Installing NANO Server

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Student123-6839 asked Nov 10, '20 TechThatWorks answered Nov 19, '20

Installing NANO Server

Hello Guys

I want to install a NANO Server version of WinServer 2016, for that I have downloaded the "NANO SERVER IMAGE BUILDER" tool but I have a question, why does it says in the Microsoft book as a sub heading "CREATING A NANO SERVER VHD"?

As far as I remember, "NANO SERVER IMAGE BUILDER" is used to create an Image for NANO Server and a bootable USB drive.

But what does it has to do with "VHD"? Isn't VHD a Virtual Hard Drive? Isn't VHD different from an image of the installation file of OS(Operating System)?

I hope my question is clear.

Regards,

windows-server-nano

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Answer 1 · 2020-11-10T19:07:09.713Z

TechThatWorks answered Nov 10, '20 Student123-6839 edited Nov 11, '20

Hi

In fact there isn't much difference between an ISO image and a VHD. As far as I can read in the documentation you can use the Nano server image builder for both creating a bootable USB or to create a VHD depending on your needs.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/deploy-nano-server

If you are using Hyper-V for your Nano server you can just as well create a VHD right away. If you want to install your Nano server on a physical server it will make sense to create a bootable USB drive.

Hope that answer your question.

Best Regards

Thomas
techthatworks.net

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Student123-6839 · Nov 11, 2020 at 05:50 PM

Techthatworks,

So the only way to install the NANO Server image on a physical Server machine is to use WDS(Windows Deployment Server) if we want to deploy it on multiple physical server machines on the same LAN?

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Answer 2 · 2020-11-11T08:06:58.36Z

DaleKudusi-MSFT answered Nov 11, '20 Student123-6839 commented Nov 12, '20

Hi,
I noticed you have posted a similar issue earlier in this thread below, please elaborate if you still have questions unanswered.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/135636/confusion-about-nano-server-installation.html

Best regards.

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Student123-6839 · Nov 11, 2020 at 05:48 PM

DaleKudusi

Thanks for reminding me, I am sorry I did post this thread somewhere else, but pls note that I wasn't able to find it , so this is why I started this new thread.

And as far as I know that previous thread of mine is closed as such threads are closed automatically after 24 hours, if we don't comment on them and if we don't accept any answers given in them by other contributors.

But pls allow this new thread to continue,I would appreciate .

Thanks

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Answer 3 · 2020-11-11T17:45:31.683Z

Student123-6839 answered Nov 11, '20 Student123-6839 commented Nov 19, '20

Techthat works

Thanks for the reply, so you mean that their is somewhat difference between a vhd(virtual hard disk) and an iso image?

But we can use the NANO Server Image builder software to create an ISO image of the NANO Server, also we can use the same software to create a bootable usb drive of NANO Server. Also we can use this same software to even create a vhd?

Pls correct me If I am wrong.

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TechThatWorks · Nov 11, 2020 at 08:55 PM

Yes, that is correct. The tool can be used to: Create VHD, VHDX or ISO formats.

The VHD and VHDX is kind of an image file used by Microsoft Hyper-V (Virtual servers), where other image files are used for other things like bootable USB or DVD drives.

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Student123-6839 TechThatWorks · Nov 19, 2020 at 04:17 PM

Techthatworks

Sorry for the late reply, thanks for your reply.

What is the difference between "VHD" and "VHDX"?

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Answer 4 · 2020-11-19T18:51:03.037Z

TechThatWorks answered Nov 19, '20

Hi again

VHD is the first edition of virtual disk for Hyper-v where VHDX is 2 generation. It is mostly about capacity limits and performance. VHD is limited to 2 TB in size where VHDX has a limit of 64 TB.

Best Regards

Thomas
techthatworks.net

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