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Choosing Which Version of AGPM to Install

Updated: April 1, 2013

Applies To: Advanced Group Policy Management

Each release of Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM) supports specific versions of the Windows operating system. It is strongly recommended that you run the AGPM Client and Server on the same operating system family, for example, Windows 8 with Windows Server 2012, Windows 7 with Windows Server 2008 R2, and so on.

It is recommended that you install the AGPM Server on the most recent version of the operating system in the domain. AGPM uses the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to back up and restore Group Policy Objects (GPOs). Since newer versions of the GPMC provide additional policy settings that are not available in earlier versions, you can manage more policy settings by using the most recent version of the operating system.

All versions of AGPM can manage only the Group Policies that were introduced in the same version or an earlier version of the operating system on which AGPM is running. For example, if you install AGPM 4.0 SP1 on Windows Server 2008 R2, you can manage Group Policies that were introduced in Windows Server 2008 R2 or earlier, but you cannot manage Group Policies that were introduced later, in Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

If the version of the GPMC on your AGPM Server is older than the version on the computers that administrators use to manage Group Policy, the AGPM Server will be unable to store any policy settings that are not available in the older version of the GPMC. For information about which policy settings are available with which operating systems, see the Group Policy Settings Reference.

AGPM 4.0 SP1

If you are using computers that are running Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 to manage Group Policy Objects (GPOs), you must use AGPM 4.0 SP1. Earlier versions of AGPM cannot be installed on computers that are running those operating systems.

Table 1 lists the operating systems on which you can install AGPM 4.0 SP1, and the Group Policy settings that can be managed with AGPM 4.0 SP1.

Table 1: AGPM 4.0 SP1 supported operating systems and Group Policy settings

Supported operating systems for AGPM 4.0 SP1 Server	Supported operating systems for AGPM 4.0 SP1 Client	AGPM 4.0 SP1 support
Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8	Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8	Supported
Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7	Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7	Supported, but cannot edit policy settings or preference items that exist only in Windows 8
Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, or Windows 7	Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista with SP1	Supported, but cannot edit policy settings or preference items that exist only in Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, or Windows 7
Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista with SP1	Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, or Windows 7	Not supported
Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista with SP1	Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista with SP1	Supported, but cannot report or edit policy settings or preference items that exist only in Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, or Windows 7

AGPM 4.0

Table 2 lists the operating systems on which you can install AGPM, 4.0 and the Group Policy settings that can be managed with AGPM 4.0.

Table 2: AGPM 4.0 supported operating systems and Group Policy settings

Supported operating systems for AGPM 4.0 Server	Supported operating systems for AGPM 4.0 Client	AGPM 4.0 support
Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7	Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7	Supported
Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7	Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista with SP1	Supported, but cannot edit policy settings or preference items that exist only in Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista with SP1	Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7	Not supported
Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista with SP1	Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista with SP1	Supported, but cannot report or edit policy settings or preference items that exist only in Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

Versions of AGPM that precede AGPM 4.0

Table 3 lists the operating systems on which you can install the versions of AGPM that precede AGPM 4.0. If an operating system is not listed, AGPM cannot be installed on that operating system.

Table 3: Supported operating systems for versions of AGPM that precede AGPM 4.0

Operating System	Version of AGPM that can be installed
Windows Server 2008	AGPM 3.0
Windows Vista with SP1	AGPM 3.0
Windows Vista with no service pack installed (32-bit)	AGPM 2.5
Windows Server 2003 (32-bit)	AGPM 2.5

How to obtain AGPM software

AGPM is available as part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) for Software Assurance. For information about how to obtain licenses for MDOP, see How to Buy.

If you are an MDOP customer, you can download MDOP through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Site (MVLS).
If you are not an MDOP customer and want to evaluate MDOP, you can download MDOP software from MSDN or download MDOP software from TechNet in accordance with your MSDN or TechNet subscription.

Additional considerations

For more information about system requirements for AGPM, see the step-by-step guides:

Step-by-Step Guide for AGPM 4.0 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=153505)
Step-by-Step Guide for AGPM 3.0 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=132706)
Step-by-Step Guide for AGPM 2.5 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=106069)