Role configuration for Windows Server 2008 Server Manager application

Before introducing the Server Manager, let's take a look at what roles are. A role is a single, very specific thing that the server needs to do. For example, the DNS feature is a single role. Windows Server 2008 includes roles for three main categories: Identity and access management (roles as part of Active Directory), infrastructure (including file servers, print servers, DNS, and so on), and applications such as WEB server roles and Terminal Services. Windows Server 2008 is accompanied by approximately 17 server roles, such as active Directory Certificate Services, network policy and access services, and Windows Server virtualization. Additional roles (such as the streaming media service role) can be obtained by downloading.

Server Manager is the addition, deletion, maintenance of these roles. The new Server Manager console for Windows Server 2008 makes it easier to manage and protect multiple server roles in the enterprise. It is essentially an extended Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that enables you to actually view and manage all the information and tools that affect server productivity. It provides a single source for managing server identity and System information, displaying server status, determining server role configuration issues, and managing all roles installed on the server.

With Server Manager, we can:

"View and change the server roles and features installed on the server.

"Perform server-specific administrative tasks, such as starting or stopping services, managing local user accounts, and so on.

"Performs administrative tasks that are specific to the roles that are installed on the server.

"Check server status, identify critical events, and analyze configuration issues."

"Use the GUI or command line to install or remove roles, role services, and features."

The Server Manager console provides a wide range of information and functionality that is integrated into a small scope. The following illustration shows the file Services role node on the Server Manager console. The main window of the console contains four collapsible sections: Server Summary, role Summary, feature summary, and resources and support. (Figure 1)