I’m going to write a series of blogs on the new Active Directory cmdlets included with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. These cmdlets are included in a module that you can import into Powershell V2. Before we get into the actual cmdlets, lets discuss the prerequisites that we need in order to use the cmdllets.
In this blog I will write about Active Directory Web Services (ADWS) and Active Directory Management Gateway Service (ADMGS). Ok first lets discuss these two services and why you need them.
Active Directory Web Services (ADWS) is a service included with Windows Server 2008 R2. This service is automatically installed when you install the AD DS role or AD LS server role on a Windows Server 2008 R2 server. ADWS basically provides a web service interface to your Active Directory domains. In order for you to use the new Active Directory cmdlets, at least one domain controller needs to be running ADWS. What if you don’t have a domain controller running Windows Server 2008 R2 or don’t plan on installing a Windows Server 2008 R2 domain controller in the near future? Don’t worry, Microsoft has provided Active Directory Management Gateway Service (ADMGS) for downlevel servers. Basically ADMGS provides the same functionality as ADWS but without requiring you to have a Windows Server 2008 R2 domain controller. ADMGS can be installed on any domain controller running the following:
- Windows Server 2003 R2 with SP2
- Windows Server 2003 SP2
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 SP2
So in order to use the Active Directory cmdlets you will need either a domain controller running Windows Server 2008 R2 which includes ADWS or a domain controller running one of the down level servers listed above with ADMGS installed.
In my next blog post, I will show you how to install ADMGS on a down level domain controller.
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