How to Install RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools)

RSAT

What is RSAT?

RSAT or Remote Server Administration Tools is a package of server management tools you can install on Windows 10.

RSAT allows you to manage servers remotely, which is a good security practice!

RSAT offers several tools like:

  • Active Directory Users & Computers
  • Server Manager
  • The Active Directory PowerShell module
  • The Group Policy Management Console
  • The Group Policy PowerShell module
  • DNS manager
  • DHCP manager
  • Etc.

RSAT and Office 365

More and more companies use RSAT to consolidate AD and Office 365 management.

Specifically, they use Active Directory Users & Computers with the Easy365Manager snap-in.

Easy365Manager extends user properties with two new tabs that allow you to configure Office 365 licenses and mailboxes, as seen in the following example:

Easy365Manager offers the following benefits:

  1. No need to log in to multiple different admin web consoles during the day.
  2. No need for PowerShell to sync Azure AD Connect, configure mailbox calendar permissions, etc.
  3. No confusion about attribute authority.
  4. Removal of your on-premises Exchange Server (cost reduction and reduced attack surface).

How to Install RSAT Using PowerShell

The installation of RSAT depends on what version of Windows you’re running.

Windows 10 Version 1809 and Later

The easiest way to install RSAT on Windows 10 version 1809 and later is to use Feature on Demand (FoD).

If e.g. you want to install the Active Directory management tools and the Active Directory PowerShell module follow these steps:

  1. Start an administrative PowerShell prompt
  2. Execute the following command:
Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT.ActiveDirectory* -Online | Add-WindowsCapability -Online

To install the Group Policy Management Console and the Group Policy PowerShell module use the following command:

Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT.GroupPolicy* -Online | Add-WindowsCapability -Online

For a complete list of the RSAT tools available via FOD run the following command:

PS C:\> Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT.* -Online | ft Name,DisplayName
Name                                                     DisplayName
----                                                     -----------
Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0             RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools
Rsat.BitLocker.Recovery.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                 RSAT: BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration Utilities
Rsat.CertificateServices.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                RSAT: Active Directory Certificate Services Tools
Rsat.DHCP.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                               RSAT: DHCP Server Tools
Rsat.Dns.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                                RSAT: DNS Server Tools
Rsat.FailoverCluster.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0         RSAT: Failover Clustering Tools
Rsat.FileServices.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                       RSAT: File Services Tools
Rsat.GroupPolicy.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0             RSAT: Group Policy Management Tools
Rsat.IPAM.Client.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                        RSAT: IP Address Management (IPAM) Client
Rsat.LLDP.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                               RSAT: Data Center Bridging LLDP Tools
Rsat.NetworkController.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                  RSAT: Network Controller Management Tools
Rsat.NetworkLoadBalancing.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0               RSAT: Network Load Balancing Tools
Rsat.RemoteAccess.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0            RSAT: Remote Access Management Tools
Rsat.RemoteDesktop.Services.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0             RSAT: Remote Desktop Services Tools
Rsat.ServerManager.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                      RSAT: Server Manager
Rsat.Shielded.VM.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                        RSAT: Shielded VM Tools
Rsat.StorageMigrationService.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0 RSAT: Storage Migration Service Management Tools
Rsat.StorageReplica.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                     RSAT: Storage Replica Module for Windows PowerShell
Rsat.SystemInsights.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0          RSAT: System Insights Module for Windows PowerShell
Rsat.VolumeActivation.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                   RSAT: Volume Activation Tools
Rsat.WSUS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0                               RSAT: Windows Server Update Services Tools

How to Install RSAT Using the GUI

If you prefer to use the GUI to install RSAT on Windows 10 this is also possible. Use the following four steps:

1. Hit the Windows button and type “features”. Then select the Apps & Features option:

Apps and Features
2. From the Apps & Features menu select Optional Features:

3. Select Add a Feature:

Apps and Features 3

4. Type RSAT and select the RSAT tool(s) you wish to install:

Apps and Features

Install RSAT on Windows 10 Version 1709 and Earlier

To install RSAT tools on Windows 10 version 1709 and earlier you need to download and run the installer from Microsoft.

Install RSAT on Windows 8.1

If you’re running Windows 8.1 you need to download and run the RSAT tools for Windows 8.1 installer from Microsoft.