What's New in Server Manager

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

What are the major changes?

The Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating system eases the task of managing and securing multiple server roles in an enterprise with enhancements to Server Manager.

The following functionality additions have been made to Server Manager in Windows Server 2008 R2:

  • Remote Management with Server Manager. In Windows Server 2008 R2, you can use Server Manager to perform some management tasks on remote computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2. To manage a computer remotely by using Server Manager, you connect Server Manager to a remote computer in the same manner you would connect the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) for other technologies.

    You can also create a custom MMC that contains multiple Server Manager snap-ins, each targeted to manage a different remote computer. For detailed information about how to manage computers remotely by using Server Manager, see Remote Management with Server Manager Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=137378).

  • Best Practices Analyzer. Best Practices Analyzer (BPA) is a server management tool that is available for a limited set of roles that run on Windows Server 2008 R2. Best Practices Analyzer can help administrators reduce best practice violations by scanning one or more roles that are installed on Windows Server 2008 R2, and reporting best practice violations to the administrator. Administrators can filter or exclude results from BPA reports that they do not need to see. Administrators can also perform BPA tasks by using either the Server Manager GUI, or Windows PowerShell™ cmdlets. Best Practices Analyzer is one of the areas of the Summary section of a role's home page.

  • Windows PowerShell cmdlets for Server Manager tasks. The following three Windows PowerShell cmdlets allow you to install, remove, or view information about available roles by using Windows PowerShell. For more information about how to use any of these cmdlets, in a Windows PowerShell session, enter Get-Helpcmdlet_name**–full**, in which cmdlet_name represents one of the following values.

    • Add-WindowsFeature

    • Get-WindowsFeature

    • Remove-WindowsFeature

  • Changes to roles and features available. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the following changes to roles and features that are available for installation by using Server Manager.

    • Roles

      • Terminal Services is now named Remote Desktop Services.

      • Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) is now available with Windows Server 2008 R2. In Windows Server 2008, WSUS is available as a separate package for downloading from the Microsoft Download Center (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=137379).

      • Print Services is now named Print and Document Services.

      • Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) Services is no longer available for installation on Windows Server 2008 R2 by using Server Manager.

    • Features

      • Windows BranchCache, a feature that is new for Windows Server 2008 R2, helps reduce the network bandwidth requirements of client computers that are located in remote offices.

      • Direct Access Management Console, a feature that provides direct access setup and monitoring capability, has been added for Windows Server 2008 R2.

      • Ink and Handwriting Services, new for Windows Server 2008 R2, provides support for both handwriting recognition and the use of a pen or stylus with a computing surface, such as a tablet computer.

      • Remote Server Administration Tools now includes Active Directory® Administrative Center, Remote Desktop (RD) Connection Broker tools, and BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer. The Windows® 7 version of Remote Server Administration Tools available for download on the Microsoft Download CenterConnect Web site includes the Server Manager console, which administrators can use to manage remote computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2.

      • Windows 2000 Client Support has been removed from Message Queuing.

      • Windows Biometric Framework allows the use of fingerprint-reading devices on a computer to verify the identities of users.

      • Windows Server Migration Tools lets an administrator migrate some server roles, features, operating system settings, shares, and other data from computers that are running certain editions of Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2 to computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2. For more information about Windows Server Migration Tools and migrating roles, features, or other data to Windows Server 2008 R2, see the Windows Server Migration Portal (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=128554).

      • Windows Remote Management (WinRM) IIS Extension enables a server to receive a remote management request from a client by using the WS-Management protocol.

      • XPS Viewer, part of .NET Framework 3.0 Features in Windows Server 2008, is available in Windows Server 2008 R2 as a stand-alone feature.

What does Server Manager do?

Server Manager, first available in the Windows Server 2008 operating system, provides a single source for managing a server's identity and system information, displaying server status, identifying problems with server role configuration or the alignment of some roles to best practices, and managing all roles installed on the server. With the release of Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Manager can be used to manage remote computers, either from another computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2, or a computer that is running Windows 7.

Who will be interested in Server Manager?

Server Manager provides the greatest benefit to any of the following IT professionals:

  • An IT administrator, planner, or analyst who is evaluating Windows Server 2008 R2.

  • An enterprise IT planner or designer.

  • An early adopter of Windows Server 2008 R2.

  • An IT architect who is responsible for computer management and security throughout an organization.

  • An IT administrator whose duties include server configuration, deployment, security hardening, or best practice compliance.

Are there any special considerations?

Whether you are running Server Manager on a local computer, or you are running a Server Manager console that is targeted at a remote computer, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the computer that you are managing.

The following are other considerations and requirements for using the new Server Manager functionality.

Special considerations for running Best Practices Analyzer

  • For this release, you can perform Best Practices Analyzer scans on the following roles. Before you can run a scan, you must install on the computer the roles that you want to scan.

    • Active Directory Domain Services

    • Active Directory Certificate Services

    • Domain Name System (DNS) Server

    • Remote Desktop Services

    • Web Server (IIS)

  • To scan multiple roles at one time, you must run a Best Practices Analyzer scan by using Windows PowerShell cmdlets. For detailed information about how to use Windows PowerShell to run Best Practices Analyzer scans, see the Server Manager Help topic, Best Practices Analyzer (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=122786).

Special considerations for remote management with Server Manager

  • Whether you use Server Manager to manage remote computers from a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, remote management by using Server Manager requires several command-line configuration steps before the remote computer gives users connections. Additionally, on the remote computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2, the Allow remote management of this server from other computers by using Server Manager and Windows PowerShell option must be selected. For detailed information about how to prepare computers for remote management by using Server Manager, see Remote Management with Server Manager in the Server Manager Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=137378).

  • Although the Server Manager console cannot run on the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 R2, you can use Windows PowerShell cmdlets on the Server Core installation option, after you install Windows PowerShell on the Server Core installation option. You can manage remote computers that are running the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 R2 with the Server Manager console that is available on the full installation option, if you are a member of the Administrators group on the computer that is running the Server Core installation option.

Special considerations for using Windows PowerShell cmdlets for Server Manager tasks

  • To run any Server Manager–related Windows PowerShell cmdlets on Windows Server 2008 R2, including Windows Server Migration Tools and Best Practices Analyzer cmdlets, you must be running Windows PowerShell with elevated user rights. To do this, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Windows PowerShell, right-click the Windows PowerShell shortcut, and then click Run as administrator.

  • You must load the Server Manager module into each new Windows PowerShell session before working with Server Manager cmdlets. To do this, in a Windows PowerShell session opened with elevated user rights, type Import-Module Servermanager, and then press ENTER.

  • To perform Best Practices Analyzer scans by using Windows PowerShell cmdlets, in addition to loading the Server Manager module into your Windows PowerShell session, you must also load the Best Practices Analyzer module. Detailed instructions for performing Best Practices Analyzer scans by using Windows PowerShell are available in the Best Practices Analyzer Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=122786).

  • Because Windows PowerShell is not installed by default on a computer that is running the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 R2, to use Windows PowerShell on the Server Core installation option, install it by using ocsetup or pkgmgr in a Command Prompt session. Step-by-step instructions for installing Windows PowerShell on a computer that is running the Server Core installation option are available in the Windows Server Migration Tools Installation, Access, and Removal Guide (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=134763).

Do I need to change any existing code?

No code or script changes are required to use new Server Manager functionality.

Which editions include new functionality in Server Manager?

New Server Manager functionality is available in all editions of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Although the Server Manager console cannot run on the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 R2, you can use Windows PowerShell cmdlets on the Server Core installation option, after you install Windows PowerShell on the Server Core installation option. You can manage remote computers that are running the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 R2 with the Server Manager console that is available on the full installation option, if you are a member of the Administrators group on the computer that is running the Server Core installation option.

Additional references