Prepare your environment for Windows Admin Center

Some server versions need more preparation before they're ready for you to manage by using Windows Admin Center:

• Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2

You might also need to modify port configuration on the target server before you can manage it by using Windows Admin Center.

Prepare Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2

Install Windows Management Framework version 5.1 or higher

Windows Admin Center requires Windows PowerShell features that aren't included by default in Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2. To manage Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 by using Windows Admin Center, you need to install Windows Management Framework version 5.1 or higher on those servers.

Enter $PSVersiontable in PowerShell to verify that Windows Management Framework is installed and that the version is 5.1 or higher. If it isn't installed, download and install Windows Management Framework 5.1.

Prepare Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016

To manage Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016 by using Windows Admin Center, you need to enable some server roles.

Manage Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016 by using Windows Admin Center

1. Enable remote management.
2. Enable the File Server role.
3. Enable the Hyper-V module for PowerShell.

Step 1: Enable remote management

To enable remote management in Hyper-V Server:

1. Sign in to Hyper-V Server.
2. At the Server Configuration (SCONFIG) tool, enter 4 to configure remote management.
3. Enter 1 to enable remote management.
4. Enter 4 to return to the main menu.

Step 2: Enable the File Server role

To enable the File Server role for basic file sharing and remote management:

1. On the Tools menu, select Roles & features.

2. In the Roles and features pane, find File and Storage Services, and select File and iSCSI Services > File Server.

   

Step 3: Enable Hyper-V module for PowerShell

To enable Hyper-V module for PowerShell features:

1. On the Tools menu, select Roles & features.

2. In the Roles and features pane, find Remote Server Administration Tools and select Role Administration Tools > Hyper-V Module for Windows PowerShell.

   

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016 is now ready for management by using Windows Admin Center.

Prepare Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2

To manage Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 by using Windows Admin Center, you need to enable some server roles. You also need to install Windows Management Framework version 5.1 or higher.

Manage Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 by using Windows Admin Center

1. Install Windows Management Framework version 5.1 or higher.
2. Enable remote management.
3. Enable the File Server role.
4. Enable the Hyper-V module for PowerShell.

Step 1: Install Windows Management Framework 5.1

Windows Admin Center requires PowerShell features that aren't included by default in Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2. To manage Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 by using Windows Admin Center, you need to install Windows Management Framework version 5.1 or higher.

Enter $PSVersiontable in PowerShell to verify that Windows Management Framework is installed and that the version is 5.1 or higher.

If it isn't installed, you can download Windows Management Framework 5.1.

Step 2: Enable remote management

To enable Hyper-V Server remote management:

1. Sign in to Hyper-V Server.
2. At the Server Configuration (SCONFIG) tool, enter 4 to configure remote management.
3. Enter 1 to enable remote management.
4. Enter 4 to return to the main menu.

Step 3: Enable the File Server role

To enable the File Server role for basic file sharing and remote management:

1. On the Tools menu, select Roles & features.

2. In the Roles and features pane, find File and Storage Services and select File and iSCSI Services > File Server.

   

Step 4: Enable the Hyper-V module for PowerShell

To enable the Hyper-V module for PowerShell features:

1. On the Tools menu, select Roles & features.

2. In the Roles and features pane, find Remote Server Administration Tools and select Role Administration Tools > Hyper-V Module for Windows PowerShell.

   

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 is now ready for management by using Windows Admin Center.

Port configuration on the target server

Windows Admin Center uses the Server Message Block (SMB) file-sharing protocol for some file-copying tasks, such as importing a certificate on a remote server. For these file copy operations to succeed, the firewall on the remote server must allow inbound connections on port 445. You can use the Firewall tool in Windows Admin Center to verify that the incoming rule for File Server Remote Management (SMB-In) is set to allow access on this port.