Manage Your Servers From Your Client

So Windows Server 2012 has launched, and you are all running out this month to upgrade all of your production servers immediately to that platform.  Hoorray!

Ok, so maybe some of you are going to migrate over time, as compatibility tests are completed, as compliance mandates are written, as time permits, and even as your older servers warranties/leases/lifecycles expire.  That’s fine.  Maybe you have a couple or a hundred Windows Server 2012 machines in a test lab that you want to manage.

The Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview is now available.  In other words, you can now manage your servers from your client, just as you were able to do previously in Windows 7.  All you have to do is download the RSAT tools and you are ready to go!  Here’s the link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=28972

Overview

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview includes Server Manager, Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins, consoles, Windows PowerShell cmdlets and providers, and command-line tools for managing roles and features that run on Windows Server 2012. In limited cases, the tools can be used to manage roles and features that are running on Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008. Some of the tools work for managing roles and features on Windows Server 2003.

 

System requirements

Supported operating systems: Windows 8 Release Preview

**Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview can be installed ONLY on computers that are running Windows 8 Release Preview.** Remote Server Administration Tools cannot be installed on computers with an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) architecture, or other system-on-chip devices.

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview runs on both x86- and x64-based editions of Windows 8 Release Preview. Download and install the version that matches the architecture of the computer on which you plan to install the administration tools. If you are not sure whether your computer is x86- or x64-based, see How to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or 64-bit version of the Windows operating system.

IMPORTANT: Remove all older versions of Administration Tools Pack or Remote Server Administration Tools—including earlier prerelease versions, and releases of the tools for different languages or locales—from the computer before you install Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview. Only one copy at a time of Remote Server Administration Tools can be installed on a computer.

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview includes support for remote management of computers that are running the Server Core installation option or the Minimal Server Graphical Interface configuration of Windows Server 2012, and in limited cases, the Server Core installation options of Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2008. However, Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview cannot be installed on any versions of the Windows Server operating system.

Server Manager is included with Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview; GUI-based tools that are part of this release of Remote Server Administration Tools can be opened by using commands on the Tools menu of the Server Manager console. To use Server Manager to access and manage remote servers that are running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, you must install several updates on the older operating systems. For more information about requirements for using Server Manager to manage remote servers, see Manage multiple, remote servers with Server Manager.

…and just like that, you are ready to go!  Have fun!

Note: The RSAT tools for Windows 8 RTM will only be available at General Availability… October 26th.