DEPRECATED We no longer offer Windows Server 2008.
Software RAID 1/drive mirroring
Windows 2008 R2 enables you to join several installed drives into a Software RAID 1 (mirroring), so that in the event of one drive failing, all data are still stored on the second drive.
When you order a Windows server from us, it is automatically equipped with mirroring for the first two drives.
Instructions on how to set up a Software RAID on Windows Server 2008 R2 can be found at: Windows Server software RAID
Install Internet Information Server (IIS)
We have compiled a short how-to guide here to enable you to easily install the Internet Information Server (IIS): Windows Server IIS installation
Install and use Web Platform Installer
The free Microsoft Web Platform Installer enables the installation of simple web applications.
Starting from 17.02.2010 the Web Platform is already pre-installed on Windows installations. The program can be found in the Start menu under All Programs.
Here are instructions on how to install and use it: Windows Server 2008 R2 Web Platform Installer (currently only in German)
Windows Recovery Environment/Recovery Console
Should the Boot loader or Boot sector need to be repaired or should, for example, a complete backup of a previously made backup be loaded from a Storage Box, the Windows Recovery Console (Recovery Environment / RE) is useful.
Legacy
First, you should order a KVM Console remote console and ask to have the Windows Recovery Environment pre-loaded, so that you have direct access to your server monitor and keyboard. The technicians will restart the server and it will boot the Windows RE via the network. As soon as Windows has loaded, a graphical interface will appear with instructions for you to follow.
UEFI
With an UEFI installation the Windows Recovery Environment can not be loaded via PXE. In this case, the technicians provide a KVM Console with a USB stick with Windows RE.
Should you wish to reload a previously made backup from your backup space, please select System Image Recovery from the Windows RE menu. Select Advanced from the choice of recovery options and specify that you wish to load the backup from the network. Then enter your backup space in the following format \\u012345.your-backup.de\backup, replacing `u012345 with your own backup space. Finally, enter the access data for your backup space and the restore can begin.
Frequently asked questions / FAQ
Forgotten password
If you have forgotten your Administrator password, you can have your password reset via a Support Request in the Hetzner Robot.
Reset service
The behaviour of Windows is such that CTRL+ALT+DEL only triggers the Authentication Dialogue Box. Consequently, the Send CTRL+ALT+DEL function of our Reset Service is unfortunately not able to restart the server at this point. A hardware reset should, however, still work as intended.
Windows Update Service
For technical reasons, the Windows Update Service for our Windows Installations is set so that updates can only be downloaded and not installed.
In order to change this, you need to adjust the Registry. To start this, enter the command regedit in the Run dialogue.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Polices\\Microsoft\\Windows\\WindowsUpdate\\AU and set the AUOptions key to 5.
Now you can adjust the update function in the control panel.
Windows Backup Service
Should the Windows Backup Service (feature) need to be used together with a Storage Box, a user must be set up on the local system, which has the same name as the Backup Account. This user should then be entered as a member into the "Backup Operators" group.
Use of own licenses
We take part in the Microsoft SPLA Program. The Windows License made available to us is thus an SPLA License. The combining of clients´ own Microsoft licenses with the Hetzner SPLA License would have to be put in writing (contract), as the client would have to commission Hetzner to host the product. Furthermore, the deployment of an own Microsoft license would not be possible in every case (e.g. for terminal server licenses). Therefore, in view of the increased administrative time and effort that would be involved, we have chosen not to permit the combining of licenses. Hence, the use of own Microsoft licenses on a Windows operating system leased from us is not possible.
However, a client is able to install their own Windows version, using their own license. It is possible to install Windows via a KVM Console.