Microsoft worked hard on the management of the new Windows Server 2012. In Windows Server 2008 R2 you had to choose during the installation if the server is a Windows Server Full Installation (with GUI) or a Windows Server Core Installation (without GUI). In Windows Server 2012 you can add and remove the GUI from the server.

Add GUI on a Core Server

On a Core Server you can add the with the following PowerShell command:

Add-WindowsFeature Server-GUI-Shell

After the Installation you have to restart the server:

Restart-Computer

Remove GUI on a Server

There are two ways you could do that, first via Server Manager remote the GUI feature:

Or via Windows PowerShell:

Remove-WindowsFeature Server-GUI-Shell

It is also important that you understand that Windows Server 2012 has three different GUI options.

• Core
• GUI
• GUI with Management Tools

So if you activate the GUI you do not get all of the Management tools automatically. You have also to activate the “Management tools GUI”.