Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools

The Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools or, in short, RSAT, are a collection of programs that facilitate the work of system and network administrators by providing them with the necessary utilities to remotely manage features of machines running Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2 and 2012.

The toolbox comprises several feature and role administrator tools that are automatically activated in Windows features following the Windows update process. The Server Manager is one of the main components of the toolset, providing a modern-looking interface dedicated to conveniently managing servers, server groups, roles and features on the remote computer.

The 'Tools' menu of the Server Manager provides one-click access to all the other tools system admins can use to remotely manage target server workstations. There are administration tools for Active Directory, domains, modules, sites, services, users, and machines, alongside tools to manage certifications and services.

Users can remotely defragment drives and run disk space optimization, manage DHCP servers via a dedicated console, run disk cleanup to free up storage space, and manage DNS servers. They can monitor events from distance, organize resources and manage group policies.

RSAT also includes a Network Load Balancing Manager that can track network traffic usage, going hand in hand with the Performance Monitor. It also features storage management options and offers access to the task scheduler, the Windows firewall, and Powershell.

The latest iteration of the RSAT toolbox comes with MMC snap-ins, PowerShell providers, also providing support for Windows Server Technical Preview.

RSAT makes it possible for users to carry out server maintenance and administration tasks remotely, from a computer that runs on Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 SP1, or Vista. Just make sure you download the version that matches your OS edition.