Server Manager
Server Manager accelerates server setup and configuration, and simplifies the ongoing management of server roles. In Windows Server 2008, each server role is dedicated to performing a different primary server function. You can dedicate a server to perform a single role, or choose to install multiple server roles on one server. For example, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS) roles are often installed on one server.
However, server features that are optionally installed to support functionality and add security do not usually describe a server's primary function. For example, Microsoft® BitLocker™ Drive Encryption is a feature that you can install on a file server or any other server role. This feature can help protect the data on a server if it is stolen.
Server Manager replaces several features included with Windows Server® 2003, including Manage Your Server, Configure Your Server, and Add or Remove Windows Components. Server Manager also eliminates the requirement that you run the SCW before deploying servers. When you use Server Manager in Windows Server 2008 to install server roles, the roles are configured with Microsoft-recommended security settings by default. You can also use the SCW to help enforce the proper configuration of server roles on your servers.
The default installation of Windows Server 2008 runs a minimal number of services and no server roles or features. This design helps protect each newly installed server role by minimizing the attack surface of each server as much as possible.
You must configure the proper server roles on the servers in your environment before they can perform any useful functions. Server Manager includes the Initial Configuration Tasks (ICT) feature, which automatically displays when an administrator logs on to a new server for the first time, as shown in the following figure.
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