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Managing applications remotely

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Managing applications remotely

You can manage the applications for an entire system from a remote location by using the remote administration features of the Windows Server 2003 family. With the Remote Desktops snap-in, you can access remote computers for installations, deletions, or modifications of applications on those computers. In addition, with Group Policy Software Installation, you can assign or publish applications. You assign an application to users or computers when you want everyone to have the application on his or her computer. When the users log on to their computers, the application installs. You publish an application to users when you want the application to be available to the users who are managed by your Group Policy object. These users then determine when to install the application.

Some of the most common tasks are creating a new connection to a remote computer, assigning an application to users or computers, and publishing an application to users. For more information about other tasks for managing applications remotely, see Remote Desktops snap-in How To....

To create a new connection to a remote computer

  1. Open Remote Desktops snap-in.

  2. In the console tree, right-click Remote Desktops.

  3. Click Add new connection.

  4. In the Add New Connection dialog box, in Server name or IP address, type the name or TCP/IP address of the server. Or, click Browse to look for a server.

  5. Optionally, in Connection Name, type a friendly name for this connection.

  6. Clear the Connect to console check box if you do not want to connect to the console of the server.

  7. Optionally, in Logon information, supply the user name, password and domain to automatically log on to the server. Click OK.

Notes

  • To open Remote Desktops, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Remote Desktops.

  • Depending on the configuration of the Terminal server, you might be prompted to supply your password upon connection even if you specify it in the Add New Connection dialog box.

To assign an application to users or computers

  1. Open Group Policy Software Installation.

  2. In the console tree, click Software Installation.

    Where?

    • Group Policy object/Computer Configuration (or User Configuration)/Software Settings/Software Installation

  3. In the details pane, right-click, point to New, and then click Package.

  4. In the Open dialog box, click the Windows Installer package, and then click Open.

  5. In the Deploy Software dialog box, click Assigned, and then click OK.

Notes

  • To open Group Policy Software Installation, see Group Policy (pre-GPMC).

  • The Open dialog box shows the packages that are located at a software distribution point that you specify as the default.

  • If the Windows Installer package is located on a different network drive, navigate to the correct software distribution point in the Open dialog box, click the package, and then click Open.

To publish an application to users

  1. Open Group Policy Software Installation.

  2. In the details pane, right-click, point to New, and then click Package.

  3. In the Open dialog box, click the Windows Installer package to be published, and then click Open.

  4. In the Deploy Software dialog box, click Published.

Notes

  • To complete this procedure, you must be logged on as a member of the Domain Administrators security group, the Enterprise Administrators security group, or the Group Policy Creator Owners security group.

  • To open Group Policy Software Installation, see Group Policy (pre-GPMC).

  • Packages can be published only to users, not to computers.

  • The Open dialog box shows the packages that are located at a software distribution point that you specify as the default.

  • If the Windows Installer package is located on a different network drive, navigate to the correct software distribution point in the Open dialog box, click the package, and then click Open.

  • The application is available for users to install either by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel or by opening a file with an extension that you have associated with the application.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.