The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) 2008

In the following presentation we will create an MMC containing all the necessary snap-ins for administering Active Directory.

• Active Directory Users and Groups.
• Active Directory Domains and Trusts.
• Active Directory Sites and Services.
• Active Directory Schema.
• Server Management.

Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson

To create the MMC click Run. Type MMC in the run box and click OK. Select File. Select Add/Remove Snap-in.

The Active Directory Schema snap-in needs to be added. To add this snap-in you will need to access a command prompt.

Select Start>Command Prompt. Or type CMD in the Run box. At the prompt type regsvr32.exe schmmgmt.dll And press Enter. Click OK to complete the command. Now return to the MMC console.

Select File>Add/Remove Snap-in. To add a snap-in select it and click Add. When all the necessary snap-ins are added. click OK.

The console has been created. Now is a good time to save it for future use. Click File>Save As. Give your console a descriptive name and click Save. The default save location is in Administrative tools but the console can be saved in any location.

To access a saved console click All Programs. And select Administrative Tools. Select the console.

Adding snap-ins to the console

Select File. Add/Remove Snap-in. Highlight the Snap-in and click Add. Click OK. The new Snap-in has been added to the console. Select File>Save.

Deleting and Reordering Snap-ins

Select File>Add/Remove Snap-in. Select the Snap-in to be removed and click Remove. To reorder a Snap-in Select the Snap-in and click Move Up or Move Down. The Snap-in has been moved click OK.

Snap-in Extensions

Select the Snap-in and click Edit Extensions. Some Snap-ins contain multiple extensions which may not be required. These extensions can be removed by de-selecting the option.  The Event Viewer option will no longer be available in the snap-in.

Saving and Distributing a Console

If you plan to distribute a console, it is recommended to save the console in user mode. By default, new consoles are saved in author mode, which enables adding and removing snap-ins, viewing all portions of the console tree, and saving customizations. User mode, by contrast, restricts the functionality of the console so that it cannot be changed. There is an Author  mode and three types of user modes:-

Mode	Use when
Author	You want to continue customizing the console.
User Mode – Full Access	You want users of the console to be able to navigate between and use all snap-ins. Users will not be able to add or remove snap-ins or change the properties of snap-ins or the console.

Mode	Use when
User Mode – Limited Access, multiple window	You want users to navigate to and use only the snap-ins that you have made visible in the console tree, and you want to preconfigure multiple windows that focus on specific snap-ins. Users will not be able to open new windows.

Mode	Use when
User Mode – Limited Access, multiple window	You want users to navigate to and use only the snap-ins that you have made visible in the console tree, and you want to preconfigure multiple windows that focus on specific snap-ins. Users will not be able to open new windows.
User Mode – Limited Access, single window	You want users to navigate to and use only the snap-ins that you have made visible in the console tree within a single window.

Select File>Options. Select User Mode – Full Access, and click OK. Give the console a descriptive name and click Save.

Select the file menu in the saved console, note the option to Add/remove snap-ins is not available. In the options the Console tab is no longer available.