Windows Server 2012: Up and Running

Chapter 3. Managing Server 2012

Some of the most exciting advancements in Server 2012 are with server management. You have an enhanced Server Manager interface as well as a more robust PowerShell environment. Server management tools can also run on remote client machines; you don’t have to manage servers locally. With Server 2012, it’s easier than ever to manage multiple servers from a single Server Manager console.

Server Manager has a refreshed, tile-based interface, yet the look remains familiar enough for those who have used Server Manager in previous Windows Server versions. Server Manager provides a centralized console for performing management tasks. The important term here is centralized; you can do many key server tasks (such as adding server roles and features), set security policies, configure remote desktops, and much more, all from the central Server Manager dashboard.

Most Windows infrastructures, even in smaller organizations, have multiple servers. One of the challenges of server administration in previous Windows Server versions was efficiently managing multiple servers. Server Manager now gives administrators the ability to add multiple servers into the dashboard for quickly viewing and managing servers deployed throughout an organization. This is a key enhancement, because having the ability to manage all of your servers from one interface cuts down on administration types and lets you consistently administer servers whether they are onsite, remote, or virtualized. ...