Microsoft Management ConsoleTasks

Microsoft Management Console Tasks

We'll walk through the process of creating, customizing, and working with custom consoles.

Create a Console

Let's create a custom console that can be used to simultaneously manage resources on two computers running WS2003: the local computer and a remote computer. Begin by logging on as Administrator and open a blank MMC console using one of the following methods :

Start Run mmc OK.
Type mmc at the command line.
Open the System32 folder and double-click on the mmc.exe file.

Now add a Computer Management snap-in for managing the local computer:

Console Add/Remove Snap-in Add

This opens the Add/Remove Standalone Snap-in dialog box, which lists the various standalone snap-ins available for installation on the system. You can add as many of these snap-ins to a console as you like, and you can add multiple instances of any snap-in to manage different computers or simply to give different views of the same snap-in. In the Add/Remove Standalone Snap-in dialog box, select the Computer Management snap-in and click Add. This opens a dialog box prompting you to specify the computer that the snap-in will manage. If you select "Another computer," you have to browse Active Directory to locate the remote computer you want to manage. In our example, we want to install two instances of the Computer Management snap-in into our console: one to manage the local computer and the other to manage a remote computer. After selecting "Local computer," accept the remaining prompts to install the snap-in for managing the local computer. Then, to add a snap-in for managing the remote computer, simply repeat the previous steps, except that instead of selecting "Local computer," select "Another computer" and browse Active Directory to locate the remote computer you want to manage.

You now have your finished console, but before you do any work with it, you should save it, so perform the following steps:

Console Save Manage Two Computers Save

This saves the console as an .msc file, which stands for management saved console. By default, this file is saved in the personal Administrative Tools program group of the local user profile for the currently logged-on user . If you are logged on as Administrator, by default the saved file is located in the folder:

\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\ Administrative Tools

If you close your console, you should be able to reopen it by selecting:

Start Programs Administrative Tools Manage Two Computers

The administrative tools created when WS2003 is installed (or when optional components are added later) are located in the folder \Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools . Administrative Tools in the Control Panel is a shortcut to this folder, which explains why, when you create your own custom console, it is not found in Administrative Tools in the Control Panel.

Customize a Console

Now that we've created a new console for managing the local and a remote computer, let's see what can be done to customize this console. Customizing a console is the process of personalizing and configuring it to make using it quick and simple.

Use the View Menu

You can use the View menu to:

Change the default view of how objects in the details pane are displayed. You probably want to use View Detail so that any columns of status information present in the console are displayed.
Hide or remove various elements of the MMC window using View Customize. For example, with some administrative tools, such as the Services console, there is only one node in the console tree, so hiding the console tree might be a good idea.

One of the customization options under View Customize is to remove the View menu itself! If you later decide that you want to bring it back, use Customize View under the System menu. (The System menu is accessed using the gadget at the top lefthand corner of a window.)

If you have selected Detail view, you can rearrange columns by dragging and can sort rows by clicking on column headers in the details pane (this doesn't work for all snap-ins). Some snap-ins also provide a Filter item on the View menu, which can be used to filter what is displayed in the details pane.

Customize the Console Tree

A Folder is a standalone snap-in that simply provides a container for other snap-ins; it doesn't have any inherent administrative functionality. You can add folders to the console tree to group together snap-ins according to computer, site, network, domain, department, and so on. For example, if we plan on adding more Computer Management snap-ins for managing additional remote computers, we might add a Folder snap-in for grouping together the remote computers we are managing, and rename this Folder snap-in Remote Computers. Continuing our previous example, do the following:

Console Add/Remove Snap-in Add Folder Add Close OK right-click on New Folder Rename Remote Computers

The problem is that we now have our new container in the same level of the console tree as our two Computer Management snap-ins. We need to move the snap-in for the remote computer into the Remote Computers folder. Unfortunately, Microsoft made this process more complicated than it should be. In fact, there is no way to move snap-ins around the console tree once they have been added to the tree! Our only recourse is to remove the existing snap-in for the remote computer and add it again, this time making sure that we add it to the Remote Computers folder instead of to Console Root :

Console Add/Remove Snap-in select Computer Management (remote computer) Remove select Remote Computers folder from Snap-ins added to folder listbox Add select Computer Management Add Another computer Browse select remote computer OK Finish Close OK

This now gives us what we want and tells us the clear moral of the story regarding customizing the console tree: plan what you want to do before you start! It's even a good idea to write out a custom MMC console on paper before you actually start building it. You can obviously use this process to build incredibly complex consoles (if you have nothing better to do).

Adding Favorites

A quick way of switching to specific places on a complex console tree is to add favorites to your console. Once you have selected the particular node in the console tree you want to bookmark, use Favorites Add to Favorites from the toolbar to create a favorite to that node. Unfortunately, favorites map only to nodes in the console tree, not to specific objects in the details pane for that node. You can even group favorites in different folders if you have a lot of them. Once you have created your favorites, you can access them in two different ways:

Use Favorites on the toolbar: This method expands the console tree until the bookmarked node is selected, displaying its associated objects in the details pane.
Use the Favorites tab in the lefthand pane: Selecting this tab hides the console tree entirely and displays the list of favorites as hyperlinks . Clicking on a link will display the associated objects for that favorite in the details pane.

Create New Child Windows

You can create new child windows within the MMC main window and root these windows at any node within the console tree. For example, to create a new child window whose root node is System Tools under Computer Management (Local), do this:

Right-click on System Tools under Computer Management (Local) New Window from Here

You can tile or cascade multiple child windows. More importantly, you can use this procedure to create custom consoles for junior administrators by closing the original child window, thus restricting their access to peripheral portions of the console tree. In the previous example, closing the original child Window leaves a console whose root node is System Tools for the local computer.

Add Taskpad Views and Tasks

The real customization power of the MMC is found in taskpad views. A taskpad view is a page in the details pane of a console to which you can add shortcuts to performing specific tasks, such as running wizards, opening properties sheets, selecting menus, opening web pages, and running command-line utilities and scripts. Taskpad views can make life easier for junior administrators by providing a single location from which various administrative tasks can be performed. Taskpad views can also make complex administration tasks easier by providing a single location from which the properties sheets and menus from many different snap-ins can be accessed.

Let's walk through the process by creating a taskpad view. You first need to decide which node in the console tree your taskpad view will be attached to, and you should think about the various tasks you want to incorporate into that view. Then right-click on the selected node to start the New Taskpad View Wizard, which leads you through the following steps:

Taskpad Display: Select how the taskpad view will be displayed, including how (or whether) the objects in the details pane will be displayed and whether normal or pop-up text is used to caption shortcuts.
Taskpad Target: Select whether the taskpad view will apply only to the current node in the console tree or to all nodes of the same type as the selected one, and specify whether the taskpad view will become the default display in the details pane for all nodes of the selected type.
Name and Description: Specify a name for the taskpad view and a brief description.

Once the New Taskpad View Wizard is finished, you can then run the New Task Wizard and add tasks to your taskpad. The New Task Wizard starts automatically when the New Taskpad View Wizard ends. Let's walk through the process of adding new tasks to the taskpad view using the New Task Wizard:

Command type

Specify the kind of task you want to perform, which includes:

Menu command: Run a command from a menu. Specify any menu command available for any node in the console tree or from objects in the list in the details pane.
Shell command: Run a script, start a program, or open a web page. Specify the path and file for the command or script you want to run, a list of parameters, the directory to start in, and the type of window the command or script will run in. You can select any program files to run here (*. exe , *. com , *. bat , *. cmd , *. pif ) or specify a URL.

Navigation

Select a view to display from your list of favorites. This also causes the selected node to receive the focus in the left pane of the console.

Name and Description/Task icon

Once you have specified the details of the task, identify the shortcut that launches the task by assigning it a name, a short description, and an icon. You can then launch the task by clicking its shortcut in the taskpad view.

Once you have created your taskpad view, you can modify it by selecting Action Edit Taskpad View. This allows you to change the display options of the taskpad view, launch the New Task Wizard to create new tasks, or modify, remove, and rearrange existing tasks in the taskpad view. You can also delete your taskpad view to return to the normal details pane view.

You can switch between a taskpad view and the normal details pane by using the tabs at the bottom of the right panethey are easy to miss . You can also create as many taskpad views as you like for a given node in the console tree and use these tabs to switch easily between them. However, keep the name of a taskpad view short so that the space used by these tabs will be minimized; if these tabs go to the edge of the console window, there is no gadget to scroll through them.

Set Console Options

Once you have created and customized a console, you should specify a console name, associated icon, and the mode in which the console will be opened. These options are specified using Console Options, and the most important of these is specifying the console mode, of which there are four possibilities:

Author mode: Users have full rights to customize the console as they desire , including adding or removing snap-ins, creating new child windows, creating taskpad views, and accessing all portions of the console tree. Author mode is typically used only for creating and customizing new consoles. Once they are configured appropriately, they should be assigned one of the user modes to prevent them from being modified by users. Consoles opened in author mode have a second menu bar with the options Console, Window, and Helpconsoles opened in user mode don't have this menu.
User modefull access: Users have full access to the console tree but can't add or remove snap-ins or change console properties.
User modelimited access, multiple window: Users have access only to the visible portion of the console tree. Users can open new windows but can't close existing ones. Users can't add or remove snap-ins or change console properties.
User modelimited access, single window: Users have access only to the visible portion of the console tree. Users can't open new windows or close existing ones. Users can't add or remove snap-ins or change console properties.

In addition, when any of the user modes is selected, you can also toggle whether users can customize the console view or use context menus (right-click) in taskpads in the console.

If a console has been set to one of the user modes, it will have no Console menu when it is opened the next time. If you later want to make changes to your console, you need to open it in author mode. Since there is no Console menu, you can't do this using Console Options; you need another way of opening the console in author mode. You have several choices:

If the console is an existing administrative tool:

Right-click on Start button Open All Users Programs Administrative Tools right-click on selected shortcut Author
If the console is a custom console saved in the user's profile:

Right-click on Start button Open Programs Administrative Tools right-click on selected shortcut Author
You can also perform these steps on the actual .msc file for the console if you can find it in Windows Explorer.
You can also open any console in author mode from the command line by using the /a switch:
```
  mmc path\   console_name   .msc /a  
```

If you are logged in as an ordinary user and need to perform some quick administrative task using a console, you can run the console using your Administrator credentials as follows :

Right-click on console shortcut Run as specify credentials.
Use the runas command from the command line.

Save Consoles

If a console is in author mode, you are prompted to save any changes you have made when you try to close it. If it is in one of the three user modes, whether the changes you have made are saved or not depends on the setting:

Console Options Do not save changes to this console

If the checkbox is checked, changes made by users will not be saved when they close the console. Remember, this setting can be configured only when the console is in author mode!

Distribute Consoles

You can distribute custom consoles that you've created to other administrators by:

Saving or copying them to a network share with appropriate permissions set to preclude access by anyone except administrators. You may also want to publish the location of the .msc file in Active Directory so they can search for it using the Search Assistant.
Right-clicking on the .msc file in My Computer or Windows Explorer and using the Send To option to email the file to other administrators or to copy it to a floppy disk to hand around.
Any other creative way you can think of.

Run Consoles from the Command Line

You can run a console from the command line as long as you know the directory where the .msc file is stored (see Table 4-30). To run a console, specify its name, omitting the .msc externsion. Open a command prompt and type either:

  mmc path\     console_file

or:

  path\     console_file

unless you are in the current directory where the .msc file is stored, in which case you can type either:

  mmc     console_file

or just:

    console_file

There are some optional switches you can append to these commands:

/a: Opens a saved console in author mode so you can modify the console.
/computer=computer_name: Opens the console and connects to the specified computer. This switch is supported by Computer Management ( compmgmt.msc ) and related consoles.
/server=domain_controller_name: Opens the console and connects to the specified domain controller. This switch is supported by Active Directory Users and Computers ( dsa.msc ).
/domain=domain_name: Opens the console and connects to a domain controller in the specified domain. This switch is supported by Active Directory Users and Computers ( dsa.msc ).

MMC Keyboard Accelerators

Finally, for the mouse-weary, there is an extensive set of keyboard shortcuts you can use to work with the main window, console tree, and active child window in the console. These are summarized in Tables 4-31 to 4-33.

Table 4-31. Keyboard accelerators for navigating the console window

Accelerator	Function
Tab or F6	Moves forward between panes in the active console window
Shift-Tab or Shift-F6	Moves backward between panes in the active console window
Ctrl-Tab or Ctrl-F6	Moves forward between console windows
Ctrl-Shift-Tab or Ctrl-Shift-F6	Moves backward between console windows
Plus sign (+) on the numeric keypad	Expands the selected item
Minus sign (-) on the numeric keypad	Collapses the selected item
Asterisk (*) on the numeric keypad	Expands the whole console tree below the root item in the active console window
Up arrow	Moves the selection up one item in a pane
Down arrow	Moves the selection down one item in a pane
Page up	Moves the selection to the top item visible in a pane
Page down	Moves the selection to the bottom item visible in a pane
Home	Moves the selection to the first item in a pane
End	Moves the selection to the last item in a pane
Right arrow	Expands the selected item
Left arrow	Collapses the selected item
Alt-right arrow	Moves the selection to the next item (same as the forward arrow on the toolbar)
Alt-left arrow	Moves the selection to the previous item (same as the back arrow on the toolbar)

Table 4-32. Keyboard accelerators for accessing menu commands that act on the main console window

Accelerator	Function
Ctrl-O	Opens a saved console
Ctrl-N	Opens a new (blank) console and closes the existing one
Ctrl-S	Saves the open console
Ctrl-M	Adds or removes a console item
Ctrl-W	Opens a new window
F5	Refreshes all console windows
Alt-spacebar	Displays the MMC window menu
Alt-F4	Closes the active console window

Table 4-33. Keyboard accelerators for accessing menu commands that act on the active console window pane

Accelerator	Function
Ctrl-P	Prints the current page or active window pane
Alt-minus sign	Displays the window menu for the active console window
Shift-F10	Displays the Action (shortcut) menu for the selected item
Alt-A	Displays the Action (shortcut) menu for the active console window
Alt-V	Displays the View menu for the active console window
Alt-F	Displays the Favorites menu for the active console window
F1	Opens the Help topic (if any) for the selected item
F5	Refreshes the content of all console windows
Ctrl-F10	Maximizes the active console window
Ctrl-F5	Restores the active console window
Alt-Enter	Displays the Properties dialog box (if any) for the selected item
F2	Renames the selected item
Ctrl-F4	Closes the active console window (if there is only one console window, this closes the console)