Tuning performance for the Windows Server 2008 R2 virtual image

Tuning the performance of the Windows Server 2008 R2 virtual image can improve deployment times for your virtual patterns.

• Disable Windows services that are not used in your environment.
  To view the list of services that you want to disable, click Start > Administrative Tools > Services. For example, the following list includes services that might not need to be used. You might also determine that additional services not included in the list should be disabled:

  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service
  • Certificate Propagation
  • Print Spooler
  • Shell Hardware Detection
  • Windows Firewall
  • Windows Update
  • Power
  • Remote Desktop Configuration
  • Remote Desktop Services
  • Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector

  Important: Ensure that you are conforming to your local security policy before you disable any security related service.
• Disable hardware devices and hardware configuration settings that do not typically apply when you are using a virtual server.
  Use Windows Device Manager to disable hardware interface devices and configurations, such as display adapters, diskette drives, diskette controllers, monitors, system speakers, and the COM and LPT ports. To open Device Manager, click Start > Control Panel > Hardware > Devices and Printers > Device Manager.
• Configure Windows performance settings for visual effects and data protection.
  1. Click Start > Control Panel > System and Security > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced > Performance > Settings.
  2. Configure the performance of visual effects.
     On the Visual Effects tab, select the Adjust for best performance option. By doing so, all Custom options are then cleared.

     Note: The Smooth edges of screen fonts and Use visual styles on windows and buttons options might be automatically selected when the image is deployed, but no action to clear these options is required.
  3. Configure the security and data protection of certain Windows programs and services.
     On the Data Execution Prevention tab, select the Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and service only option.

     Important: Ensure that you conform to your local security policy before you select this option.
• Disable Remote Desktop related services if your business needs do not require Remote Desktop connections.
  The specific services that you can disable are Remote Desktop Configuration, Remote Desktop Services, and Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector.

  If you require Remote Desktop connections, you can improve your deployment times by disabling only the Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector service, which is used to redirect printers, drivers, and ports for Remote Desktop connections. Disabling this service does not prevent a Remote Desktop session from being established with a Remote Desktop client. If you require the use of the Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector service, disable it in the Windows virtual image, and then enable and start the service after you deploy the image.

• Update the settings for Windows Error Reporting and Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program.
  1. To choose not to participate in Windows Error Reporting, go to Initial Configuration Tasks > Update This Server > Enable automatic updating and feedback > Manually configure settings > Windows Error Reporting > Change Setting.
  2. To choose not to participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program, go to Initial Configuration Tasks > Update This Server > Enable automatic updating and feedback > Manually configure settings > Customer Experience Improvement Program > Change Setting.
• Disable the Windows screen saver.
  1. Click Start > Control Panel > Appearance > Display > Change screen Saver.
  2. Select the (None) option from the Screen saver list, and click OK.
• Disable the Windows Welcome screen.
  1. Click Start > Administrative Tools > System Configuration > Boot.
  2. Select No GUI boot.