Windows 2008 Server Management Console Analysis

Server Management Console for Windows Server 2008

The new Server Management Console for Windows Server 2008 simplifies the task of installing, managing, and securing multiple server roles. The server console has the following features as a centralized console:

Managing server configuration and system information
Discovering issues related to server role configuration
Managing settings for roles on the server, role services and feature.

The server management console's hierarchical menu contains extensible nodes that administrators can open to manage specific roles, set up problem-solving tools, or choose backup and disaster recovery options. Server Manager integrates multiple management interfaces and tools into a single console, enabling administrators to switch between multiple interfaces, tools, and dialogs to complete common administrative tasks. FIG 1



Server Manager main screen

Server Main Window Management Console comprises four telescopic section:

Server Overview: The server overview consists of two parts: System Information and Security Summary. The system information shows the name of the computer, the domain, the local administrator account name, the network connection, and the product ID of the operating system. The commands in the System Information section allow the user to modify this information.
Security Summary: The security summary shows the Windows Update and Windows Firewall status information, along with the last time the update was checked and the last time the update was installed. The commands in the Security Summary section allow administrators to make changes to these settings or view advanced options.
Role Summary: The role summary contains a table showing which roles are installed on the server. This part of the command allows the administrator to add or remove roles, or to open a console for the management of the specified role.
Feature Summary: The feature summary contains a table showing which features are installed on the server. This section of the command allows the administrator to add or remove features (including BitLocker, Windows Backup, SMTP, etc.).
Resources and Support: The Resources and Support section shows the extent to which the server participates in the Feedback Plan for the Windows Server Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) and the Windows Error Reporting Service. The creation of CEIP provides customers with an opportunity to participate in the design and development of Microsoft products. CEIP collects information about how customers use Microsoft products and the problems they encounter during use. So the resource and support section is also a platform to join topical newsgroups or get more help and search themes. It is available online at the Windows Server TechCenter:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/? LinkID=50945.

The Server Management Console in Windows Server 2008 simplifies server configuration and role management as a unified management interface.

Server Manager Wizard

Wizard in Server Manager with previous Windows Compared with the Server version, the configuration time is shortened, which simplifies the task of configuring the server. Most common configuration tasks, such as configuring or deleting roles, defining multiple roles, and role services, can be done in one go through the Server Manager wizard. Windows Server 2008 performs a dependency check when the user uses the Manager Wizard to ensure that all necessary role services for a selected role are set, while the content required for other roles or role services is not removed. Windows Server 2008 includes the following role wizards:

Add Role Wizard

Windows Server 2008 is the first to implement a one-time addition of multiple roles to the server by adding a role wizard. It automatically checks for dependencies between roles and confirms that the roles and role services that are required for each selected role are all set. For some roles, such as Terminal Services and Active Directory Authentication Service (AD CS), the Add Roles Wizard also provides a configuration page that allows users to specify how roles are configured as part of the configuration process.

2 Select Add Roles Wizard Server Role page

Add Role Services Wizard

Most Roles such as file services, terminal services, and Active Directory authentication services have multiple subordinate elements that are identified as role services in the server manager interface. After setting up complex roles, administrators can add role services to roles by adding a role service wizard. There is a command to open the Add Role Services Wizard on each role home page of the Server Management Console.

Add Feature Wizard

The Add Features Wizard allows users to add one or more features to a computer at once. A feature is a software program that supports or supplements one or more roles, or a software program that improves the performance of the server itself, regardless of the role being set. A typical feature is to open the Windows PowerShell commands for the Add Features Wizard, which exist in the Initial Configuration Tasks window definition server section and also in the Feature Summary section of the Server Management Console window.

Delete Role Wizard

The Delete Role Wizard removes one or more roles from the server. It automatically checks for dependencies between roles and confirms the required roles, and the role services required for the role are not removed. The Remove Roles Wizard prevents roles or role services that are required by other roles on the server from being accidentally deleted.

Deleting a Role Service Wizard

The Delete Role Service Wizard removes a role service from a role that has already been set. The command to open the Delete Role Services Wizard exists on each role home page of the Server Management Console.

Delete Feature Wizard

The Delete Feature Wizard helps administrators remove one or more features from your computer at once. The command to open the Delete Feature Wizard exists in the Custom Server section of the Initial Configuration Tasks window and also in the Feature Summary section of the Server Management Console.

Simplified Installation Process

The wizard in Server Manager simplifies the task of configuring the server by saving time spent installing, configuring, deleting roles, role services, and features. In previous versions of Windows Server, users had to add and remove server roles through the functions of "configure your server", "manage your server", or "add or remove Windows components". The dependency check is limited, and the Add or Remove Windows Component feature only allows the user to install one role at a time. When adding multiple roles, you must install one role before you can install other roles.

Server Manager's wizard service enables administrators to add, delete, or supplement multiple roles at once. Use the Server Manager Wizard to complete the full configuration of the server in one go. Configuration roles can be done based on the default recommended security performance settings. You need to run the Security Performance Configuration Wizard after the role or feature is installed, unless it is necessary to modify the security defaults.

Server Manager Command Line Tools

Server Manager provides a command line tool, ServerManagerCmd.exe, to automatically configure roles and features on computers running Windows Server 2008. This command line tool can be used to install and remove roles, role services, and features. The ServerManagerCmd.exe parameter can also display all roles, role services, and features that have been set up on the computer. The Server Manager command line interface is capable of performing a single command to install or remove a role, role service or feature. ServerManagerCmd.exe can also be used with XML reply files to speed up repetitive automated installations or the addition and deletion of multiple roles or features.

What are server roles and server role services?

The server role describes the main functions of the server. Administrators can assign an entire server to a single role or set up multiple server roles on a single computer. Each server role can contain one or more role services, or optionally install elements of a role. The following are the roles that Windows Server 2008 has to be set up and managed through Server Manager:

Active Directory Authentication Service
Active Directory Domain Service
Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS)< BR> Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS)
Active Directory Rights Management Service
Application Server
DHCP Server
DNS Server
Fax Server
File Service
Network Security Policy and Access Services
Print Service
Terminal Services
Configuration, Discovery, and Integration Services (UDDI)
Web Server (IIS)
Configuration Service
Windows SharePoint? Services

What are features?

Features are not a general description of the main functions of the server, but rather describe the auxiliary or supporting functions of the server. Therefore, in general, the administrator does not set a feature as the main function of the server, but uses it to assist the server function that has been set. For example, a failover cluster can be characterized by an administrator's choice to install after a specific role, such as a file server, to make the file server more feature rich. Listed below are the features of Windows Server 2008 that can be installed through Server Manager:

Drive Encryption Technology
BITS Server Extension
Connection Administrator System Management Component (CMAK)
Desktop Experience
Failover Cluster
Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
Internet Printing Client
Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS)
LRP Port Monitor
Information Queue
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Framework Features
Multipath I/O Support
Network Load Balancing
Peer-to-Peer Network Name Resolution Protocol
High-Quality Windows Video and Audio Experience (qWave)
Recovery Disk
Remote Assistance
Remote Server Management Tool
Mobile Storage Manager
Request RPC Request via HTTP Proxy
Network File System Service
Simple TCP/IP Service
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol Server
Simple Network Management Protocol Server
Storage Manager for Storage Area Network Services
Based on UNIX Operating System Subsystem
Remote Login Client
Remote Login Server
General File Transfer Protocol Client
Internal Database
Windows Network Naming Service (WINS)
Windows PowerShell
Windows Process
service activation server backup
system resource Manager
Wi-Fi