Server Management

Windows Server 2008 R2 provides a comprehensive set of features that make deploying and managing servers easier. For administration of a single server, Server Manager is an integrated Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that offers a seamless, integrated management experience. In larger enterprises, management of multiple servers can be automated using Windows PowerShell, which consists of a command-line shell and scripting language designed specifically to automate administration tasks for server roles, such as Internet Information Services (IIS) and Active Directory. Any organization can benefit from Windows Deployment Services and Windows Performance and Reliability Monitor.

Server Manager

The Server Manager console in Windows Server 2008 R2 eases the task of managing and securing multiple server roles in an enterprise. Server Manager guides administrators through the process of installing, configuring, and managing server roles and features that are part of Windows Server 2008 R2. In Windows Server 2008 R2, a server role describes the primary function of the server. Many of the management consoles used to manage Windows Server 2008 R2 have been updated or completely redesigned to help reduce your administrative effort.

Server Manager replaces several features provided in previous versions of Windows Server, including Manage Your Server, Configure Your Server, and Add or Remove Windows Components. Server Manager also eliminates the requirement that administrators run the Security Configuration Wizard before deploying servers—server roles are configured with recommended security settings by default and are ready to deploy as soon as they are installed and properly configured.

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Server Manager provides a single location for administrators to see a concise overview of a server, change the server’s system properties, and install or remove roles or features. With Server Manager, administrators can easily:

View and make changes to server roles and features installed on the server.
Perform management tasks associated with the operational life cycle of the server, such as starting or stopping services, and managing local user accounts.
Perform management tasks associated with the operational life cycle of roles installed on the server.
Determine server status, identify critical events, and analyze and troubleshoot configuration issues or failures.
Install or remove roles, role services, and features by using a Windows command line.

Completing setup and initial configuration is streamlined with Server Manager using the new Initial Configuration Tasks (ICT). ICT guides you through the procedures that are necessary to complete the setup and initial configuration of a new server, such as specifying the administrator password and the computer name, joining the machine to a domain, and enabling Windows Update and server roles.

Wizards in Server Manager streamline the task of deploying servers in your enterprise by cutting the time it takes to install, configure, or remove roles, role services, and features. Multiple roles, role services, or features can be installed or removed in a single session by using Server Manager wizards. Dependency checks are performed as you progress through the Server Manager wizards, ensuring that all the roles and role services needed by selected roles are installed, and none are removed that might still be required by remaining roles or role services.

Server Manager also offers a command-line tool—ServerManagerCmd.exe—which allows you to install and remove roles and features from the command-line prompt or by using scripts. You can use ServerManagerCmd.exe to install and remove roles, role services, and features. It also allows you to query the server for the list of available roles and features, as well as the ones that are currently installed on the server.

Learn more at the Server Manager Technology Center.

Windows PowerShell

Windows PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting language that helps IT professionals achieve greater productivity and control system administration more easily. Windows PowerShell accelerates automation of system administration tasks and can help improve your organization’s ability to address the unique system-management problems of your server environment.

Windows PowerShell is easy to adopt, learn, and use because it does not require a background in programming, and it works with your existing IT infrastructure, existing scripts, and existing command-line tools. Unlike most shells which accept and return text, Windows PowerShell is built on top of the .NET common language runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework, accepting and returning .NET objects. This fundamental change in the environment brings entirely new tools and methods to the management and configuration of Windows.

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Windows PowerShell introduces the concept of a cmdlet, a simple, single-function command-line tool built into the shell. Windows PowerShell includes more than 130 standard cmdlets, and you can write your own cmdlets. Each cmdlet can be used separately, but their power is realized when you combine these simple tools to perform complex tasks.

Windows PowerShell is a useful tool for managing specific Windows Server 2008 R2 roles, such as Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.5 and Remote Desktop Services, as well as Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Operations Manager, in the following ways:

Remote Desktop Services Management
Because Remote Desktop Services Management stores a wealth of data in Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), administrators can automate Remote Desktop Services Management configuration changes by means of Windows PowerShell scripts, and examine configuration similarities and differences across a Remote Desktop Services Management farm. See the numerous script examples in the TechNet ScriptCenter.
Deploying and Configuring Internet Information Services 7.5 (IIS 7.5)
Windows PowerShell is ideally suited to managing IIS 7.5, including deploying and configuring IIS 7.5 across a Web farm. Learn more at IIS.net and Channel 9.
Managing Command-Line Services, Processes, Registry, and WMI Data
Common as-needed server administration tasks, such as identifying running services or processes, viewing the registry, and reading and changing settings stored in WMI, are easier than ever with the built-in command-line tools (cmdlets) get-service, get-process, get-wmiobject, and the registry provider for Windows PowerShell.
Enhanced command-line and automated management by using Windows PowerShell 2.0
Windows PowerShell 1.0 scripting environment was shipped with Windows Server 2008 RTM. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes Windows PowerShell 2.0, which offers a number of improvements over version 1.0, including the following:
- Improved remote management by using Windows PowerShell remoting.
- Improved security for management data, including state and configuration information, by using constrained runspaces.
- Enhanced GUIs for creating and debugging Windows PowerShell scripts and viewing Windows PowerShell script output by using Graphical PowerShell and the Out-GridView cmdlet.
- Extended scripting functionality that supports creation of more powerful scripts with less development effort.
- Improved portability of Windows PowerShell scripts and cmdlets between multiple computers.

Have questions about Windows PowerShell? Learn more at the Windows PowerShell Script Center.

Windows Deployment Services

Windows Deployment Services, the updated and redesigned version of Remote Installation Services (RIS), is a suite of components that work together on Windows Server 2008 R2 to enable the deployment of Windows operating systems, particularly Windows Vista. Windows Deployment Services assists with the rapid adoption and deployment of Windows operating systems. You can use it to set up new computers by using a network-based installation. This means that you do not have to be physically present at each computer, and you do not have to install directly from a CD or DVD. You can also use Windows Deployment Services to repurpose existing computers.

Learn more at the WDS Technology Center.

Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor, which provides IT professionals with tools to monitor and assess system performance and reliability. Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor is an MMC snap-in that combines the functionality of previous stand-alone tools, including Performance Logs and Alerts, Server Performance Advisor, and System Monitor. It provides a graphical interface for customizing performance data collection and Event Trace sessions. It also includes Reliability Monitor, an MMC snap-in that tracks changes to the system and compares them to changes in system stability, providing a graphical view of their relationship.

Learn more at the Performance and Reliability Monitoring Center.

Improved Data Center Power Consumption Management

With the proliferation of physical computers in data centers, power consumption is of paramount importance. In addition to the cost-saving associated with reducing power consumption, many data centers are constrained by the number of computers they can support in their data center by the actual power available to the data center. Therefore reducing your power consumption also allows you to support more physical computers while using the same amount of power, or less power, than before.

Reduced multicore processor power consumption
Windows Server 2008 R2 R2 reduces processor power consumption in server computers with multicore processors by using a feature known as Core Parking. The Core Parking feature allows Windows Server 2008 R2 R2 to consolidate processing onto the fewest number of possible processor cores, and suspends inactive processor cores.
Reduced processor power consumption by adjusting processor speed
Windows Server 2008 R2 has the ability to adjust the ACPI “P-states” of processors and subsequently adjust server power consumption. ACPI “P-states” are the processor performance states within the ACPI specification. Depending on the processor architecture, Windows Server 2008 R2 R2 can adjust the “P-states” of individual processors and provide very fine control over power consumption.
Reduced storage power consumption
Another key method for reducing power in data centers is by centralizing the storage, typically by using a Storage Area Network (SAN). Because SANs tend to have higher-capacity drives for the same amount of power consumption, the storage capacity–to–power consumption ratio in a SAN is higher than in a typical server computer. SANs also make more efficient use of the available disk space, as any server can have access to the available storage on the SAN.

Improved remote administration

Remote administration of server computers is essential to any efficient data center. It is very rare that server computers are administered locally. Windows Server 2008 R2 introduces a number of improvements in remote administration, including the following:

Improved remote management through graphical management consoles
Server Manager has been updated to allow remote administration of servers. In addition, many of the management consoles have improved integration with Server Manager and, as a result, support remote management scenarios.
Improved remote management from command-line and automated scripts
PowerShell version 2.0 offers a number of improvements for remote management scenarios. These improvements allow you to run scripts on one or more remote computers or to allow multiple IT professionals to simultaneously run scripts on a single computer.

Improved Identity Management

Identity management has always been one of the critical management tasks for Windows-based networks. The implications of a poorly managed identity managed system are one of the largest security concerns for any organization.
Windows Server 2008 R2 includes identity management improvements in the Active Directory Domain Services and Active Directory Federated Services server roles.

For more information visit the Windows Server 2008 IDA site

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