Remote Server Administration Tools for Vista SP1 Goes into Beta

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 has moved into Beta stage and is available for download. Those of you who are interested in all things connected to Windows Server 2008, formerly codenamed Longhorn, and that have a Microsoft Connect account participating in the Windows Beta testing program can go ahead and grab RSAT Beta via this link. The Redmond company has so far failed to provide a deadline for when the tools will be delivered to a broader audience.

"This is something that all of you have been waiting for a while now! Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) is essentially the WS08 version of the 'Admin Pack'. RSAT allows you to install many of the WS08 management tools on a Vista SP1 computer, so you can remotely manage WS08 servers (full servers and server core). Some of the tools included in RSAT can also be used to manage WS03 servers as well," stated Eduardo Melo, the leading program manager for Server Manager.

Now, I have already addressed the issue of Group Policy Preferences for Windows Server 2008, the former PolicyMaker Standard Edition and PolicyMaker Share Manager, pointing to you a Microsoft resource that is bound to come in handy at some point. Group Policy is in fact an integer aspect of the Group Policy Management Console, built into the Group Policy management tools in Windows Server 2008. But at the same time, users will be able to benefit from Group Policy Preferences through the Remote Server Administration Tools designed especially for the upcoming Vista SP1.

"Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools enables IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server 2008 from a computer running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1. It includes support for remote management of computers running a Server Core or Full Server installation of Windows Server 2008. This feature has been requested by customers as a replacement for the Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack," added Melo, citing the download page on Connect.