Manage Windows Server Essentials
Find resources and tools to help you better manage your Windows Server Essentials infrastructure and keep your servers up to date.
Manage Windows Server 2012 Essentials
Overview of the Dashboard
Windows Server 2012 Essentials includes an administrative dashboard, which simplifies the tasks that you perform to manage your Windows Server 2012 Essentials network and server.
Overview of the Launchpad
The Launchpad is a small application that provides authenticated users with access to key features of Windows Server 2012 Essentials including computer backups, shared files and media, and the Remote Web Access site.
Manage Anywhere Access
When you turn on the Anywhere Access functionalities—Remote Web Access, virtual private network, and DirectAccess—they enable your network users to access server resources from any location with an Internet connection, at any time, and on any device.
Manage Applications
The Applications management page of the Dashboard provides a list of installed add-ins, a tasks pane that includes a set of tasks for managing a selected add-in, and a list of add-ins that are available to download and install from Microsoft Pinpoint.
Manage Backup and Restore
Windows Server 2012 Essentials provides reliable ways to perform regular backups of your server and backups of your network computers.
Manage Devices
The topics in this section discuss the device management features of your server, and explain how to set up and use devices on your network.
Manage Digital Media
The topics in this section discuss the media streaming features of your server, and explain how to set up and use media streaming on your network.
Manage Email Service Integration
The topics in this section provide information about methods that you can use to configure an email solution for your organization.
Manage Server Folders and Storage
Windows Server 2012 Essentials enables you to manage all your server folders and server storage from the Server Folders and Hard Drives pages on the Storage tab of the Dashboard.
Manage System Health
Windows Server 2012 Essentials actively monitors every computer that is connected to the server and alerts the administrator to issues related to the system’s health, including critical updates, missing malware protection, out-of-date virus definitions on client computers, and other important issues that require action.
Manage User Accounts
The Users page of the Windows Server 2012 Essentials Dashboard centralizes information and tasks that help you manage the user accounts on your small business network.
Use Windows Server 2012 Essentials
Get Connected
You can connect your computers to the Windows Server 2012 Essentials server by using the Connector software, which is installed when you connect a computer to the server.
Use Shared Folders
Windows Server 2012 Essentials provides a central location for all of your data and files through the shared folders that are located on your server.
Work Remotely
There are multiple ways to access resources that are located on the server when you are away from your network if Anywhere Access functionalities (Remote Web Access, virtual private network, and DirectAccess) are configured on the server.
View and Respond to Alerts
Windows Server 2012 Essentials monitors the health status of your computers and reports issues in the Alert Viewer.
Play Digital Media
Digital media refers to audio, video, and photo content that has been digitally compressed. Windows Server 2012 Essentials makes it possible for networked computers and some networked digital media devices to play digital media files that are stored on the server.
