CHAPTER 3

USING MICROSOFT MANAGEMENT CONSOLE

AND TASK MANAGER

Introduction:

The Primary administrative tools that you use to manage Microsoft Windows 2000 are the

Microsoft Management console (MMC), Task Scheduler, and Control Panel.

Lesson 1: Introducing the Microsoft Management Console

Introduction to MMC and defines the console, console trees, details panes, snap-ins and extensions.

There are two types of mode, user and author. All MMC files have an extension of .MSC.

One of the primary administrative tools that you use to manage Windows 2000 is the Microsoft

Management Console. The MMC provides a standardized method to create, save and open

administrative tools, which are called consoles. The MMC doesn’t provide management functions

itself, but it’s the program that hosts management applications, called snap-ins, which you use to

perform one or more administrative tasks.

The MMC allows you to do the following:

Administer tasks and troubleshoot problems. You can perform most of your administrative tasks

and troubleshooting from the MMC. Centralize Administration. You can perform admin. Tasks

from one computer.Administer tasks and troubleshoot problems remotely. You can use most

snap-ins for remote administration and troubleshooting.

Consoles contain one or more snap-ins. They are saved as files that have the .MSC extension. All

the settings for the snap-ins contained in the console are saved and are restored when the file is

opened, even if the console file is opened on a different computer or network.

Console Tree and Details Pane

Every console has a console tree. A console tree displays the hierarchical organization of the

snap-ins that are contained within that console.

The console tree organizes snap-ins that are part of a console. This allows you to easily locate

a specific snap-in. Items that you add to the console tree appear under the console root. The

details pane lists the contents of the active snap-in.

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Administrative Tools

By default, Windows 2000 save custom console files (with an .MSC extension)

In the Administrative Tools folder. The path is C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\

Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools.

Snap-ins

Snap-ins are applications that are designed to work in the MMC. You use snap-ins to perform

administrative tasks. Two types of snap-ins exist: stand-alone and extension snap-ins.

1. Stand-alone Snap-ins. Use stand-alone snap-ins to perform Windows 2000

administrative tasks. There are a set of standard snap-ins.

2. Extension Snap-ins.

· Extensions are designed to work with one or more stand-alone snap-ins, based on the

functions of the stand-alone snap-in. When you add and extension. Win2000 displays

only the extensions that are compatible with thee the stand-alone snap-in. When you

add a snap-in to a console, MMC adds all available extensions by default. You can

remove any extension from the snap-in.

· You can add an extension to multiple snap-ins.

For example, a toolbox holds a drill. You can use the drill with its standard drill bit. You can perform

additional functions with different drill bits. The same is true for snap-ins and extensions.

SUMMARY:

Snap-ins are administrative tools.
Extensions provide additional functionality to snap-ins.
Extensions are preassigned to snap-ins.
Multiple snap-ins may use the same extensions.

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Console Options

Some snap-ins, like Event Viewer, can act as a snap-in or an extension.

Use console options to determine how each console operates by selecting the appropriate console mode.

The two available console modes are Author mode and User Mode.

Author Mode

When you save a console in Author Mode, you enable full access to all MMC functionality, which

includes modifying the console. When you save in author mode you are able to do the following:

Add or Remove snap-ins
Create new windows
View all portions of the Console tree
Save consoles

NOTE: By default, all new consoles are saved in Author Mode.

User Mode

Usually, if you plan to distribute a console to other administrators, you should save the console in

User mode. When you set a console to User mode, users can’t add snap-ins to, remove snap-ins

from, or save the console.

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Use When

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Full access Users have all MMC functionality. Full access.

Open, delete create, etc.

Limited Access, Cannot open new windows or gain access to a

Multiple Windows Portion of the console tree.

Limited Access, You don’t want to allow users to open new

Single Windows windows or gain access to a portion of the

console tree. They can only view one window

in the console.

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Lesson Summary:

The MMC provides a standardized method to create, save and open administrative tools, which are called

consoles. Consoles hold one or more applications called snap-ins. By default Win2000 save custom

console files (with an .MSC extension) in the Administrative Tools folder of the user who created it. The

console tree displays the hierarchical organization of the snap-ins that are contained within that console.

There are two types of snap-ins, author, and User Mode.

Lesson 2: Using Consoles

You can create your own custom consoles by combining multiple preconfigured snap-ins with third-party

snap-ins, which are provided by independent software vendors (ISVs) that perform related tasks.

Save the custom consoles to be able to use them again.

Distribute the custom consoled to other administrators.

Use the custom console from any computer to centralize and unify administrative tasks.

Creating custom consoles allows you to meet your administrative requirements by combining snap-ins

that you use to perform common administrative tasks.

Click the start button.
Click Run.
Type mmc in the open box, and then click OK.

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Command Purpose

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New To create a new custom console.

Open To use a saved console

Save or Save As To use the console later

Add/Remove To add or remove one or more snap-ins and their associated

Snap-in extensions to or from a console.

Options To configure the console mode and create a custom console

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Close the MMC window.

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Using Console for Remote Administration

When you create custom consoles, you can set up a snap-in for remote administration. Remote

administration allows you to perform administrative tasks from any location. To perform remote

administration:

You can use snap-ins from computers running either Windows 2000P or Windows 2000 Server.

You must use specific snap-ins that are designed for remote administration. If the snap-in is available

for remote administration, Windows 2000 prompts you to choose the target computer to administer.

Summary:

Creating Custom consoles, they can be accessed at the RUN command.
Snap-ins are discussed.
Custom consoles for remote administration.

Lesson 3: Using Task Scheduler:

You use Task Scheduler to schedule programs and batch files to run once, at regular intervals, or at

specific times. You can also use Task Scheduler to schedule any script, program, or document to

start at a specified time and interval or when certain operating system events occur.

Windows 2000 saves scheduled tasks in the Scheduled Tasks Folder, which is in Control Panel in

My Computer. Also, in My Network Places. Use the Task Scheduler to:

Run maintenance utilities at specific intervals.
Run programs when less demand exists for computer resources.

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Option Description

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Application Browse the list or view the ones on the screen.

Task Name Describes the task

Frequency The number of times Windows 2000 will perform the task.

Daily, weekly, monthly etc, or when you log on.

Time and Date The start time and start date.

Name and Password User name and password, for security purposes. You must

Have administrative privileges for certain tasks.

Advanced You can configure additional properties after you click

Properties Finish.

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Advanced Properties

You have the ability to set additional options.

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Tab Description

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Task Changes the scheduled task or changes the user account that

is used to run the task.

Schedule Sets and displays multiple schedules for the same task. For

example, you can set up a tasks to run every Friday at 10:00

p.m.

Settings Set options that affect when a task starts or stops, such as how

Long a backup can take. Can this computer be running on

batteries while performing the task.

Security Changes the list of users and groups that have permissions

to perform that task, or changes the permissions for a specific

user or group.

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Lesson Summary:

Task Scheduler schedules batch file to run once, or at intervals or at specific times, or when certain

operating system events occur. Windows 2000 saves scheduled tasks in the Scheduled Tasks

folder, which is in Control Panel in My Computer. You can Schedule Tasks on another computer

by browsing that computer’s resources by using My Network Places.