Core Configuration Console

All CCC versions available at http://www.nullsession.com/downloads

OUTDATED! See http://www.nullsession.com/2009/06/18/release-of-ccc-0-98/ for more information!

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As I promised at the Windows Server 7 TAP Summit I’d make my Server Core configuration script publicly available. Well, here it is. I chose to call it Core Configuration Console, which’ll be CCC for short. If you find any bugs or miss anything, email ccc@nullsession.com and I’ll see what I can do.

This version of CCC is tested on Windows Server 2008 Core and later. It might even work on the full installation version of Windows, but that kinda defies the point so I haven’t tested it…

Core Configuration Console (CCC) version 0.9 contains the following functionality:
(might have missed something…)

Network configuration (IP / Dns-settings / Reset to DHCP)

Lists and lets you select which interface to configure.

Firewall configuration (Disable / En-/disable TS Remote Admin Mode)

Change Local User Password

Changes the password of the currently logged on local user.

Domain Settings (Join / disjoin)

Start control panel items

Licensing (install / activate / reset / rearm / display / delete)

Quick Configuration (Password / IP / Computername / Domain)

Will guide you through the basic configuration of your Core server.

The quick configuration guide restarts automatically after the reboot post server name change to let you join the domain. If you select not to change the name of the server you’ll be able to join the domain the first run.

Autostart of CCC

Registers CCC in registry to start on logon. This can also be disabled.

Download CCC.zip

To use: Download, unzip, place on USB-stick and copy it to your server. Start with CCC.bat from the directory you copied it to. Recommended directory is C:Windows.

Please either leave comments or send an email to ccc@nullsession.com with bugs/feedback/feature requests.

8 thoughts on “Core Configuration Console”

  2. The other tools available is Core Configurator which comes as an msi and the other one is to rip the console out of Hyper-V Server 2008. That script uses a vb-script too and has some other functionality. My tool is only a batch-file, of course with the limitations thereof. If you’re in doubt a batch file is easy to check the source of, so why don’t you compare?

    A better comparison is made of Sander Berkouwer over at http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sanderberkouwer/archive/2008/10/14/overview-of-free-server-core-configuration-tools.aspx

    Isn’t anonymous comments hopelessly 2004? If you have an opinion it’d be better to stand for it.

  3. Have you seen or played with this? Its called SMART Suite for Windows. Provides a UI for server core platforms. Free download, all you have to do is fill out the app below. interested in some realworld opions.

    http://licensing.portlock.com/products/smart_suite/windows/application/

    features included below.

    Configure display resolution
    Clock and time zone configuration
    Remote desktop configuration
    Firewall Configuration
    Windows Updates – No IE necessary
    Configure IP address, gateway, subnet mask, DNS
    Copy Files/Directories
    Map a drive
    Perform Windows Repair
    Web Browser
    Email Client
    Screen saver configuration
    Enable/Disable drivers and services
    Manually load/install drivers
    Windows Registry Editor
    Command prompt
    Configure dual boot systems
    Configure bootable USB devices
    Configure Language
    No installation necessary
    Boot bare-metal systems
    Configure permission and security settings

    • Hi!

      Nope, haven’t tried it. But their approach is somewhat different from mine. My approach is to use the built-in commands and be able to run it from USB / CD without installation. The script was originally made for internal use only, but once “in the wild” it’s been improved. The target audience is people who wants to use Server Core but haven’t learned all the commands or just want an easier way to administer their server.

  4. This utility (SMART Suite) does not require installation and you can run from CD or build a bootable USB device. Once your USB key is attached or CD is loaded, you can run the .exe on a running system or boot from bare-metal. Just been experiementing. Thanks for your posts.

    • I noticed once I read a little bit more… But my intention is still more of a “shortcut” way, if the user wants to know what’s happening you can just open the file and look at the command. It’s more of a “getting started” tool for the admin who feels that the learning curve is steep but still wants to learn.