Flexible management platform Windows Admin Center, that was know until its first release as projekt “Honolulu” from the Microsoft company brings a configuration and maintenance of the Windows Server and Microsoft Hyper-V server.
Note: Some guides and recommendations on Microsoft’s site still use the Honolulu designation.
Preparation
The management itself is done via web interface, which means that for its use you need only a modern web browser. Windows Admin Center is installed on our system from which you want to manage other systems (including local), contains the web server itself and for working access you require WMF 5.1 (PowerShell features) for systems Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 (download).
It is a complex tool for simplifying the administration, configuration and maintenance of a single or mostly multiple operating systems. All substantial changes can be made from one place. It is a suitable tool for centralized management, where it is not yet necessary to use complex tools such as System Management centers, but at the same time there is a need for configuration management.
Windows Admin Center from the accessing perspective allows three ways of access:
- Local install – application is installed on the system Windows 10, for example on the local computer of the administrator, and from there you can connect to the management.
- Gateway – application is installed on the gateway server, where you can connect to via web client (web browser) and from there to the system management
- Direct install – application is installed on the server that will be managed
Among the fully supported operating systems you can manage with the Windows Admin Center are:
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2012 R2
- Windows Server 2012
Medzi čiastočne podporované systémy patrí aj Windows 2008 R2
Note: This guide covers the Windows Admin Center in the version GA 1804.25 and features it offers.
Installation
Application is available in two versions Windows Admin Center and Windows Admin Center Preview – first is focused on production deployment, Preview version contains new features for testing and feedback – for production deployment it is not recommended. Both versions can be downloaded at microsoft.com.
Windows Admin Center is available for free.
Note: This guide refers to the installation on the server that will be managed
In the first step read and accept the licence agreement of the software.
Installer will modify system server setting and it is possible to create a shorcut on the Desktop for quicker start up.
As it is the web management the Windows Admin Center runs its web server on the port 443, on the standard HTTPSport. If you want to run the webserver on the same server, we would recommend to change it to a different port to prevent the conflict.
Windows Admin Center can also generate 60 day certificate. In the case you need a valid certificate, install it before the installation of Windows Admin Center and during the installation enter its thumbprint.
Finish the installation.
First start up of Windows Admin Center runs the guide.
Windows Admin Center is available via IP or FQDN (fully qualified domain name) of the server.