Andreas Miceli is getting ready to release a technical preview version of his popular Advanced Admin Console add-in for Windows Home Server code name Vail and Windows Server Aurora.
By way of background, the Advanced Admin Console is no stranger to most Windows Home Server v1 users. According to Andreas, at present an estimated 18,000 users are enjoying the WHS v1 version of the add-in. The award winning add-in which was first released in January 2008 quickly gained notoriety for being the administrative Swiss army knife for the home server.
Introducing the Advanced Admin Console vNext
In order to fully harness the new features and capabilities available in the new Windows Server code name “Vail” and Windows Server “Aurora” platforms, Andreas stated that he has started development from scratch.
Screenshots
Like before with AAC for WHS v1, the Advanced Admin Console add-in allows users to extend access to various administrative areas, including Control Panel, Printer, Network, Services and more, all from within the server Dashboard. In order to do so, the Advanced Admin Console add-in makes use of the new RemoteApp technology which makes it appear as if applications are running on the end user’s local computer but in reality these applications are executed directly on the server. Furthermore, the Advanced Admin Console vNext boosts a clever new user interface and slick business centric productivity features.
Users can run RemoteApp programs side by side with their local programs. Applications running remotely are prefixed with the remote app icon in the Windows taskbar (1). A user can minimize, maximize, and resize the program window (2), and can easily start multiple programs at the same time (3).
Advanced Admin Console on Windows Server Aurora
The AAC add-in works on both Vail and Aurora just the same with the distinction that additional Server Administration features such as Active Directory Administration Center and Group Policy Management are made available on Windows Server Aurora.
Another new addition is the “Favorites” which are not limited to website links but may include physical or virtual location shortcuts as well as application program shortcuts.
A testament to business productivity, these “Favorites” are said to be universally available from multiple sessions and should also be easy to backup too which is a nice touch.
About Andreas Miceli
Andreas Miceli is a professional software developer located in Passau, Germany. He started developing for the Windows Home Server platform in 2007 when Microsoft released a first public beta of the software. So far he has published three add-ins for Windows Home Server. More information about Andreas Miceli is available on his blog at http://www.home-server-addins.com/about
Additional improvements and new features are said to be in the Advanced Admin Console vNext Technical Preview, so stay tuned for our hands-on review and verdict.
More: home-server-addins.com
Where can I download the beta?
I've been using the Awieco RemoteLauncher which works great and I liked the admin console for v1, is it just me or does this looks a little busy?
I'll be posting a call for beta testers tonight (CET) on my blog at http://www.home-server-addins.com
Fantastic thanks
Very impressed, looks amazing. . . .
Andreas,
I'd love to be a beta tester, not just to use the AddIn and be able to brag ….
Please pick me! I have a fair bit of time on my hands at the moment so I could throughly beta test it!
This has always been my favorite addin, can't wait, good job.