Understand Nano server package cmdlets

Q. Why are their Nano Server Package cmdlets?

A. Normally when building your Nano Server images you have the Windows Server 2016 media and all the optional features are available locally however there may be scenarios where source media is not available and you wish to add features either online or offline. Consider a cloud deployment where there is a very small Nano server image that does not have the optional packages available nor media easily available to install from and another example would be for a running Nano server deployment where you wish to add a feature and avoids the need to find the media, copy the cab file then add via DISM.

With the NanoServerPackage cmdlets those optional packages normally found on the Windows Server 2016 media can be pulled down from Microsoft and used. These cmdlets use the PackageManagement (OneGet) PowerShell module. To use the Nano Server package library use:

Install-PackageProvider NanoServerPackage
Import-PackageProvider NanoServerPackage

Then use the NanoServerPackage cmdlets to find, save and install the packages you need. For example to view all the en-us I could use:

Find-NanoServerPackage –AllVersions -Name * –Culture en-us

Then to install I could use:

Install-NanoServerPackage -Name Microsoft-NanoServer-Containers-Package

or even the generic cmdlets:

Install-Package -Name Microsoft-NanoServer-Containers-Package