Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Network-icon2If you want to remotely manage a Windows Server-based infrastructure  from a Windows-based workstation, you will need the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). If you want to use Windows 8 to manage all the new Windows Server 2012 stuff remotely, you will need the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8.

The Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for both x86- and x64-based editions of Windows 8 include Server Manager, Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins, consoles, Windows PowerShell Cmdlets and providers, and command-line tools for managing roles and features that run on Windows Server 2012.

Note:
Although you will need the RSAT for Windows 8 to use this platform as a remote management solutions, there are some caveats in remotely managing server roles and features on Windows Server 2003 (R2) and Windows Server 2008 (R2) from Windows 8. These caveats are described in Microsoft KnowledgeBase article 2693643.

This blogpost describes enabling the Remote Tools you’d like to use, including the Hyper-V Tools, that are not part of the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) package.

 

Installing RSAT

To install the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) on Windows 8, follow these steps:

  • Download the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 8 package from the Microsoft Download Center. Choose the 96MB x86 package if you’re running the x86 (32bit) version of Windows 8. Choose the 102MB x64 package when you’re running the x64 (64bit) version of Windows 8.

Tip!
You can either run the installer from the Download Center website, or save
the download package to a local computer or share.

  • If you save the download package to a local computer or share, double-click the installer program, Windows6.2-KB2693643-x64.msu or Windows6.2-KB2693643-x86.msu, depending on the architecture you chose in step 1.
    RSAT1
  • When you are prompted by the Windows Update Standalone Installer dialog box to install the update, click Yes.
    RSAT2
  • Read and accept the license terms. Click I Accept. The update will now begin installing.
    RSAT4
  • Installation requires a few minutes to finish. Click Close when done.

 

Removing unused Remote Tools

In contrast to the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for previous versions of Windows, the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 8, by default, enable all the Remote Tools. So, where in previous versions you would install the Remote Tools you’d like to use, in Windows 8 you would get them all.

However, if you want to remove Remote Tools you’re unlikely to use since they don’t apply to your environment or your job description, you can remove them, in the following steps:

  • Press Win+W and start searching for Turn Window Features on or off. It should show up as a search result. Click it or press Enter when it’s the only search result left.
  • In the list of available Windows Features, scroll down to Remote Server Administration Tools.
    RSATFeatures
  • As you can see in the screenshot above, all the Remote Tools have been turned on. By deselecting Remote Tools you don’t want to use, you disable them. Click OK when done.
  • In the Windows completed the requested changes screen press Close.

 

Installing the Hyper-V Tools

As you scroll through the Remote Tools in the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) package you might begin to wonder what happened to the Hyper-V Remote Management Tools.

Hyper-V Remote Management Tools are not part of the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 8. The justification is really simple: Hyper-V Management Tools are already part of the Operating System, since Hyper-V is now also available in the Operating System.

Perform these steps to install the Hyper-V Tools:

  • Press Win+W and start searching for Turn Window Features on or off. It should show up as a search result. Click it or press Enter when it’s the only search result left.
  • In the list of available Windows Features, scroll down to Hyper-V.
  • Expand Hyper-V and select the Hyper-V Management Tools (both the MMC Snap-In and the hyper- PowerShell module):
    RSATHyperVTools
  • Click OK when done.
  • In the Windows completed the requested changes screen press Close.

 

Concluding

Enabling the Remote Server Administration Tools in Windows 8 has become easier and faster than it was in earlier versions of Windows. If you’re simply looking for the Hyper-V Tools, don’t bother downloading and installing the Remote Server Administration Tools; the Hyper-V Tools are already part of Windows 8.

Download

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8

Further reading

Description of Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8
Remote Server Administration Tools for Vista, 7, 8, Server 2008, 2008 R2, and 2012
Remote Server Admin Tools (RSAT) for Windows 8 are out NOW!!!
Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 8 – now available for download
Manage Windows Server 2012 Remotely with RSAT tools for Windows 8 RTM
Ars Technica: RTM RSAT for Windows 8 download.
Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) available for Windows 8!
Die RSAT für Windows 8 sind da
RSAT für Windows 8 verfügbar
Remoteserver-Verwaltungstools (RSAT) für Windows 8 verfügbar
Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8
Remote Server Admin Tools for Windows 8
Microsoft's RSAT 2012 is out
Microsoft Releases Remote Server Admin Tools for Windows 8 Preview