Microsoft Management Console

MMC is a console environment to host snap-in modules that provide management functionality. Most management and administration functions in Windows are accomplished with an MMC snap-in. Important consoles that use MMC are

• Computer Management Console
• Active Directory Users and Computers
• Domain Security Policy Console
• Performance Console for System Monitor

A set of snap-ins form an administrative console that is configured in a file with an extension of .MSC (Microsoft Saved Console). For example, typing DSA.MSC from the command line will start the Active Directory Users and Computers console.

The following console shows how MMC can host documentation from Microsoft's Knowledgebase along with System Monitor which is actively reporting on operations on the server.

Keyboard Exercise

Run MMC and add the Link to Web Address snap-in and the ActiveX control, System Monitor. Use the New Window from Here Action to create two child windows within MMC as in the above screen image.