2. Using Microsoft Management Console
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is the primary administration tool
for Windows computers. The MMC program is a shell application that can
load individual components called snap-ins.
Many of the administration tools in the Windows server and workstation
operating systems take the form of MMC snap-ins. For example, most of
the shortcuts you see when you open the Administrative Tools program
group on a computer running Windows Server 2008 R2 are preconfigured MMC
consoles that contain one or more snap-ins.
One of the primary advantages
of the MMC environment is the ability to direct a snap-in to another
computer on the network, enabling you to administer its properties from a
remote location. Many MMC consoles that connect to the local system have a default Connect to another computer menu item that, when clicked, displays a dialog box like the one shown in Figure 1, which you can use to browse to another system on the network.
The ability to do this depends on the nature of the snap-in and the configuration of the console.
For example, the snap-ins that you use to administer Active Directory
Domain Services (AD DS), such as the Active Directory Users And Computers Console, connect to the local domain by default.
However, you can point the snap-in to another domain on a network that
has one, or point it to a specific domain controller in the current
domain using the Change Directory Server dialog box, shown in Figure 2.
Tip
If you want to administer a role on a remote server from a computer that is not running that role, you can install the required snap-in using the Remote Server Administration Tools feature in the Server Manager Console.
Another powerful feature in MMC is the ability to load multiple
snap-ins and create a console that performs a variety of functions. The
Computer Management Console, shown in Figure 3, is an example of a single console that contains many snap-ins, all pointed at the local computer.
In addition to using the preconfigured consoles supplied with the
operating system, you can create your own customized MMCs that contain
any combination of snap-ins you want. Your custom consoles can contain a
variety of snap-ins pointed at the same computer or multiple instances
of the same snap-in pointed at different computers. For example, you can
create a console containing an instance of the Event
Viewer snap-in for each computer on your network, so you can examine
all the network’s system logs using one tool, as shown in Figure 4.
Tip
By default, Windows Firewall blocks the ports that most MMC snap-ins use to communicate with other computers on the network. You might have to open the Remote Service Management firewall exception before you can direct a snap-in to another computer.
To create a custom MMC Console on a computer running Windows SBS 2011 or Windows Server 2008 R2, take the following steps:
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Log on to the server using a domain account with administrative privileges.
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Click Start, and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
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In the Open text box, type mmc and click OK. When the User Account Control dialog box appears, click Continue. A blank MMC Console appears.
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Click File > Add/Remove Snap-In. The Add Or Remove Snap-Ins dialog box appears.
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In the Available snap-ins list, select the snap-in you want to add to the console and click Add.
Depending on the snap-in, a dialog box might appear, prompting you to
select the computer or user account you want to manage. The snap-in
then appears in the Selected snap-ins list.
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Repeat step 5 to select additional snap-ins for the console (if desired) and click OK. The snap-ins appear in the console.
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Click File > Save As. The Save as combo box appears.
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Type a name for the console and click Save. MMC adds the new console to the Administrative Tools program group.
