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Managing servers remotely

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Managing servers remotely

Windows Server 2003 operating systems provide tools that you can use to manage servers from a remote location. These tools expand your flexibility because you can work as though you are physically present at each computer in your organization. The tools include the Remote Desktops snap-in, Active Directory Users and Computers, Web Interface for Remote Administration, and the Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack. By understanding the advantages and security requirements of each tool, you can choose the most appropriate one for your remote administration and management tasks. For example, if you want to remotely manage a group of servers instead of just one server, Active Directory is the preferred tool to use. Each server that you want to manage remotely must be enabled for remote administration.

Some of the most common tasks are managing servers remotely by using the Remote Desktops snap-in and managing servers remotely by using Active Directory Users and Computers. For more information on installing and using the Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack to manage servers remotely from Windows XP Professional, see Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack. For more information about using Web Interface for Remote Administration, see Using Web Interface for Remote Administration. For more information about other tasks for managing servers remotely, see Remote Desktop for Administration How To....

To manage servers remotely by using the Remote Desktops snap-in

  1. Open Remote Desktops snap-in.

  2. In the console tree, right-click Remote Desktops.

  3. Click Add new connection.

  4. In the Add New Connection dialog box, in Server name or IP address, type the name or TCP/IP address of the server. Or, click Browse to look for a server.

  5. Optionally, in Connection Name, type a friendly name for this connection.

  6. Clear the Connect to console check box if you do not want to connect to the console of the server.

  7. Optionally, in Logon information, supply the user name, password and domain to automatically log on to the server. Click OK.

Important

  • To complete this procedure, the Remote Desktop option must be enabled on each remote computer.

Notes

  • To open Remote Desktops, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Remote Desktops.

  • Depending on the configuration of the Terminal server, you might be prompted to supply your password upon connection even if you specify it in the Add New Connection dialog box.

To manage servers remotely by using Active Directory Users and Computers

  1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers.

  2. In the console tree, click Computers.

    Where?

    • Active Directory Users and Computers/domain node/Computers

    Or, click the container that contains the computer you want to manage.

  3. In the details pane, right-click the computer, and then click Manage.

Notes

  • Performing this task does not require you to have administrative credentials. Therefore, as a security best practice, consider performing this task as a user without administrative credentials.

  • To open Active Directory Users and Computers, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Active Directory Users and Computers.

  • Clicking Manage starts Computer Management from which you can administer remote computers. You must have administrative credentials on the local computer to view certain information or to modify computer properties using Computer Management.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.