Adding roles to your server in Windows Server 2008
You still have access to the Add or Remove Programs applet, as you did in the past, in Windows Server 2008. However, Microsoft has changed the name of this feature to Programs and Features. It's still possible to add or remove roles using this approach. Server Manager provides another option that you might want to try, however: Adding and removing roles can now rely on a wizard that helps you create a complete role rather than install a particular piece of software and find that you didn't install enough.
This section describes the process of adding roles using the wizard. You'll find the removal process described in the "Removing roles on your server in Windows Server 2008" article. The following steps describe how to add a role:
1. Open Server Manager and choose Roles in the left pane. You will see a Role Summary view.
2. Click Add Roles. Server Manager displays the Before You Begin page of the Add Roles Wizard dialog box. Make sure you read the instructions on this page before you proceed. You can avoid displaying this page every time you start the wizard by checking Skip This Page by Default.
3. Click Next. The Add Roles Wizard displays a list of available roles. The wizard automatically grays out any installed roles so that you don't install them a second time.
4. Check each of the roles you want to install. When you select some roles, you see an Add Roles Wizard dialog box. It tells you that you must install another role to obtain the desired functionality.
5. Click Add Role Service as needed to install dependent roles. As you add roles, the Add Roles Wizard also adds configuration steps. These additional steps vary by role, so you may see many steps in some cases and only one or two in others. An overview page at the beginning of each configuration step tells you what to expect and details the purpose of each step. Individual steps perform specific configuration tasks for that role.
6. Perform any required configuration. Click Next for each additional configuration step. Sometimes a configuration step adds roles to the server. For example, if you choose Internet Printing in the Role Services step for the Print Services role, you see an Add Roles Wizard dialog box, to add the Web Server (IIS) role and Windows Process Activation Service feature when you don’t have these elements installed.
7. Perform Step 6 as often as necessary to configure each role. Eventually, you reach the Configuration Installation Selections page. This page tells you what the wizard will install.
8. Verify the installation information, and then click Install. You see the Installation Progress page. An indicator at the bottom of the page provides information on how much of the installation is complete. When the installation is complete, the Add Roles Wizard displays the Installation Results page, where you can see the results of the installation.
9. Click Close.
Tags: server roles,Server Manager
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