This book requires you to have either a testing computer where you can cleanly install Windows Server 2016 Evaluation, or use any other virtual platform, such as Hyper-V, Virtual Box, or VMware. In Chapter 1, Introducing Windows Server, you will find information about how to download Windows Server 2016 Evaluation from the TechNet Evaluation Center web portal. The same chapter lists the minimum requirements for the Windows Server 2016 Evaluation edition. In Chapter 2, Installing Windows Server, you will find an explanation of how to cleanly install Windows Server 2016 Evaluation.
Windows Server 2016 Evaluation can be installed either on bare metal or a virtual machine. However, this book requires that you have enough resources for the whole setup. The minimum hardware or virtual requirements are listed here:
- Processor: 1.4 GHz with 64-bit architecture
- RAM: 512 MB
- HDD: 32 GB
- Monitor: It must support Super VGA (1024 x 768) resolution and above
- Other hardware: Has support for optical disk drives such as DVDs and support for SSDs with USB, keyboard, and mouse
- Internet connection: Cable or DSL connection
Internet connectivity is required to activate Windows Server 2016 Evaluation and install Windows Updates.