Mike here again. For some time now, we’ve had inquiries about where the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is located in Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista SP1. It’s well documented that Server 2008 includes GPMC but, it does not appear in the administrative tools.
This tool is not installed by default in Windows Server 2003, and neither is it installed by default in Windows Server 2008. In Windows Server 2008, GPMC is considered to be a “Feature”,.
The Group Policy Management Console is included in Windows Server 2008; however, you must install it before you can use it. The domain controller promotion process installs GPMC on the server, in addition to adding the domain controller to the domain. Additionally, you can install GPMC on a member server as long as it’s a member of the domain. Let’s look at two ways to install GPMC on Windows Server 2008 (other than through DCPROMO).
Installing GPMC using Server Manager (Windows Server 2008)
The Group Policy Management Console is a Feature in Windows Server 2008. You install Features using Server Manager. Once installed, you can access the feature using Server Manager or you can the specific management console (like gpmc.msc).
- Open Server Manager by click Start and then point to Administrative Tools. Click Server Manager
- Click Features in the console tree. In the Features pane, click Add Features
- Select Group Policy Management from the list of available features in the Add Feature Wizard. Click Install.
- Start using GPMC or close Server Manager.
There’s another way to install GPMC using Server Manager, which usually installs quicker that using the Server Manager user interface. Server Manager includes a command line utility for installing Features and Roles named ServerManagercmd.exe.
Installing GPMC from the Command Line
- Open an elevated command prompt.
- In the command prompt, type ServerManagercmd –install gpmc
- Start GPMC from the command prompt by typing start gpmc.msc
- Close the command prompt.
Installing GPMC on Windows Vista Service Pack 1
Installing GPMC on Windows Vista Service Pack 1 can be a little confusing. First, you must download the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 before you can install GPMC. You may remember that GPMC was included in Windows Vista RTM; however Service Pack 1 removes it. After installing RSAT, you then want to install GPMC. Installing RSAT simply includes the Remote Server Administration tools on the Windows Vista SP1 computer but does not deploy for use—you’ll want to choose which RSAT tools you want used on the computer.
- Download and install the Remote Server Administration Tools (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink.?LinkID=95703).
- After the installation is complete, then click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Programs.
- Click Turn Windows Features on or off from Programs and Features.
- Click Remote Server Administration Tools and then click Feature Administration Tools from the Windows Features dialog box.
- Click Group Policy Management Tools and click OK to complete the installation.
![Tool Tool](http://www.grouppolicy.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/image_thumb102.png)
You’ll now see Group Policy Management included under the list of Administrative Tools (On Vista, you may need to actually show the Administrative Tools on the start menu – this can be done through Control Panel –> Taskbar and Start Menu –> Start Menu –> Customize –> System Administrative Tools). You can also start GPMC from the command line or run/search menu by typing gpmc.msc.
– Mike Stephens
Group Policy in Active Directory (AD) helps IT administrators quickly manage AD users, computers, and groups. Traditionally, administrators had to rely on Group Policy management tools such as the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) for Active Directory and group policy management. Managing Group Policy using just the native AD group policy management tools and PowerShell can be mundane and time-consuming.
ADManager Plus is web-based Active Directory management and reporting tool that helps manage Group Policy Objects (GPOs) for multiple domains in just a few clicks. It also provides pre-built GPO reports that swiftly fetch GPO-related information.
Manage every aspect of Windows Active Directory Group Policy easily by using ADManager Plus to:
- Create a GPO and link it to any container at once
- Enable or disable GPOs or individual configuration settings (user/computer configurations)
- Delete GPOs in bulk
- Create GPO links
- Enable or disable or remove GPO links
- Enforce GPOs or remove their enforcement
- Block or unblock GPO inheritance for any domain or organizational unit (OU) in bulk
Create GPOs and GPO links
Create Group Policy Objects and also link them to multiple OUs, domains, sites at once in a single action drastically minimizing the time and effort required to perform the same tasks using native Active Directory Group Policy editor like the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). ADManager Plus allows you to link appropriate GPOs to relevant containers whenever needed. You can also copy existing GPO links of domains or sites while creating new GPO links.
Manage GPOs and GPO links
Select multiple GPOs and GPO links from any node and perform following Group policy management actions instantly.
Edit GPOs
Identify the administrative templates settings of user and computer configuration associated to the respective Group Policy Objects using the quick search and edit GPO settings in Active Directory.
Enable GPOs or Disable GPOs
You can enable or disable GPOs completely or partially, that is, either the user or computer configuration settings alone.
Enable GPO links or Disable GPO links
Using this feature, you can select multiple GPO links and enable or disable them instantly. This enables the administrator to control application of the GPOs in tune with the organization's policy changes.
Enforce GPOs or make GPOs unenforced
With ADManager Plus, you can enforce GPOs to easily enforce specific settings over others. You can also un enforce the GPOs whenever needed.
Block or unblock GPO inheritance
By default, Group Policy settings are inherited from their parent objects. However, based on your need, you can choose the required container and block inheritance. You can also unblock inheritance whenever needed.
Delete GPOs and GPO links
Based on your needs, delete GPOs and remove unwanted GPO links in bulk. Clean up GPOs with the help of pre-defined GPO reports which makes it easy to identify the unused and disabled GPOs and delete them in bulk.
ADManager Plus offers a set of pre-packaged reports such as recently created GPOs, GPO blocked inheritance containers, and more which makes it easy to obtain GPO related information instantly. Download ADManager Plus for free to test out all these features yourself.
- A quick guide to easily manage GPOs and GPO links.
Bulk User Management
Fire a shotgun-shell of AD User Management Tasks in a Single Shot. Also use csv files to manage users. Effect bulk changes in the Active Directory, including configuring Exchange attributes.
Active Directory Password Management
Reset password and set password propertied from a single web-based console, without compromising on the security of your AD! Delegate your password-reset powers to the helpdesk technicians too!
Active Directory User Reports
Exhaustive reporting on Active Directory Users and user-attributes. Generate reports in user-activity in your Active Directory. Perform user-management actions right from the report interface!
Active Directory Compliance Reports
Active Directory reports to assist you for compliance to Government Regulatory Acts like SOX, HIPAA, GLBA, PCI, USA PATRIOT...and much more! Make your organization compliance-perfect!
Active Directory Workflow
A mini Active Directory ticket-management and compliance toolkit right within ADManager Plus! Define a rigid yet flexible constitution for every task in your AD. Tighten the reins of your AD Security.
Active Directory Automation
A complete automation of AD critical tasks such as user provisioning, inactive-user clean up etc. Also lets you sequence and execute follow-up tasks and blends with workflow to offer a brilliant controlled-automation.