Windows Server Core

[bluethunder]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to using Windows Server, which I'm using to run a game server. I really don't care for the GUI and am comfortable using a command line like in Linux. It seems I can free up some memory by using only the Server Core, Is there a way I can just install Windows Server without the GUI?

[TimeX]

Windows Server Core is not an option we typically offer. The resource footprint in actual use is not reduced as much as minimum spec sheets suggest. From a functional standpoint, it removes more than just the GUI and may remove some dependencies you require.

May I ask what game you are running on it? Is it a VDS or a full dedicated machine?

[bluethunder]

I'm using a VDS to run a Black Ops 2 Plutonium server, which only really runs on Windows. I tried it on Linux but WINE used up too much CPU.

[TimeX]

I'm not familiar with how that runs. Have you tried running it on Windows Server Core locally at home to see how it does? If not, I recommend trying that first to see if it will work as expected and give you an idea of what remote administration will be like. At the same time, you can see how much different the resource footprint is.

CPU wise I wouldn't expect it to help much, unless you are barely hitting CPU limits. RAM usage will likely drop less than 1GB, maybe as little as half a GB, based on some real-world reports I'm finding scattered about. This may not account for virtual environments, though.

I'm not sure how viable it would be to offer it as an option on a VDS, or if our licensing would even allow it. Our CEO will need to chime in on those aspects. If testing shows it would work for you and be a benefit though, we can certainly consider it.