What's New in Group Policy

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2

What are the major changes?

The following changes are available in Windows Server® 2008 R2 and in Windows® 7 with Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT):

• Windows PowerShell Cmdlets for Group Policy: Ability to manage Group Policy from the Windows PowerShell™ command line and to run PowerShell scripts during logon and startup

• Group Policy Preferences: Additional types of preference items

• Starter Group Policy Objects: Improvements to Starter GPOs

• Administrative Template Functionality: Improved user interface

• Administrative Template Settings: New and changed policy settings

What does Group Policy do?

Group Policy provides an infrastructure for centralized configuration management of the operating system and applications that run on the operating system.

Who will be interested in this feature?

The following groups might be interested in these changes:

• IT professionals who have to manage users and computers in a domain environment

• Dedicated Group Policy administrators

• IT generalists

• Support personnel

Are there any special considerations?

You can manage local and domain Group Policy by using domain-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2. Although the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is distributed with Windows Server 2008 R2, you must install Group Policy Management as a feature through Server Manager.

You can also manage local and domain Group Policy by using Windows 7. For managing local Group Policy, the Group Policy Object Editor has been replaced by the Local Group Policy Editor. To manage domain Group Policy, you must first install the GPMC. The GPMC is included with RSAT, which is available for download:

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7

• Windows Server 2008 Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista with SP1

RSAT enables IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server 2008 R2 from a computer that is running Windows 7. RSAT includes support for the remote management of computers that are running either a Server Core installation or the full installation option of Windows Server 2008 R2. The functionality RSAT provides is similar to Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack.

Installing RSAT does not automatically install the GPMC. To install the GPMC after you install RSAT, click Programs in Control Panel, click Turn Windows features on or off, expand Remote Server Administration Tools, expand Feature Administration Tools, and select the Feature Administration Tools and Group Policy Management Tools check boxes.

Which editions include this feature?

Group Policy is available in all editions of Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. Both local and domain-based Group Policy can be managed by using any version of Windows Server 2008 R2 and any version of Windows 7 that supports RSAT.

Does it function differently in some editions?

Without RSAT, only local Group Policy can be managed using Windows 7. With RSAT, both local and domain-based Group Policy can be managed using any edition of Windows 7 that supports RSAT.