Windows Server 2022 – First Look Series – Part 1

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the Windows Server 2022 – First Look Series on how to get started with the Windows Server 2022

Today, we are going to look at how easy it is to install a Windows Server 2022 VM on VMware Workstation.

If you don’t have a valid copy of Windows Server 2022 you can use you can download a trial from Microsoft.

Windows 10 Trial: Try Windows Server 2022 on Microsoft Evaluation Center

Section 1: System Requirements

Microsoft recommends the following for Windows Server 2022. The operating system (OS) requires a minimum amount of resources to function efficiently. To run this server OS properly, having more than the minimum requirements will ensure that your device is set up correctly for scalability.

  • Processor: Minimum 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor compatible with the x64 instruction set is required. The processor must support security features like DEP and NX Bit.
  • Memory (RAM): The minimum requirement for your server’s RAM is a total of 512MB. ECC (Error Correcting Code) must be included.
  • Disk space: You require at least 32GB available harddisk space to install Windows Server 2022 Standard. The installation of the GUI will require an additional 4GB of space.
  • Network adapters: The network adapters on your computer should have a 1 gigabit per second ethernet adapter and be PCI Express compatible.
  • Other requirements:
    • You need to have a UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports the Secure Boot feature.
    • A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is required to use certain features of Windows Server 2022 such as BitLocker Drive Encryption.
    • A graphics device and monitor with a resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher is necessary for this product.
    • A keyboard and a mouse (or other compatible pointing devices) are required.
    • If you plan on installing Windows Server 2022 via disk media, your PC should have a DVD drive.

Section 2: Clean Build

In this section, we will step through the Windows Server 2022 installer and perform a clean deployment within VMware Workstation. This guide assumes you have created the shell VM in VMware Workstation. If you need a guide on how to create the shell VM please see my other blogs.

Step 1: Start the VM you created. For me, it was called DM-AD-01

Step 2: Once you boot your VM with the Windows Server 2022 media attached that you downloaded above you should see the following screen.

Step 3: Select the Language, Time and currency and Keyboard layout relevant to you and select Next.

Step 4: Now click Install Now.

Step 5: If you have a valid product key you would like to use enter it now and click Next or click I don’t have a product key. For the purpose of this guide, we will be using I don’t have a product key. Once you have made your selection click Next.

Step 6: Select the version relevant to yourself. For the purpose of this guide, we will be using Windows Server 2022 Standard (Desktop Experience). Once you have made your selection click Next.

Step 7: Next is the EULA screen. Please read the software license terms and tick the I accept box and click Next.

Step 8: You will now have the option to select the installation type you would like to conduct.

  1. Upgrade: Install Microsoft Server Operation System and keep files, settings, and applications
  2. Custom: Install Microsoft Server Operating System only (advanced)

For the purpose of this guide, we are going to select the second option. Select Custom to continue.

Step 9: Depending on how you configured your VM you may see multiple drivers available. For this guide, we only configured one drive and will select Drive 0 and click Next to continue.

Step 10: Sit back and relax while the Windows Server 2022 does its thing. 🙂

Step 11: Once the installer completes you will be asked to set the local administrator password. Enter something meaningful and of course something you will remember and click Finish.

Step 12: The server will now reboot and you can now login to your newly built server with the password you set in the previous step.

Step 13: Once signed in. Server Manager will load and you will be able to validate your great work by confirming the operating system version.

CONGRATULATIONS: that completes this guide on how to build a vanilla Windows Server 2022. Please stay tuned for more guides on Windows Server 2022.

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