How To Install RSAT Tools on Windows [Step-by-Step Guide]

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Updated July 3, 2024
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This tutorial is a step-by-step guide to understanding methods on how to install RSAT on Windows 10 and how to install Remote Server Administration Tools:

If you wish to manage Windows Server from within Windows 10, you are going to need to make use of Microsoft’s Remote Server Administration Tools. RSAT is an acronym that stands for Remote Server Administration Tools. It refers to a collection of the various programs and services that are required to operate Windows Server.

You can remotely manage the duties of Windows Server hosts and the capabilities they offer by utilizing desktop computers and the Remote Administrator Tools (RSAT) version of Windows 10. The RSAT package includes graphical MMC snap-ins in addition to command-line tools and PowerShell modules.

Desktop computers running Windows 10 or Windows 11 as well as hosts running Windows Server are compatible with the RSAT installation protocol. This article will explain how to install RSAT on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2022/2019/2022 by utilizing Feature on Demand via the Windows Graphical User Interface (GUI) as well as the PowerShell interface.

Install RSAT – Guide

Install RSAT on Windows 10

In this article, we’ll show you how to install RSAT on Windows 10 or How to install Remote Server Administration Tools using a step-by-step guide.

Common RSAT Tools for Windows 10

The RSAT Tools offered by Windows 10 are listed in the table below.

NameShort NameDescription
Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Tools and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) ToolsRsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0Installs a selection of management tools for Active Directory Domain Services.
Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) ToolsRsat.CertificateServices.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0The Enterprise PKI, Certificate Templates, Certification Authority, and Online Responder Management snap-ins are all part of the AD CS Tools.
DHCP Server ToolsRsat.DHCP.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0The DHCP Management Console, the PowerShell Module for DHCP Server, and the Netsh command-line tool are all parts of the DHCP Server Tools package.
BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration UtilitiesRsat.BitLocker.Recovery.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0Installs the tools listed below: Manage-bde, BitLocker Windows PowerShell cmdlets, and Active Directory BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer
Failover Clustering ToolsRsat.failover cluster.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0Windows PowerShell cmdlets for managing Windows clusters, Failover Cluster Manager, MSClus, Cluster.exe, and Cluster-Aware cluster-aware management console update updating Windows PowerShell cmdlets
File Services ToolsRsat.FileServices.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0Installs the utilities listed below: File Server Resource Manager Tools, Distributed File System Tools, and Share and Storage Management Tools.
Server ManagerRsat.ServerManager.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0Sets up the Server Manager interface
Windows Server Update Services ToolsRsat.WSUS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0Installed tools include the PowerShell cmdlets, WSUS.msc, and the Windows Server Update Services snap-in.

RSAT Tools

A quick description of a couple of the RSAT tools is provided below.

#1) Failover Clustering Tools

Failover clustering tools include tools like failover cluster management, failover clusters, and cluster-aware update management console. With regard to their function, these tools support the management of failover clusters, a collection of independent servers that raises the availability of applications and services.

#2) File Services Tools

Storage management, backup and recovery tasks, shared folder management, file replication when required, UNIX computer access, and faster file searching are all made possible with the aid of file services tools.

Share and storage management tools, distributed file system tools, services for NFS administration tools, distributed file system tools, and file server resource management tools are examples of tools that come under this category.

#3) BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration Utilities

This group of tools makes it easier to control BitLocker Drive Encryption and retrieve any associated passwords. BitLocker-protected machines must be part of your domain, and all systems must have BitLocker Drive Encryption activated. Your domain should also be set up to hold BitLocker recovery data.

#4) DHCP Server Tools

DHCP server utilities include the Netsh command line tool, DHCP administration console, and DHCP server module cmdlet for Windows PowerShell. Together, these technologies assist DHCP servers in the creation and management of scopes as well as the maintenance of their properties. It also examines the current leases for each scope.

#5) Active Directory Domain Services Tools

Some of the tools in this category are the Active Directory Administration Center, Active Directory Domains and Trusts, ADSI Edit, and Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell. This category also includes programs like W32tm.exe, NSLookup.exe, DCDiag.exe, and RepAdmin.exe.

This utility can be used to manage Active Directory Domain Services on both domain controllers and non-domain controllers, as the name would imply.

#6) Group Policy Management Tools

These tools are used for group management duties like active directory user and computer management, editing group management object (GPO) policy settings, and predicting the impact of GPOs on the entire network. Tools like the group policy management console, group policy object editor, and group policy startup GPO editor are part of this group.

#7) Server for NIS Tools

This collection of tools is used to manage the NIS server and contains an addition to the active directory users and computers snap-in. These tools are used to set up the Server for NIS as a master or a subordinate for a certain NIS domain, as well as to start and stop the service.

#8) Network Load Balancing Tools

Network load balancing manager, NLB.exe, and WLBS.exe command-line tools are examples of network load balancing utilities. These tools assist with a variety of network load-balancing tasks, including creating and managing load-balancing clusters, managing traffic rule handling, and displaying details about the existing network load-balancing configuration.

#9) Active Directory Certificate Service Tools

This product comprises certificate templates, business PKI, certifying authority, and online responder administration capabilities, and it enables you to create and manage public key certificates.

#10) Best Practices Analyzer

This is a collection of cmdlets for Windows PowerShell that examines a role’s compliance with established best practices in eight distinct categories. These categories verify a role’s efficiency, trustworthiness, and dependability.

#11) System Prerequisites for RSAT

Important to keep in mind is that in order to successfully install Windows 10 RSAT, your machine must already be running Windows 10. On personal computers running Windows RT 8.1 or any other system-on-chip device, it is not feasible to install the remote server administration tool.

This is also true of any other system-on-chip device. The RSAT Windows 10 program is available to run on computers that are powered by either the x86 architecture or the x64 architecture of Windows 10.


ManageEngine ADManager Plus (Recommended)

ManageEngine ADManager Plus

ManageEngine ADManager Plus is one of the best solutions out there when it comes to seamlessly managing active directories, a core aspect of RSAT. This web-based AD management and reporting tool can streamline the day-to-day tasks that AD administrators and help-desk technicians are responsible for. 

You can count on ADManager Plus to handle a wide range of complex activities like AD backup and recovery. The tool especially stands out for its reporting capabilities. Generating AD reports of all kinds is easy for ADManager Plus. 

Features

  • Active Directory Management
  • Bulk User Management
  • Active Directory Cleanup 
  • Active Directory Group Management
  • 360 degree user provisioning. 

Price: Contact the ManageEngine team to get a quote. The license fee starts at $596/year. A free demo is also offered upon request.


Install RSAT with Windows 10 or 11: Instructions

Mentioned below are some techniques by which you can easily install RSAT on Windows 10:

Method #1: RSAT Tool Installation on Windows 11 Using DISM

Step #1: Open the command prompt as administrator on a PC running Windows 10. Execute the command below.

command to install rsat windows

This command displays a list of all capabilities along with a current or absent indicator.Set up the RSAT group policy management tool in this instance. In order to copy the capability identification, right-click.

capability identification

Step #2: Run the following command to install RSAT Group policy management tool on the same command prompt now.

DISM.exe /Online /add-capability /CapabilityName:Rsat.GroupPolicy.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0

install RSAT Group policy management tool

Method #2: RSAT Installation Through PowerShell in Windows 11

Step #1: Run a PowerShell search. Then choose Run as Administrator by selecting the right-click menu for Windows PowerShell.

powers - install rsat windows

Step #2: Type the following command in the PowerShell command prompt to list the RSAT features that are available. Then click “Enter.”

list the RSAT features

The outcome of the command is as follows:

output

Step #3: Use the command below to set up one of the RSAT features:

Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name “Rsat.RemoteDesktop.Services.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0”

operation

The outcome will appear as indicated below once the installation is complete. RestartNeeded to show True if you need to restart.

installation is complete

Method #3: RSAT installation through Optional Features

Step #1: To access the Start menu, click the Start icon. Then select Optional features.

optional features

Step #2: To add a feature, click Find the RSAT feature by scrolling down to the optional feature list. Click Install after selecting the RSAT feature you want to add.

installed features
install

Step #3: The status of each RSAT feature’s installation will be displayed once you click Install.

rsat

Once the tools are installed, you may find them in the Windows Administrative Tools folder under the Start menu.

RSAT Installation on Older Systems

RSAT functions are automatically included in Windows 10 Oct. 2018 Update and newer systems, but you must download and install the feature pack for earlier systems. The RSAT download URLs for Windows Vista, 7, and 8 have already been removed by Microsoft. However, it is still possible to obtain Windows 8.1 and earlier versions of Windows 10.

Download the correct version for your OS, launch the installer, and that’s all there is to install these RSAT packages. By default, all features are turned on. By navigating to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off, you can choose certain tools to turn off if you wish to.

Expand Remote Server Administration Tools in the Windows Features dialogue box before expanding to either Role Administration Tools or Feature Administration Tools. If there are any tools you want to disable, uncheck their checkboxes.

What is the Procedure for Installing Remote Server Administration Tools on Windows Server 2022

RSAT can be installed on Windows Server 2022, 2019, and 2016 using the Install-WindowsFeature PowerShell cmdlet.

Step #1: Open Windows Powershell.

powershell to install rsat windows

Step #2: Insert the following command in the PowerShell

Get-WindowsFeature| Where-Object {$_.name -like “*RSAT*”}| ft Name,Installstate

object

Step #3: Enter its name to install the chosen RSAT component. For instance

Install-Windows Feature RSAT-RDS-Licensing-Diagnosis-UI

Install RSAT on Windows 10 offline using FoD ISO Image

Step #1: To install RSAT go to settings then Click on Add an Optional Feature

Click on Add an Optional Feature

Step #2: Click Install after choosing the required RSAT components.

optional feature - install rsat windows

RSAT Tools Installation Error 0x800f0954 on Windows 10

When attempting to use the DISM command-line tool on a device running Windows 10 or Windows 11, an RSAT error 0x800f0954 occurs.

There are a number of possible causes for error 0x800f0954 to appear while using RSAT:

  1. If a machine that is part of a domain cannot connect to a Windows Update server on the network, the RSAT installation will fail with error code 0x800f0954. To fix this, you can avoid using WSUS altogether.
  2. If you’re encountering the problem 0x800f0954 while installing an older version of the.NET Framework, you can fix it by running the installation from a PowerShell window.
  3. Unable to install the function due to group policy: Error 0x800f0954 can occur while attempting to install an RSAT feature via the DISM tool, and the cause may be a Group Policy Object. By activating the policy to “Specify parameters for optional component installation and component repair,” the problem can be fixed.

How to Uninstall RSAT on Windows 10

The RSAT tools you no longer need can be removed by opening the Settings app in Windows 10, clicking on Manage optional features, and then erasing the relevant entries.

opt to install rsat windows

Common RSAT Installation Errors

The RSAT Tools offered by Windows 10 are listed in the table below.

ErrosDescriptionSolutin
0x8024402c, 0x80072f8f The inability of the computer to download the necessary files from Windows Update results in this error code.Windows is unable to download RSAT files from the Microsoft Update service. To install components, check your internet connection or use a local
0x800f081fWhen an alternate installation source is provided and one of the following circumstances exists, an error code may appear.
The files needed to install the feature are not present in the place indicated by the path.
Verify the directory path using the RSAT components listed in the -Source argument;
0x800f0950 It occurs while installation and occurs due to Group Policy preventing the feature installation Similar to error code 0x800f0954;
0x80070490The status code 0x80070490 indicates a damaged file or process in the Component-Based Servicing or System Component Store (CBS).Utilizing DISM, examine and fix your Windows image

Windows RSAT FAQs

On a Windows 10 PC, can I install Windows Admin Center?

Yes, Windows 10 (version 1709 or later), when used in desktop mode, can have Admin Tools Windows Center installed. Additionally, Windows Admin Center may be set up in gateway mode on a server running Windows Server 2016 or later and accessible from a Windows 10 PC using a web browser.

Is Windows Admin Center a total replacement for all in-box and RSAT tools that have been used in the past?

No. Windows Admin Center manages many typical scenarios but not all MMC functions. Read our documentation on managing servers for more on Windows Admin Center’s utilities. Windows Admin Center’s Server Manager features include:
Displaying resource use
Certificates
Device management
EVT
IE
Managing Firewalls
App management
Local user/group configuration
Settings
Process Viewing/Ending and Dumps
Regedit
Task management
Windows Service Management
Roles/features enabled/disabled
Virtual Switches and Hyper-V VMs
Storing
Replicating Storage
Update Windows
PS Console
Connecting remotely

Which version of RSAT can I install on Windows 10?

Windows 10 can be used to install RSAT and manage Windows Server 2019 and prior versions. Windows don’t allow installing several RSAT versions.
You can obtain the WS 1803 RSAT package or the WS2016 RSAT package from Microsoft’s website.

Which RSAT version should I use and when?

Earlier versions of Windows 10 cannot use Features on Demand. Installing RSAT is required.
– Install RSAT FODs from Windows 10, as described: Windows 10 October 2018 Update (1809) or later to manage Windows Server 2019 or earlier.
– Install WS 1803 RSAT as shown: Windows 10 April 2018 Update (1803) or earlier for managing Windows Server 1803 or 1709.
– Install WS2016 RSAT as shown: For Windows Server 2016 or earlier, install on Windows 10 April 2018 Update (1803) or before.

How do I use RSAT on my computer?

The RSAT tools you download include Server Manager, MMC, Consoles, Windows PowerShell cmdlets, and command-line tools.
You can handle roles and features on distant servers using cmdlet modules. You must enable Windows PowerShell remote management on your server. It’s enabled by default in Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2012 Run Enable-PSRemoting in an administrator-level Windows PowerShell session.

Conclusion

IT administrators can use RSAT to handle Windows Server roles and features remotely from a computer running Windows 10.

Server Manager, Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins and consoles, Windows PowerShell cmdlets and providers, and a few command-line tools are all included in Remote Server Administration Tools. These tools allow users to manage roles and features that are hosted on Windows Server.

Only machines that are currently running Windows 10 are capable of having Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 10 installed on them. It is not possible to install Remote Server Administration Tools on PCs that are running Windows RT 8.1 or on any other devices that use a system-on-chip architecture.

The x86-based and x64-based versions of Windows 10 are both compatible with the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 10 software package.

You should be possible for you to install RSAT on Windows 10 or Windows RSAT or install RSAT Tools on Windows 10 if you use one of the techniques described in this article.

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