Chapter 11. Windows Server 2003 MMC Administration

In this chapter, you'll learn how to work with and customize the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). You'll also find a discussion of administration tools that use the MMC. You can learn many techniques to help you better understand Microsoft Windows Server 2003, and indeed, as mentioned in the previous chapter, you must master the MMC before you can truly master Windows Server 2003.

Introducing the MMC

Compared to Microsoft Windows NT, the process of administration is much easier in Windows Server 2003. Mostly this is because of the MMC and the prepackaged administration tools that use it to help you more readily manage computers, users, and other aspects of the network environment. Not only does the MMC simplify administration, it also helps to integrate the many disparate tools that were previously available by using a single unified interface.

The advantages of having a unified interface are significant because after you learn the structure of one MMC tool, you can apply what you've learned to all the other MMC tools. Equally as significant is the capability to build your own consoles and customize existing consoles. You can in fact combine administrative components to build your own console configuration, and then store this console for future use. You would then have quick access to the tools you use the most through a single console.

If you've used the MMC in Microsoft Windows 2000, you might be wondering what's new in Windows Server 2003. For starters, the MMC in Windows Server 2003 has a new version number. It is MMC 2.0 and it offers several enhancements:

  • Introducing the MMC

    In all of the console tools and in the MMC framework, the Console menu has been renamed as the File menu. This was done to make the console more consistent with other Microsoft tools that have a File menu.

  • Introducing the MMC

    As discussed in Chapter 1, for selected snap-ins the MMC now supports multiple-item selecting and editing—another much-needed improvement. These features allow you to select multiple objects and perform the same operations on them, including editing.

  • Introducing the MMC

    As discussed in Chapter 1, for selected snap-ins the MMC now supports drag-and-drop functionality. This brings a much-needed improvement to the administration snap-ins and allows you to perform such tasks as dragging a user, computer, or group from one organizational unit (OU) to another in Active Directory Users and Computers.

In addition, for the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, you can now do the following:

  • Introducing the MMC

    Reset access permissions to the default values for objects, show the effective permission for an object, and show the parent of an inherited permission.

  • Introducing the MMC

    Save Active Directory queries and reuse them so that you can easily perform common or complex queries.

Keep in mind that the MMC isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to administration. Some administrative functions aren't implemented for use with the MMC. Many system and operating system properties are still configured using Control Panel utilities. Many other system and administrative functions are accessed using wizards. Most administrative tools regardless of type have command-line counterparts that run as separate executables from the command line.

The really good news, however, is that you can integrate all non-MMC tools and even command-line utilities into a custom console by creating links to them. In this way, your custom console remains the central interface for administration, and you can use it to access quickly any type of tool with which you routinely work. For more information, see the section entitled "Building Custom MMCs" later in this chapter.

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