What is Server Manager?
Server Manager is the main management console built into Windows Server. It opens automatically when an administrator signs in (you can turn that off in its properties). It is where you add server roles such as DNS, DHCP or Print and Document Services, check server health, and manage several servers from one screen. In Windows Server 2012 and later it is a standalone application, not a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in, although its Tools menu opens the familiar MMC consoles.
What you do in it
- Add Roles and Features: a wizard that installs roles (DNS Server, DHCP Server, File and Storage Services, Hyper-V, Print and Document Services) and features (such as BitLocker Drive Encryption).
- Local Server: one page showing the computer name, domain or workgroup, firewall, Remote Desktop, network adapter and update settings.
- Manage several servers: add remote servers to the server pool and view them together, grouped by role.
- Events and services: server and role pages list recent events and the status of related services.
- Tools menu: shortcuts to Event Viewer, Computer Management, Services, DNS, DHCP, Print Management and other consoles.
Example: adding the print server role
- Open Server Manager and choose Manage, then Add Roles and Features.
- Pick Role-based or feature-based installation and select the target server.
- Check Print and Document Services and accept the management tools it offers to add.
- On the role services page, include Print Server.
- Finish the wizard, then open Print Management from the Tools menu to add and share printers.
The same job can be scripted in PowerShell: Get-WindowsFeature lists every role and feature with its install name, and Install-WindowsFeature adds one (add -IncludeManagementTools to get its consoles too).
Server Manager vs. related tools
| Tool | What it is |
|---|---|
| Server Manager | Standalone Windows Server console for roles, features and multi-server management |
| MMC snap-ins | Single-purpose consoles such as Event Viewer, Disk Management and Active Directory Users and Computers |
| Windows Admin Center | A browser-based management tool from Microsoft for servers and Windows PCs |
| RSAT | Remote Server Administration Tools: puts Server Manager and the role consoles on a Windows client PC |
Server Core installations have no Server Manager window; you manage them remotely from Server Manager on another machine, from Windows Admin Center or with PowerShell.
For the CompTIA A+ exam
Core 1 (220-1201) objective 2.3 covers server roles such as DNS, DHCP, file share, print, mail and syslog servers. Server Manager itself isn't named in the objectives, but it's where those roles get installed on Windows Server, as in this course's print server lesson: open Server Manager, add the Print and Document Services role, and include the Print Server role service.