With Windows Vista Service Pack 1 finally out the door as of March 18, 2008, Microsoft has revamped its offerings centered on the updated Windows client. But not only Vista is in the Redmond company's focus. Windows Server 2008, the successor of Windows Server 2003, labeled SP1 just as the latest evolution stage of Vista, and RTM'd on February 4, is also on Microsoft's main agenda. And as of March 25, the Redmond giant is offering for download the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Vista SP1.

"RSAT is an excellent set of tools for IT Pros wanting to manage their Windows Server environment right from their desktop. RSAT also includes an updated Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), which was previously removed in Windows Vista SP1," informed Nick White, Windows Vista Product Manager. "RSAT is an updated version of what is called ADMINPAK.MSI and can be used by IT Pros to manage computers running Windows Server 2008. Because many of these tools also work for managing computers running Windows Server 2003, it is essentially 'the next version' of ADMINPAK.MSI."

In the video embedded at the bottom of this article, you will be able to see Jason Leznek, senior product manager for Windows client delivers a demonstration of the new RSAT tools designed to enable the remote management of Windows Server 2003 and 2008 from Windows Vista SP1. "Many IT professionals manage their servers from their own desktops. RSAT enables IT professionals to use the updated Windows Server 2008 management tools to manage their servers remotely from their own PCs. All RSAT tools manage Windows Server 2008 servers. Certain RSAT tools also manage servers running Windows Server 2003," added Eric Rezabek, program manager on the Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista SP1 32-bit Edition (KB941314) can be downloaded from here.
Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista SP1 64-bit Edition (KB941314) can be downloaded from here.


Remote Server Admin Tools (RSAT) with Jason Leznek