14 DAY TRIAL // On Friday, Microsoft made available for download the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview version 1.0, providing IT administrators with the possibility to easily manage roles and features on a Windows Server 2012 device from a remote computer powered by Windows 8 Release Preview.
The RSA Tools package includes utilities such as Server Manager, Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins, consoles, and Windows PowerShell cmdlets and providers, while also offering command-line tools for the aforementioned management of roles and features.
Microsoft also notes that the tools can also be used in some limited cases for managing roles and features that are running on computers powered by Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008, or even on Windows Server 2003.
However, the company does underline that the tools can be installed only on computers that are running Windows 8 Release Preview. They are not compatible with computers with an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) architecture.
“Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview runs on both x86- and x64-based editions of Windows 8 Release Preview. Download and install the version that matches the architecture of the computer on which you plan to install the administration tools,” Microsoft notes.
Customers who had previous versions of Administration Tools Pack or Remote Server Administration Tools installed on their computers will need to remove them before installing the new release.
The Redmond-based software giant also explains that the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview can be used for the remote management of machines that are powered by the Server Core installation option or the Minimal Server Graphical Interface configuration of Windows Server 2012.
As mentioned above, the tools can also work with the Server Core installation options of Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2008, though only on some limited cases.
“Server Manager is included with Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview; GUI-based tools that are part of this release of Remote Server Administration Tools can be opened by using commands on the Tools menu of the Server Manager console,” Microsoft notes.
“To use Server Manager to access and manage remote servers that are running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, you must install several updates on the older operating systems.”
Download Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Release Preview 1.0