Uses for the Configure Your Server Wizard

The Configure Your Server Wizard is one of the most underused pieces of software in Windows 2000 Server. Eschewed by most experienced administrators as just another GUI tool, the Configure Your Server Wizard actually packs a lot of features into one convenient management interface. Let's look at the Top 10 uses for Win2K Server's Configure Your Server Wizard.

10.
Set up shared folders. To use the Configure Your Server Wizard to quickly set up network file shares, select the File Server option, then click the Start the Shared Folder wizard link. The Shared Folder Wizard will prompt you first for the share name and location, then for the share's permissions.

9.
Set up and manage printers. Select the Configure Your Server Wizard's Print Server option followed by either the Start the Add Printer wizard link or the Manage printers link. As its name suggests, the Start the Add Printer wizard link opens the Add Printer Wizard, which lets you add local and network printers. The Manage printers link opens the system's Printers folder.

8.
Configure network and dial-up connections. The Configure Your Server Wizard provides a convenient interface for updating your system's networking configuration. Select the Networking option, then click the Network and Dial-up Connections link to open your system's Network and Dial-up Connections folder, in which you can change your system's TCP/IP settings as well as create and maintain dial-up settings.

7.
Configure Win2K Server Terminal Services. Select the Application Server option, then choose the Terminal Services item. From the resulting list of Terminal Services administration tools, the Terminal Services link lets you configure the server's Terminal Services mode and RDP setting. The Terminal Services Client Creator link lets you make client-setup disks. The Terminal Services Manager link lets you view active Terminal Services connections. And the Terminal Services Licensing link lets you install the Terminal Services Licensing feature.

6.
Manage Component Services. You can use the Configure Your Server Wizard to manage COM+ application components. Select Application Server, Component Services. Then, select the Manage your component applications link to open the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Component Services snap-in. You can also view Windows events and services from this snap-in.

5.
Configure Routing and Remote Access. To set up the Win2K Routing and Remote Access options, select the Configure Your Server Wizard's Networking option and choose either the Routing item or the Remote Access item. Then, click the Manage Routing and Remote Access link to open the MMC Routing and Remote Access snap-in.

4.
Configure Microsoft IIS. Select Web/Media Server, Web Server, then click the Open Internet Services link to start Internet Services Manager (ISM) 5.0. You can use ISM to perform all your IIS administrative tasks such as creating virtual directories and setting permissions.

3.
Configure DHCP. To use the Configure Your Server Wizard to set up your DHCP server, select the Networking option followed by the DHCP option. Then, click the Open the DHCP Manager link to set up your DHCP address scopes.

2.
Configure DNS. To open the MMC DNS snap-in from the Configure Your Server Wizard, select the Networking option, select the DNS option, then click the Manage DNS link.

1.
Manage Active Directory (AD). The Swiss Army knife of Win2K wizards, the Configure Your Server Wizard also lets you manage AD users and computers. Select the Active Directory link, then choose the Manage user accounts and group settings link to start the MMC Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. You can use the snap-in to add and edit AD users, computers, and organizational units (OUs).