Working with MMC console files

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) hosts tools, including snap-ins, which you can use to administer both local and remote computers. Your Windows system may already include tools that were saved as console files (with an .msc extension). These tools are available in the Administrative Tools folder in both Control Panel and the Programs menu. In addition, you can use MMC to create custom administrative tools and distribute these tools to users. On both XOX and the Windows Server 2003 family of operating systems, you can save these tools so they are available in the Administrative Tools folder on the Programs menu.

• Administering local computers

To add an item to a new MMC console for a local computer

1. Click Start, click Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
2. On the File menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in, and then click Add.
3. Under Snap-in, double-click the item you want to add, and do one of the following:
   • Click Local computer: (the computer this console is running on), and then click Finish.
   • If a wizard appears, follow the instructions on your screen.
4. To add another item to the console, repeat step 3.
Notes
• If a console is saved to the per-user Administrative Tools folder (located at systemdrive\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools), it is then available in the Administrative Tools folder on the Programs menu.
• If a snap-in does not appear in the list, you must first install the program, device, or service administered by the snap-in.
• To make an item subordinate to an item in the console tree other than the console root, click the appropriate item in Snap-ins added to before you click Add in step 2.

To open a saved MMC console for a local computer

• Do one of the following:
• Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click the console.
• Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools and then click the console.
• Click the console on the Programs menu.
• Open the folder where your console is located, and then double-click the console.
• Administering remote computers

To add an item to a new MMC console for a remote computer

1. Click Start, click Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
2. On the File menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in, and then click Add.
3. Under Snap-in, double-click the item you want to add, and do the following:
   • Click Another computer, type the name of the computer you want this snap-in to manage, and then click Finish.
   • If a wizard appears, follow the instructions on the screen.
4. To add another item to the console, repeat step 3.
Notes
• If a snap-in does not appear in the list, you must first install the program, device, or service administered by the snap-in on the remote computer.
• If a dialog box or a wizard does not appear in step 3, you can only use the console item to administer your local computer.
• If a console is saved to the per-user Administrative Tools folder (located at systemdrive\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools), it is then available in the Administrative Tools folder on the Programs menu.
• To make an item subordinate to an item in the console tree other than the console root, click the appropriate item in Snap-ins added to before you click Add in step 2.

To open a saved MMC console for a remote computer

• Do one of the following:
• Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click the console.
• Open the folder where your console is located, and then double-click the appropriate console.
• General procedures

To open MMC

• At the command prompt, type:

mmc

To install a program managed by an MMC snap-in

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen.