can i use one mmc console to manage both DCs and file and print server

You can install the mmc snapins ..

just download the Adminpak.msi and install in on a client even... that doesn't matter..

What snap-ins are you wanting to use?

Hi Ken,

When you are managing a server remotely, you can only use a limited subset of the mmc tools. Not all of them are available. I don't believe you can manage printers in this fashion.

If I misread your question and you were asking how to put several remote servers into one console.. Yes you can do this. Run mmc, file > add/remove snap-in... click 'add' .. select 'computer management' .. then click add again and you will have the option to use the local computer or to point it at a remote computer..

When you click finish, 'add' computer management again and you can enter another remote server. Just keep repeating the process till they're all in there.

You might not be able to connect to a remote server if you have it firewalled so bear that in mind too.

domain and trust
user and computers
site and services
dns
services
event viewer
group policy mgr
file server mrg
file server resource mrg
print mrg
distributed file system
disk mrg

I have setup an mmc on my dc1 and on my file and print sever.  if i try to add the print manager or file manager snap in to the mmc on the DC it is not listed.

I tied to setup the mmc on my workstation once and it got real ugly and i had some trouble with connecting to the servers.

Ahh ... printmanagement.msc ... I believe you need Server 2003 R2 for that.

Specifically, the server will have to be running Windows Server 2003 R2 edition, and you'll need to install the Server 2003 R2 Administrative tools onto the machine you're creating (and running) the mmc on.

"Print Management is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that enables you to install, view, and manage all of the printers in your organization from any computer running Windows Server 2003 R2."

The file manager mmc is possibly similarly R2 based?

i am running server 2003 r2 with the admin tools but the print mrg onlt shows up on the print server not the dc.  I would like to run the mmc on the dc so I can access it anywere in the biulding through my KVMoIP.

As odd as it sounds, you may need to add the print server role to the Server 2003 R2 DC.. and then, run printer management from the DC which should show you management options for all the servers with the print role installed.

This may help:

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Managing-Printers-Windows-Server-2003-R2.html

"I would like to run the mmc on the dc so I can access it anywere in the biulding through my KVMoIP"

Is Remote Desktop not an option?

I was hving issues with it and the kvm let me do remote reboots that remote desktop didn't so i don't have to sit in the server room which is to noisy.  I guess it is just a personal preference thing.

MY USERNAME

cool, that did it now I don't need to keep jumpiing between server. Thank you.

Now If I could just get my GPOs to behave I would be happy.

why don't use Remote Desktop ... you can log on to a server if you turn it on.. that way you don't need a KVM...

Oops already answered...

if you download the admin pak and the msc files for R2 and just put them on your xp / vista client you can do all from your client machine so you don't have to work on the server..

R

The KVM Came about during the built up of this new domain.  Without going into production this domain has been torn down five times in the last 6 months do to executive incompetence and short sightedness.  I got tired of having to go into the server room every time I needed to reboot or some other hands on the server function.

Yes, remote desktop does wok nicely and I do use it but like I said before the KVM became my personal preference thats all

could the reason I am having trouble with my GPOs not deploying properly be due to my running mmc on two different servers?

no..

You should open a new question for the GPO issue..

There are 2 sides to the GPO issue.
1 server replication
2. client implementation..

1 you can check if the sysvol if the gpo's have been replicated..
2. use mmc on a client and open the snap in resultant set of policies to check what the error is ..

"cool, that did it now I don't need to keep jumpiing between server. Thank you."

Hey, I'm always glad to help!

Cheers.

RightNL :

I did open an question for that issue I just figure maybe you guys had some deeper insight the what I have been getting.

My Username

I added the missing tools as you staded but the file server resouce manager does not work. i get an error of the service is not installed.  

Any ideas on that?

Have you restarted the server yet?

oh ya several times

but i did not restart the file and print server

Open your services console and make sure the "File Server Resource Manager" service is there, is started, and is set to Automatic.

If that doesn't work then post the error message verbatim.

Oh, one other note.
The file and printer server must be R2 and must have the File Server Resource Manager tools installed on it if you're going to connect to it.

I have all that set already.

The error is
Unable to connect to the file server resouce manager service on computer \\file-and-print.The file server resource manager service is not installed or the network path cannot not found.

Choose 'connect to another computer' to manage a different computer.

Other than verifying the service is running on the target computer, I don't know what to tell you. I've never had an issue.

thanks any way I'll post it up as a new question maybe somebody else has an idea.