How to Remotely Manage Windows Server 2016

In this article, I have explored the possible ways you can use to remotely manage your Windows Server 2016 on network. 

I assume you want to manage your servers from another Windows Server. If you want to manage from windows client such as windows 10, download and install Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). When you install RSAT on your Windows 10, you can then use server manager and management consoles to manage your server remotely. I’ll cover this topic in next article. I also assume your servers are joined with domain.

Following are four methods you can use to remotely manage Windows Server 2016. Make sure to start PowerShell with elevated privileges (Run as Administrator) and then run the commands listed in this article.

PowerShell

Prerequisites

Execute the following command on remote computer you want to access

Enable-PSRemoting -Force

Enable-PSRemoting, when runs on remote computer, configures it to receive the commands. It specifically does the following:

Step-By-Step

Execute the following commands on your local computer

$cred = Get-CredentialEnter-PSSession -Credential $cred -ComputerName 

Enter-PSSession creates a session with remote computer so you can run the commands by typing on a PowerShell console of your local computer.

Server Manager

Prerequisites

Execute the following PowerShell cmdlet on remote computer to enable remote management. You can also manually enable from server manager dashboard.

Configure-SMremoting -enable 

Step-By-Step

With server manager, you can perform the following task:

Management Consoles

Step-By-Step

Remote Desktop

Prerequisites

Execute the following PowerShell cmdlet on remote computer

Set-ItemProperty 'HKLM:SYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlTerminal Server' -Name fDenyTSConnections -Value 0

Set-ItemProperty, when runs allows a desktop connection to the remote computer 

If your windows firewall is turned on remote computer, execute the following command on PowerShell to allow remote desktop connection. 

Get-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Desktop" | Set-NetFirewallRule -Enabled True

Step-By-Step

Follow these steps to remotely manage computer using desktop services. If you are remoting to windows core server, perform an additional step and run the following on computer you want to manage.remotely.

cscript C:WindowsSystem32Scregedit.wsf /ar 0  

I have listed four methods with their steps you can use to manage Windows Server 2016. If have any suggestion, please feel free to let me know in comments.