NPS Tools

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

You can use the following tools to configure, manage, monitor, and develop applications for your servers running Network Policy Server (NPS).

NPS console

After you have installed NPS, you can manage the local NPS server by using the NPS console. The NPS console is opened in the Administrative Tools folder of the Start menu.

NPS MMC snap-in

You can manage a local NPS server and one or more remote NPS servers from the NPS Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in on the local NPS server. The MMC is opened by typing MMC in the Run dialog box that is opened on the Start menu. After the MMC is open you can add the NPS snap-in to the console.

Netsh commands for NPS

You can use commands in the Netsh Network Policy Server (NPS) context to configure all aspects of NPS. The Netsh commands for NPS provide the same functionality as the NPS console, and the commands can be run manually at the Netsh command prompt or automatically in scripts and batch files.

The Netsh commands for Network Policy Server are available in HTML format in the Network Shell (Netsh) Technical Reference in the Windows Server 2008 Technical Library at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=110825.

In addition, you can download the Network Shell (Netsh) Technical Reference in Windows Help format from the Microsoft Download Center at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=113659.

Network Monitor

Network Monitor is a protocol analyzer that allows you to capture, view, and analyze network traffic.

The Network Monitor tool can be used to capture the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) messages being sent and received for detailed analysis.

To view RADIUS messages, configure Network Monitor with a display filter to display only RADIUS messages by disabling all protocols except the RADIUS protocol.

Download Microsoft Network Monitor 3.1 from the Microsoft Download Center at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=94770.

NPS API sets

NPS includes two application programming interface (API) sets: NPS Extensions API and Server Data Objects (SDO) API. Both NPS Extensions API and SDO API are also supported by the precursor of NPS, Internet Authentication Service (IAS).

NPS Extensions API can be used to extend the authentication, authorization, and accounting methods offered by NPS and previously by IAS.

Server Data Objects API can be used to manipulate the network policy configuration on a computer that runs NPS or IAS.

For more developer information related to NPS, see the following topics on the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN):