Windows Server 2008's new Server Manager console tool eases the pressure on organizations to manage and protect multiple server roles. Server Manager in Windows Server 2008 is used to manage server identification and system information, display server status, identify server role configuration issues, and manage all installed roles on the server.
Server Manager replaces several of the features included in Windows Server 2003, including managing servers, configuring servers, and adding or removing Windows components.
Server Manager also eliminates the requirement for administrators to run the Security Configuration Wizard before deploying the server. By default, the server role is configured with the recommended security settings and can be deployed once installed and configured correctly.
1. What is the function of Server Manager
Server Manager is an extended Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that allows you to view and manage almost any information and tools that affect server productivity. Use the commands in Server Manager to install or remove server roles and features, and enhance the installed roles on the server by adding role services.
Server Manager allows administrators to perform the following tasks with a single tool, making server management more efficient:
• View and change the server roles and features installed on the server.
• Perform administrative tasks associated with the server's runtime lifecycle, such as starting or stopping services and managing local user accounts.
• Performs administrative tasks associated with the runtime of the installed role on the server.
• Determine server status, identify critical events, analyze and resolve configuration issues and failures.
• Use the Windows command line to install or remove roles, role services, and features.
Second, the role and function of the server manager
1, server role
server role description of the main functions of the server. Administrators can choose to have the entire computer dedicated to one server role or install multiple server roles on a single computer. Each role can include one or more role services, and a better term is a child of the role. The following server roles are available in Windows Server 2008 and can be installed and managed using Server Manager. Commonly used roles include: services related to Active Directory, and basic network services.
2, server function
In windows2008, the server function provides auxiliary or support functions for the server. Often, administrator add functionality does not serve as a primary feature of the server, but it can enhance the functionality of the installed role. For example, a failover cluster is a feature that administrators can install after installing a specific server role, such as a file service, to add redundancy to file services and reduce potential disaster recovery time.
Third, Server Manager Console
The Server Manager Console is a new Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that provides a comprehensive view of the server, including information about the server configuration, installed roles, Add and remove information about role commands and features. The Server Manager console's Hierarchy panel contains expandable nodes that administrators can use to go directly to the console, troubleshooting tools, or backup and disaster recovery options that manage specific roles.
The following image shows the main server manager window.
Server Manager console main window comprising four foldable portion:
& bull; server digest
& ldquo; server digest & rdquo; portion comprises two subsections: & ldquo; information computer & rdquo; and “Safety Information”. “Computer Information Displays the computer name, domain, network connection, remote desktop status, and product ID of the operating system. The commands in the "Computer Information" subsection allow editing of this information.
<;Security Information" Shows whether Windows AutoUpdate and Windows Firewall are enabled for administrators or other users, and the date and time when the computer last checked and installed the update, and whether Windows(R) Internet Explorer (R) is enabled ) Enhanced security configuration. The commands in the "Safety Information" subsection allow you to edit these settings or view advanced options.
• The Role Summary
“The Role Summary” section includes a table that indicates which roles are installed on the server. The commands in this section allow you to add or remove roles, or to a more detailed console that can manage specific roles.
• Feature Summary
The “Features Summary" section includes a table that indicates which features are installed on the server. The commands in this section allow you to add or remove features.
• Resources and Support
The commands in this section allow you to modify the server's participation in the feedback program and look for more help and support. On each Server Manager role home page, the “Resources and Supports” section provides a recommended configuration menu, as well as a scenario for roles or partial roles. Each recommended configuration is linked to a help list that guides the administrator through the tasks that must be performed to make the roles in the scenario work.
Why the Server Manager Console is very important
The Server Manager console is more like the home page of a newspaper about a server. It provides administrators with a single place to view a concise overview of the server, change the system properties of the server, and install or remove roles or features.
Server Manager Wizard
Add Role Wizard
Add Roles Wizard to add one or more roles to the server, automatically check for dependencies between roles and verify that each role has been installed All required roles and role services.
For some roles, such as Terminal Services and Active Directory Certificate Services, the Add Roles Wizard also provides a configuration page that allows users to specify how roles should be configured as part of the installation process.
The following image shows the Select Server Roles page of the Add Roles Wizard.
Add Role Services Wizard
vast majority of roles, such as File Services, Terminal Services and Active Directory Certificate Services from a plurality of sub-elements, the Server Manager interface & ldquo; the role of service & rdquo; identity.
When you have installed one of these complex roles, you can use the Add Role Services Wizard to add a role service to a role. The command to open the Add Role Services Wizard can be found on each role home page in the Server Manager console.
Add Features Wizard
The Add Features Wizard allows you to install one or more features to your computer in a single session. Regardless of which role is installed, the feature is a software program that supports or enhances the functionality of one or more roles or enhances the server's own functionality.
The command to open the Add Features Wizard is located in the "Customize this server" area of the "Initial Configuration Tasks" window, which can also be found in the "Features Summary" section of the Server Manager Console window.
Remove Role Wizard
Removes the Role Wizard, which can be used to remove one or more roles from the server, automatically check for dependencies between roles, and verify that the required roles and role services have been installed for roles that you do not want to delete. Removing the Role Wizard process prevents accidental deletion of the role or role service that is required to retain a role on the server.
Remove Role Service Wizard
You can use the Delete Role Service Wizard to remove a role service from an installed role. The command to open the Remove Role Services Wizard can be found on each role home page in the Server Manager console.
Remove Features Wizard
The Delete Features Wizard allows you to remove one or more features from your computer in a single session. Regardless of which role is installed, the feature is a software program that supports or enhances the functionality of one or more roles or enhances the server's own functionality.
The command to open the Delete Features Wizard is located in the "Customize this server" section of the "Initial Configuration Tasks" window, which can also be found in the "Features Summary" section of the Server Manager Console window.
Why is the Server Manager Wizard so important?
The wizard in Server Manager simplifies the task of deploying servers in the enterprise by reducing the time it takes to install, configure, or remove roles, role services, and features in earlier versions of Windows Server. Use the Server Manager wizard to install or remove multiple roles, role services, or features in a single session.
Importantly, when the Server Manager Wizard is in progress, Windows Server 2008 performs a dependency check to ensure that all the roles and role services required for the selected role are installed, ensuring that the reserved role or role service is required The role and role services are not removed.
What is the difference in working style?
Earlier versions of Windows Server require the use of "configure your server", "manage your server" or "add or remove Windows components" to add or remove server roles or other software. Dependency checks are restricted and "Add or remove Windows components> restricts administrators to install only one role at a time. You must complete the installation of each role before adding more roles.
The Server Manager Wizard Collection allows you to add, remove, or enhance multiple roles in a single session. When you complete a single session in one of the Server Manager wizards, you are fully prepared for the deployment server. By default, the role configuration uses the recommended security settings configuration; running the Security Configuration Wizard after the role or feature installation is complete is not required unless you need to modify the security defaults.
Server Manager Command Line
Server Manager provides a command line tool, ServerManagerCmd.exe, which automatically deploys roles and features on computers running Windows Server 2008.
In short, Server Manager is a very important tool in Windows 2008. Most of the management and configuration of windwos2008 system can be completed through this tool.