In the left pane of Server Manager, there are several different sections that provide various functionalities and options for managing Windows Server. These sections are designed to assist administrators in efficiently navigating and accessing the different aspects of the server.
1. Dashboard: The Dashboard section provides an overview of the server's status and performance. It displays important information such as server name, IP address, operating system version, system health, and alerts. This section allows administrators to quickly assess the overall health and performance of the server.
2. Local Server: The Local Server section allows administrators to manage the local server's properties and settings. It provides access to various configuration options, including computer name, workgroup/domain settings, remote management settings, Windows Update configuration, and network settings. Administrators can also enable or disable specific features, such as Remote Desktop, Windows Firewall, and Windows PowerShell.
3. All Servers: The All Servers section enables administrators to manage multiple servers simultaneously. It allows for the creation of server groups, where administrators can organize servers based on specific criteria, such as role, location, or department. This section provides a consolidated view of the servers' status, events, and performance, making it easier to monitor and manage multiple servers efficiently.
4. Roles and Features: The Roles and Features section allows administrators to install, configure, and manage server roles and features. Server roles represent specific functions that a server performs, such as Active Directory Domain Services, DNS Server, or Web Server (IIS). Features, on the other hand, are additional components that can be installed to enhance server functionality. This section provides a comprehensive list of available roles and features, along with their respective status and configuration options.
5. Storage: The Storage section is dedicated to managing storage resources on the server. It provides access to tools and features for configuring and monitoring storage, including disks, volumes, storage pools, and file shares. Administrators can perform tasks such as creating and formatting volumes, extending or shrinking volumes, configuring storage spaces, and managing iSCSI targets.
6. Hyper-V: The Hyper-V section is specifically designed for managing virtualization on the server. It allows administrators to create, configure, and manage virtual machines and virtual switches. This section provides access to various virtualization-related settings, such as processor, memory, networking, and storage configurations. Administrators can also monitor the performance and resource usage of virtual machines through this section.
7. Failover Cluster Manager: The Failover Cluster Manager section is used to manage high availability and failover clustering on the server. It enables administrators to create and manage failover clusters, which provide redundancy and automatic failover for critical services and applications. This section allows for the configuration of cluster resources, such as shared storage, networks, and cluster roles. Administrators can also monitor the health and status of the failover cluster through this section.
8. File and Storage Services: The File and Storage Services section provides tools and features for managing file shares, storage spaces, and iSCSI targets. Administrators can create and manage file shares, set permissions and access control, configure quotas and file screening, and enable file server resource manager. This section also allows for the creation and management of iSCSI targets for storage area networks (SANs).
9. DNS: The DNS section is used to manage the Domain Name System (DNS) on the server. It enables administrators to configure and manage DNS zones, records, and settings. This section provides options for creating and managing forward and reverse lookup zones, configuring DNS server properties, and monitoring DNS server performance and activity.
10. DHCP: The DHCP section allows administrators to manage the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) on the server. It provides options for configuring and managing DHCP scopes, reservations, options, and server properties. This section enables administrators to assign IP addresses dynamically to network clients and manage the allocation of other network configuration parameters.
The left pane of Server Manager in Windows Server provides a comprehensive set of sections that allow administrators to efficiently manage various aspects of the server, including system properties, roles and features, storage, virtualization, high availability, file and storage services, DNS, and DHCP.
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