Remote Management

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I was watching the 3 videos in server 2016 remote management and I saw how to remotely manage a server in your domain, I also saw the process of remotely managing a server that is in a workgroup using Trusted Hosts. But I want to use Server manager to manage a server from a different domain that is NOT part of my Forest, how can I add that server to my Windows 10 desktop.
I have two forests
Upland Forest, Domain Upland.com 1 dc
Moose Forest, Moose.com 1 dc and 5 servers
One windows 10 desktop part of Upland.com

How can I manage my Moose.com servers without setting up a forest trust or domain trust. Can I use trusted Hosts, if so what would be the steps I would need to do so I can control all servers from my Windows 10 workstation on the Upland/Domain/Forest?

I just want to add servers that are not workgroup servers or servers that are not members of my current domain, without setting up a bunch of trusts, but using Trusted Hosts does not sound bad.

Thanks Jim

Hey Jim,

You can accomplish your goal a couple of ways. Setting up trust(s) ant the forest or domain level would be one option. But if you want to use the trusted hosts file, that will work as well. Lets use PowerShell.

First, query the trusted hosts file to see whats there currently:
PS C:>Get-Item WSMan:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts

Then to add an entry:
PS C:>Set-Item WSMan:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts -Value "machineA,machineB"

Remember, each time you write to this file, it replaces rather than appends. So if you then run this command...
PS C:>Set-Item WSMan:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts -Value "machineC"
...only machine C will be listed in the trusted hosts file.

So to make it append to the file, do this:
PS C:> $current=(get-item WSMan:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts).value
PS C:> $current+=",machineC"
PS C:> set-item WSMan:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts –value $current

This will add machineC to the file, rather than replace machineA and machineB with machineC. Make note of the comma before the name of the machine we are adding. Without it, you would end up with "machineA,machineBmachineC", which wouldn't work well ;)

You can also use the asterisk as a wildcard character. To add all machines from a domain:
PS C:>Set-Item WSMan:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts -Value "*.upland.com"

There are obviously some security concerns with that last command, but in a test/practice environment, should be fine :)

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions,

Mike

@Mike-Rodrick Thanks Mike, I like the last option to add all servers from my Upland.com domain. I am resetting up my lab right now on my two test servers and I will try out this last option and everything made sense from watching your 3 remote management videos. A lot of times people say you can remotely manage servers but you took the time to show each and every step where that is missing from other training video... GOOD JOB!

I am looking forward to continue watching the 2016 server series and know there is new shows coming up next week.

See you there and thanks again for the ideas.

Jim Holloway