We will cover the following aspects of Remote Web Access (RWA) on Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials in this blog: To configure RWA, open the HOME tab on the Windows Server Essentials Dashboard . On the Get Started page, click Set up Anywhere Access , and then click Click to configure Anywhere Access. This will open Set up Anywhere Access wizard.
Full Answer
How do I set up anywhere access on Windows Server 2012 Essentials?
Close the Web browser. Once the router is configured, open the Windows Server 2012 Essentials , click Set up Anywhere Access. The Windows Server 2012 Essentials wizard will attempt to find and configure the remote access settings on your router.
How do I install remote access in Windows Server 2012?
In today's article you will learn how to install Remote Access in Windows Server 2012. First login to your Windows Server 2012 as an Administrator, when your login is completed Server Manager will be opened automatically, if it doesn't open then you must open it manually.
How to manage remote web access in Windows Server Essentials?
Manage Remote Web Access in Windows Server Essentials 1 Turn on and configure Remote Web Access. When you are away from your office, you can open a web browser and access Remote Web Access from anywhere that has Internet ... 2 Set up your router. ... 3 Customize Remote Web Access. ... 4 Troubleshoot Remote Web Access
What is Windows Server 2012 Server Essentials?
A Windows 2012 Server Essentials: provides file sharing and remote access. This article assumes you have a basic understanding of small business networking. If the terms ping, static IP address, DHCP, firewall ports, and UPnP are a foreign language for you, consider having a friend or consultant help you set up your network.
How do I remotely access a Windows 2012 server?
Please refer to the following steps to create Remote Desktop User in Windows 2012 R2.Login to your server Windows 2012 R2 with administrator privileges.Click on Administrative tools >> Computer Management.Select Local Users and Groups. Right-Click on Users and select New User.Create a new RDP user.
How do I setup a remote access server?
On the Remote Access server, open the Remote Access Management console: On the Start screen, type, type Remote Access Management Console, and then press ENTER. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Yes.
Can Windows Server 2012 Essentials be a domain controller?
In addition, you can choose if you want to deploy Windows Server Essentials as a domain controller. This option is only available if you deploy the Windows Server Essentials Experience role in Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard or Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter.
How do I connect to a Windows server from anywhere?
On the Anywhere Access tab, do the following: To allow a user to connect to the server by using VPN, select the Allow Virtual Private Network (VPN) check box. To allow a user to connect to the server by using Remote Web Access, select the Allow Remote Web Access and access to web services applications check box.
How do I access a remote server using IP address?
Remote Desktop to Your Server From a Local Windows ComputerClick the Start button.Click Run...Type “mstsc” and press the Enter key.Next to Computer: type in the IP address of your server.Click Connect.If all goes well, you will see the Windows login prompt.
How do I connect to an IP address?
Setting the IP address on your PC or mobile computerClick Start >Settings >Control Panel.On the control panel, double-click Network Connections.Right-click Local Area Connection.Click Properties. ... Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.Select Use the Following IP Address.More items...
Can Windows Server Essentials join a domain?
To join Windows Server Essentials to a workgroup or domain In Computer Name, in the Domain section, click Change. In Computer Name/Domain Changes, in the Member section, choose if you want to join the server running Windows Server Essentials to a Workgroup or to a Domain.
How do I configure Windows Server Essentials?
Log on to your server as a local administrator. Open Server Manager, and then click Add Roles and Features. In Select server roles, select the Windows Server Essentials Experience role. In the dialog box, click Add Features, and then click Next.
What is Windows Server 2012 Essentials?
Description. Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials is a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices.
How can I access a server from outside the network?
Use a VPN. If you connect to your local area network by using a virtual private network (VPN), you don't have to open your PC to the public internet. Instead, when you connect to the VPN, your RD client acts like it's part of the same network and be able to access your PC.
What is Anywhere Access server 2012?
When you turn on the Anywhere Access functionalities, Remote Web Access, virtual private network, and DirectAccess in Windows Server Essentials, or in Windows Server 2012 R2 with the Windows Server Essentials Experience role installed, they enable your network users to access server resources from any location with an ...
Why can't I remote into another computer?
Go to the Start menu and type “Allow Remote Desktop Connections.” Look for an option called “Change settings to allow remote connections to this computer.” Click on the “Show settings” link right next to it. Check the “Allow Remote Assistance Connections to this Computer.” Click Apply and OK.
What is the purpose of a remote access server?
A remote access server (RAS) is a type of server that provides a suite of services to remotely connected users over a network or the Internet. It operates as a remote gateway or central server that connects remote users with an organization's internal local area network (LAN).
What is the difference between local server and remote server?
A local server is located in the same machine as the one who made the request. A remote server is another machine that can receive and respond to exterior requests.
How can I access a server from outside the network?
Use a VPN. If you connect to your local area network by using a virtual private network (VPN), you don't have to open your PC to the public internet. Instead, when you connect to the VPN, your RD client acts like it's part of the same network and be able to access your PC.
Turn on and Configure Remote Web Access
The following topics will help you turn on and configure Remote Web Access: 1. Remote Web Access overview 2. Turn on Remote Web Access 3. Change yo...
Customize Remote Web Access
You can customize your Remote Web Access site by adding a personal logo or background image. You can also add links on the Home page so that this i...
Troubleshoot Remote Web Access
1. Troubleshoot Remote Web Access connectivity 2. Troubleshoot your firewall 3. Troubleshoot Anywhere Access
Use Remote Web Access in Windows Server Essentials
Remote Web Access helps you stay connected to your Windows Server Essentials network when you are away. For more information, see the topic Use Rem...
Use VPN to Connect to Windows Server Essentials
If you have a client computer that is set up with network accounts that can be used to connect to a hosted server running Windows Server Essentials...
Use The My Server App to Connect to Windows Server Essentials
The My Server app lets you connect to resources and perform light administrative tasks on your Windows Server Essentials server from your Windows-b...
Use The My Server App For Windows Phone
The My Server Windows app for Windows Phone (for Windows Server 2012) and the My Server 2012 R2 app for Windows Phone (for Windows Server Essential...
Use Microsoft Office 365 With Windows Server Essentials
Office 365 is an easy-to-use set of web-enabled tools that let you access your email, important documents, contacts, and calendar from almost anywh...
How to manage remote access?
To manage Remote Web Access permissions for a user account. Log on to the Dashboard, and then click Users. Click the user account that you want to manage, and then click View the account properties in the Tasks pane. In the Properties dialog box, click the Anywhere Access tab.
How to grant access to desktop remotely?
On the navigation bar, click USERS. In the list of user accounts, select the user account that you want to grant permissions to access the desktop remotely. In the <User Account> Tasks pane, click Properties. In <User Account> Properties, click the Anywhere Access tab.
How to change region on Windows Server Essentials?
On a computer that is connected to Windows Server Essentials, open the Dashboard. Click Settings. On the General tab, click the drop-down list in the Country/Region location of server section. From the drop-down list, select the new region, and then click Apply to accept the new region setting.
Why is Windows Server Essentials needed?
Windows Server Essentials uses a security certificate to help secure the information that is exchanged between the software and a web browser. When you install the Connector software on your computers, the security certificate for Windows Server Essentials is added to the trusted certificate list on your computers.
How to allow a user to connect to a server?
To allow a user to connect to the server by using VPN, select the Allow Virtual Private Network (VPN) check box. To allow a user to connect to the server by using Remote Web Access, select the Allow Remote Web Access and access to web services applications check box. Click Apply, and then click OK.
What is remote web access?
In Remote Web Access, you can: Access shared files and folders on the server. Access your server and computers on the network. This means that you can access the desktop of a networked computer as if you were sitting in front of it at your office. Remote Web Access is not turned on by default.
How to customize remote web access?
You can customize Remote Web Access by changing the title of the website, changing the background image and logo, and adding links to other websites on the home page.
How to use VPN on Windows Server Essentials?
To use VPN to remotely access server resources. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on the client computer. Click Switch User on the logon screen. Click the network logon icon on the bottom right corner of the screen. Log on to the Windows Server Essentials network by using your network user name and password.
What is remote web access?
Remote Web Access helps you stay connected to your Windows Server Essentials network when you are away. For more information, see the topic Use Remote Web Access.
What ports does a router need to forward to the IP address of Server 2012?
Port. HTTPS web traffic. TCP 443.
How to manually configure a router?
To manually configure your router. Open your Web browser, and then connect to the configuration Web page for your router. Usually the Web page is at the IP address of your router. If necessary, type your user name and password to log on to the configuration Web page.
What is the default IP address for Linksys router?
Open the Web browser on your computer and enter the address for the Linksys router in the address field. The default IP address is 192.168.1.1.
Does Windows 2012 Server Essentials support UPNP?
Check your product documentation for UPnP support. If UPnP is supported, Windows 2012 Server Essentials may be able to automatically configure your broadband router. If your router supports UPnP, ensure that UPnP is enabled. Open your Web browser, and then connect to the configuration Web page for your router.
Does Firebox X20E support UPnP?
The Firebox X20e broadband router does not support UPnP.
Is the Windows Home Server wiki original?
Please note: This wiki was original built for Windows Home Server (original version) original by Microsoft documentation team and has been copied over the years to help with the newer versions. If you can help with newer images, I'd appreciate it.
Does Netgear RP614v4 support UPNP?
The Netgear RP614v4 broadband router supports UPnP – a standard that simplifies router setup. If you enable UPnP in the Netgear RP614v4, Windows Server 2012 Essentials may be able to automatically configure your remote access settings.
Deployment options
Windows Server Essentials will be packaged as a server role in Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Datacenter editions, enabling organizations to benefit from WSE’s unique features and to join an existing Active Directory domain for better manageability.
Hyper-V
Hyper-V is now part of WSE, and licensing has been changed to allow companies to run one instance of WSE as the Hyper-V host and another instance running in a guest virtual machine. Microsoft has also included a wizard to make virtualizing WSE as easy as possible for those without previous Hyper-V experience.
Secure remote access
Remote Web Access has been redesigned in WSE R2, and the touch-enabled user interface resembles the Windows 8 Modern GUI (formerly Metro). Microsoft has updated the Remote Web Access SDK to give companies greater control, more customization, add-ins, and a better shared folder feature.
Windows Phone
There’s a new Windows Phone app for the Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 phones that provides much of the shared folder access capabilities of Remote Web Access, so that users can access files on the server and run search queries. The new app caches opened files locally and synchronizes them back to the server automatically when a connection is detected.
Virtual Private Networking
Configuring a Virtual Private Network ( VPN) is a wizard-driven process in Windows Server Essentials 2012 R2, providing easy management of VPN access for users. Client computers can be added to WSE 2012 R2 across a VPN connection, so they don’t need to be in the office.
How to install Virtual Private Network on Server 2012 R2?
Virtual Private Network can be straightforwardly installed and configured on a Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials by running the Set up Anywhere Access wizard and selecting Virtual Private Network (VPN) option on the following screen.
Why is RRAS hidden on server?
Note: Server Essentials automatically manages the routing for VPN, and therefore Routing and Remote Access (RRAS) UI is hidden on the server to prevent tampering of RRAS settings. As a result, to view, change or troubleshoot the Remote Access settings, you need to install Remote Access GUI and Command-Line Tools using Server Manager or the following PowerShell command:
How to check VPN settings?
To check the default settings for the VPN, open Routing and Remote Access Manager. Right click server name , and select Properties .
Can you enable anywhere access in Windows Server Essentials?
You can also enable these roles/features from the Server Manager or PowerShell command-lets, however on Windows Server Essentials we recommend enabling it using the Set up Anywhere Access wizard.
How to configure RWA?
To configure RWA, open the HOME tab on the Windows Server Essentials Dashboard. On the Get Started page, click Set up Anywhere Access, and then click Click to configure Anywhere Access.
How to configure anywhere access?
Once the Anywhere Access Wizard has been completed, open the HOME tab on the Windows Server Essentials Dashboard. On the Get Started page, click Set up Anywhere Access, and then click Click to configure Anywhere Access. This will open the Settings page of Anywhere Access. Please note that once we have configured RWA, you can view the status of Anywhere Access at the top of this window, along with Configure and Repair options.
Is Remote Web Access a stress free procedure?
To sum up, configuration and customization of Remote Web Access on Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials is a stress-free procedure, and the result is a clutter free RWA user interface: