Windows XP Administration Pack Released -- Redmondmag.com

Windows XP Administration Pack Released

Beta version of an admin pack lets IT administrators manage Windows 2000 Server, .NET Servers from XP.

By Stephen Swoyer
02/01/2002

Microsoft Corp. this week released a beta version of an administration pack for Windows XP Professional that lets IT administrators manage Windows 2000 Server and Windows .NET Server systems from XP consoles.

Microsoft provided an administration pack—ADMINPAK.EXE—for Win2K Professional, which it included on a bonus CD that shipped with Win2K Server. Windows .NET Server will likely include a similar administration pack, but the server isn’t slated to ship until the first half of 2002.

Because the Win2K Professional tools won’t work properly on Windows XP, administrators deploying XP in Win2K environments needed a quick fix. Consequently, the new Windows XP Administration Tools Pack—a Beta 3 release—is probably based on code developed for Windows .NET Server, also in its third beta. The final version of the pack should be available by the time you read this.

By default, the Windows XP Administration Tools Pack installs all of the utilities grouped in the "Administrative Tools" program folder on Win2K Server and Windows .NET Server systems. IT managers who install the pack will be able to monitor server event logs; start and stop server services; manage licensing and connections for integrated terminal services; administer Active Directory domains and trusts; administer clustering and load-balancing services on Win2K Advanced Server and Windows .NET Advanced Server; create and manage DNS settings; and configure Routing and Remote Access (RRAS) services, among other administrative tasks. Microsoft stresses that the pack will properly install on Windows XP Professional (Build 2600) systems only; it cannot be installed on Windows XP Home Edition, beta versions of Windows XP, Win2K, or beta versions of Windows .NET Server. The pack is available at www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=34032.

About the Author

Stephen Swoyer is a Nashville, TN-based freelance journalist who writes about technology.

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