Remote Server Management

An Overview on Remote Server Management

In enterprises that need a secure environment; servers and desktops are usually managed remotely. Administration is hardly performed by logging on to the local console. Remote management or administration is not a new notion, and is used largely to manage servers and desktops. Windows Server 2003 includes a few technologies which can be used for the administration of remote client computers, and to remotely manage servers. These include:

Using Microsoft Management Console snap-ins to Remotely Manage Computers

The main administrative tools in Windows Server 2003 are MMC consoles which contain one or multiple tools, known as snap-ins. Snap-ins are specialized administration tools used for performing certain tasks which are added to an MMC console. Some MMC snap-ins can be used to manage the local computer, and remote computers. This means that you can create custom MMC consoles to manage local and remote servers. The MMC is made up of a console tree pane, a details pane, MMC menus and a MMC toolbar. An MMC console can be also be configured so that nobody is able to change it.
A MMC console which has no added snap-ins is basically a blank sheet or an empty MMC to which you can add administration tools or snap-ins. The console root would eventually include all the snap-ins which you add. Each snap-in that you add to an MMC adds its own unique MMC menu and MMC toolbar items.

The types of snap-ins that exist are:

The MMC consoles can be saved in two modes, namely Author mode or User mode. The mode which the console is saved in determines what nodes in the console tree can be accessed, determines the snap-ins which can be added to the console, and the windows which can be created.

A few common menu items added by the majority of snap-ins are listed below:

How to create a customized MMC console

  1. Click Start, Run, and enter mmc in the dialog box. Click OK.
  2. Select Add/Remove Snap-In from the File menu.
  3. When the Add/Remove Snap-In dialog box opens, click Add.
  4. This opens the Add Standalone Snap-in dialog box which displays the list of available snap-ins which you can add to the MMC.
  5. Select the snap-in which you want to add, and then click Add.
  6. On the Select Computer dialog box, select the computer which the snap-in would manage. You can choose to manage the Local Computer or Another Computer. Click Finish
  7. Click Close in the Add Standalone Snap-In dialog box.
  8. Click OK in the Add/Remove Snap-In dialog box.
  9. The snap-in which you selected on the Add Standalone Snap-in dialog box now appears in the console tree.
  10. Click Save from the File menu to save the MMC. 1
  11. Enter a name for the MMC in the File Name box. 1
  12. Click Save. 1
  13. The saved console can now be accessed via the Administrative Tools Menu.

How to connect to and manage a remote computer

When you create a customized MMC console, and add snap-ins to it, you can choose that the MMC console be used to manage a remote computer. You can for the majority of snap-ins change the management focus of the particular snap-in. The account you use has to though have sufficient privileges on the target remote computer.
To do this,

  1. In the console tree pane, right-click the snap-in, and select one of the following options from the shortcut menu:
    • Connect To Another Computer
    • Connect To Domain
    • Connect To Domain Controller

A console typically used to connect to and manage a remote computer is the Computer Management console. The Computer Management console is a preconfigured MMC console. The console is available on both client and server computers to perform Administrative tasks, and can be accessed from the Administrative Tools Menu.

The Computer Management nodes and the snap-ins which are available under each node are:

To manage a remote computer using the Computer Management console,

  1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and select Manage from the shortcut menu.
  2. Right-click Computer Management in the console tree, and select Connect To Another Computer from the shortcut menu.
  3. Enter the name or IP address of the computer in the Another computer box, or click the Browse button to browse for the remote computer on the network.
  4. Click OK.
  5. After the connection is established with the remote computer, you can perform the necessary administrative tasks on the particular computer.

Using Web Interface for Remote Administration for Remote Server Management

The Web Interface for Remote Administration tool of Windows Server 2003 can be used to manage servers from another location using a Web browser. The Web Interface for Remote Administration tool is not supported for domain controllers. It is installed on Windows Server 2003 Web Edition by default. Before you can use the Web Interface for Remote Administration tool, you first have to install Web Interface for Remote Administration on your servers, and configure them correctly. After this, it is merely a matter of pointing the Web browser to your server's IP address, and you can then manage it from any location.

The requirements for accessing a server over the Internet are:

How to install Web Interface for Remote Administration on your servers

  1. Open Control Panel, and double-click Add Or Remove Programs.
  2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components to open the Windows Components Wizard.
  3. In the Windows Components Wizard, select Application Server and then click Details.
  4. In the Application Server dialog box, select Internet Information Services (IIS) and then click Details.
  5. In the Internet Information Services (IIS) dialog box, select World Wide Web Service and then click Details.
  6. In the World Wide Web Service dialog box, click the Remote Administration (HTML) checkbox. Click OK.
  7. Click OK in the Internet Information Services (IIS) dialog box.
  8. Click OK in the Application Server dialog box.
  9. Click Next in the Windows Components Wizard to start the installation
  10. When prompted, insert the Windows Server 2003 installation CD.
    11. 1
  11. When the installation has completed, click Finish.

How to access and administer a server using the Web Interface for Remote Administration tool

  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Browse to https://Servername:8098
  3. After the connection is established, you are displayed with a Welcome page.
  4. Using the Web interface, you can perform a few common administration tasks, including administering network settings and local user accounts.

Using Remote Desktop For Administration to Remotely Manage Computers

Remote Desktop For Administration tool can be used to remotely manage servers running Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003. It allows you to manage servers from any location, without actually affecting server performance, and with no additional licensing requirements. Two simultaneous remote administration sessions are supported. The Terminal Services service enables Remote Desktop For Administration. The Terminal Services service is installed on Windows Server 2003 by default. It is also preconfigured to support Remote Desktop For Administration.

Remote Desktop for Administration has to be enabled on each end of the connection before you can use. Remote Desktop for Administration is enabled in the System Properties on the server. To enable Remote Desktop for Administration,

  1. Click Start, Control Panel, and then double-click System.
  2. When the System Properties dialog box opens, click the Remote tab.
  3. Select the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer checkbox. Members of the local Administrators group are now able connect.
  4. If you want to specify additional users to connect remotely to the computer, click the Select Remote Users button.
  5. In the Remote Desktop Users dialog box, enter the names of the users who should be able to connect to the computer.
  6. Click OK.

The next step in enabling remote administration using Remote Desktop For Administration connections, is to configure the Remote Desktop Connection for remote administration. Remote Desktop Connection must be configured on the workstations or servers which you are going to be used to manage the other servers.

To open Remote Desktop Connection,

  1. Click Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
  2. In the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, click Options to reveal the tabs on which you can configure settings.
  3. The tabs available on the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box are listed below:
    • General tab, Display tab, Local Resources tab, Programs tab, and Experience tab

You can configure the settings listed below on the General tab:

You can configure the settings listed below on the Display tab:

You can configure the settings listed below on the Local Resources tab:

You can configure the settings listed below on the Programs tab. These settings specify the programs that should execute when a Remote Desktop for Administration session starts.

You can configure the settings listed below on the Experience tab. These settings are specific to improving the performance of the Remote Desktop for Administration connection.

The Remote Desktop Connection client is installed by default on Windows XP workstations and Windows 2003 Servers. Remote Desktop Connection client is supported for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003.

How to use Remote Desktop Connection to remotely manage a server,

  1. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
  2. The Computer box displays the name of the computer that you last connected to.
  3. Choose the computer which you want to connect to, using the Computer drop down box.
  4. Click Connect.

How to optimize a connection to a remote server on a slow, congested network

  1. Click Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
  2. In the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, click Options to reveal the tabs on which you can configure settings.
  3. Click the Experience tab.
  4. Select the Custom option from the Choose your connection speed to optimize performance box.
  5. Clear the Themes checkbox.
  6. Ensure that the Reconnect if connection is dropped checkbox is enabled.
  7. Click OK.

How to add the Remote Desktops Snap-in to a MMC, and use it for remote administration

The Remote Desktops MMC snap-in can be used to manage Remote Desktop sessions with Terminal Servers and Windows Server 2003 servers. Once you have added the Remote Desktops snap-in to a MMC, you can use it to establish Terminal Services connections to Windows 2003 servers and Terminal Servers.

To add the Remote Desktops snap-in to a MMC,

  1. Click Start, Run, enter mmc in the dialog box, and click OK.
  2. Click Add/Remove Snap-in from the File menu.
  3. When the Add/Remove Snap-In dialog box opens, click Add.
  4. When the Add Standalone Snap-in dialog box opens, select Remote Desktops and then click Add.
  5. Click Close in the Add Standalone Snap-In dialog box
  6. Click OK in the Add/Remove Snap-In dialog box.
  7. The Remote Desktops snap-in which you selected on the Add Standalone Snap-in dialog box now appears in the console tree.
  8. Click Save from the File menu to save the MMC.
  9. Enter a name for the MMC in the File Name box.
  10. Click Save.
    11. 1
  11. The saved console can now be accessed via the Administrative Tools Menu.

How to configure a connection in the Remote Desktops snap-in

  1. After you have added the Remote Desktops snap-in to a MMC, right-click the Remote Desktops node in the console tree, and click Add New Connection from the shortcut menu.
  2. Enter the IP address, fully qualified domain name (FQDN), or NetBIOS name of the server to which you want to connect in the Server Name Or IP Address text box.
  3. In the Connection Name text box, enter a name for the connection.
  4. Enable the Connect To Console checkbox if you want to connect to the console of the server.
  5. Enter your name in the User Name text box, enter your password in the Password textbox, and enter the domain name in the Domain text box.
  6. Enable the Save Password checkbox to save the password that you have entered.
  7. Click OK to save the connection.

Using Remote Assistance for Remote Management

The Remote Assistance feature is a dependant on the Terminal Services service, and is automatically installed when Windows Server 2003 is installed. Remote Assistance enables a user (novice) at one computer to request assistance via Windows Messenger or e-mail from a user (expert) at another computer on the local network, or over the Internet. Once the expert receives a request for remote assistance, the expert can remotely connect to the computer of the novice. This means, that when the remote assistance session is established, the novice and the expert can simultaneously control the computer. The Remote Assistance feature is extremely useful if you want to troubleshoot user problems, or connect to a remote computer to change configuration settings or install new software. You have to though enable and configure Remote Assistance first.
In order for a computer to receive remote assistance, the computer must be running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003. The computer must also be enabled to use Remote Assistance.

To enable a computer to use Remote Assistance, use one of the processes listed below:

A user can request remote assistance using one of the methods listed below:

The Windows Messenger tool is a chat application which you can download and install, for free.

To download the Windows Messenger tool,

  1. Open the Help and Support Center
  2. Click the Download Windows Messenger link.
  3. When a Web page appears, click Download Now.
  4. On the Save As dialog box, click Open
  5. After the download is completed, click Yes in the Security Warning dialog box.
  6. Click Yes to accept the license agreement, and start the installation of the Windows Messenger tool.
  7. After the installation, the Windows Messenger window opens, giving you the option to sign in.
  8. Click the Click here to sign in link.
  9. This starts the .NET Passport Wizard.
  10. Click Next on the initial screen of the wizard.
    11. 1
  11. Click the No. I would like to open an MSN Hotmail e-mail account option, and click Next.
    12. 1
  12. Click the I Agree button
    13. 1
  13. Click Continue to open the Associate your .NET Passport with your Windows user account? Page.
    14. 1
  14. Click Next. Click Finish.

To send a remote assistance request using the Windows Messenger Tool, you have to first add contacts or users from whom you will be requesting remote assistance.

  1. Click the Add a Contact link in the Windows Messenger window.
  2. To search for a contact, click the Search for a contact option. Click Next.
  3. Enter the criteria which should be used to search for the contact. Click Next.
  4. When the search results are displayed, choose the contact you wish to add. Click Next.
  5. Click Finish.

How to request remote assistance using e-mail

  1. Open the Help and Support Center.
  2. Click Remote Assistance located under the Support area.
  3. Click the Invite someone to help you link.
  4. Enter the name of the expert which you want to request remote assistance from in the Type your assistant's first name: text box. Click Continue.
  5. In the Set the invitation to expire section, specify the validity period for the invitation.
  6. If you want the expert to provide a password to access the invitation, leave the Require the recipient to use a password checkbox enabled.
  7. Enter the password in the Type password and Confirm password text boxes.
  8. Click the Create Email Invitation button.

How to initiate Remote Assistance from your computer to a user's computer

  1. Open the Help and Support Center
  2. Click Tools and click Help And Support Center Tools
  3. Click Offer Remote Assistance
  4. Enter the name or IP address of the computer that you want to offer remote assistance to.
  5. Click Connect
  6. If prompted, select a user session.
  7. Click Start Remote Assistance.
  8. At this point, a message appears on the user's desktop, indicating that an administrator wants to initiate a Remote Assistance session.
  9. Once the user accepts remote assistance, the Remote Assistance session is established.


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