philipnet

I’m in the process of migrating a test server on to two test servers. I want to have SQL, SMS and MOM running on one box, and another justing being a DC (the main MOM application won’t run on a DC you see). I’m also making use of Windows 2003 Server, which I am slowly tweaking.

I want to run my DC headless (i.e. with no keyboard, mouse or monitor attached), but yet I need an easy way to turn it off. The ACPI Power button is, oddly enough, ideal for this, but by default on Windows 2003 Server and 2000 a single press doesn’t have any effect when the machine is at the logon screen.

As detailed here you have to go into Group Policy and enable “Computer Configuration” —> “Windows Settings” —> “Security Settings” —> “Local Policies” —> “Security Options” —> “Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without having to log on”. You also have to disable the Shutdown Tracker by going into “Computer Configuration” —> “Administrative Templates” —> “System” —> “Display Shutdown Event Tracker”. And then a reboot or group policy refresh later the machine is quite happy to shut itself down with a single press of the power button  . 

I also came across this neat site http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/ which gives instructions on how to setup Windows 2003 Server to act more like a workstation.