Remote Management in Windows Server 2008 Server Core

Using Other GUI Tools

You can use other graphical user interface (GUI) tools besides MMC snap-ins to manage certain aspects of Server Core remotely. These tools include the following:

• Windows Explorer

• Task Scheduler

• Registry Editor

The following procedures assume that your remote Server Core installation belongs to the same domain as your Windows Vista management workstation. If your Server Core installation belongs to a workgroup, type the command cmdkey /add:servername/user:username /pass: password to provide administrator credentials (that is, username and password) for these tools to be able to manage your Server Core installation (servername) remotely.

Using Windows Explorer Remotely

You can use Windows Explorer on a computer running Windows Vista or a computer running a Full installation of Windows Server 2008 to manage the file system remotely on a Server Core installation. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Server Core installation, enable the Remote Administration rule group in Windows Firewall by typing the following command:

   netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing” new enable=yes

2. On the computer from which you want to manage your Server Core installation’s file system remotely, press the Windows key+R, type \\servername\C$ (where servername is the name of your Server Core installation), and click OK. Specify credentials that have administrative privileges on the Server Core installation if you are prompted to do so.

3. Windows Explorer opens a new window focused on the root of the system drive on your Server Core installation. You now can browse the system drive on your remote server, create or delete files and folders, and perform other operations depending upon your level of privileges.

You can use the previous procedure with any share, whether administrative or user-created. You can also use the Net use command to map persistent network drives to shares on your remote Server Core installation. For example, you can type net use Z: \\servername\C$ /persistent:yes at the command prompt, where servername is the name of your remote Server Core installation.

Using Task Scheduler Remotely

You can use Task Scheduler on a computer running Windows Vista or a computer running a Full installation of Windows Server 2008 to create, delete, configure, and manage tasks remotely on a Server Core installation. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then System Tools, and open Task Manager on your computer running Windows Vista.

2. Right-click the root node in Task Scheduler and select Connect To Another Computer.

3. Type the name of the remote Server Core installation and click OK.

Using Registry Editor Remotely

You can use Registry Editor on a computer running Windows Vista or a computer running a Full installation of Windows Server 2008 to edit the registry on a Server Core installation remotely. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key+R, type regedit, and click OK to open Registry Editor on your computer running Windows Vista.

2. Select File, and then Connect Network Registry.

3. Type the name of the remote Server Core installation and click OK.