Tool: VMRCPlus

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A tool Microsoft uses internally since some years, VMRCPlus, has been finally released online for general public by its creator Matthijs ten Seldam.

VMRCPlus is definitively interesting, extending and replacing Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 web console capabilities in many aspects:

  • Direct control of local or remote instances of the Virtual Server service
  • Tabbed interface to quickly jump between Virtual Server hosts and guest VMRC sessions
  • Reusable saved states: this feature allows users to preserve a particular saved state and return to that state at any time
  • Multiple guest selection supported for startup/shutdown/save/display
  • Browse button navigation for media, hard disk images, ISO images, .VMC files, etc.
  • Drag and Drop support for .VMC files, ISOs images, VHD and VFD files
  • Resizable desktop support for guests running Virtual Machine Additions (maximize VMRC window supported)
  • Limited cut and paste of text from host to guest (only)
  • A built-in utility to take JPG screenshots of running guests. Useful when filing bugs
  • Built-in error notification with Virtual Server eventlog viewer
  • A Virtual Networks Manager and Virtual Disks Manager that cover all features
  • Keyboard shortcuts (e.g. Ctrl-S to save state a guest)
  • Create multiple guests at once
  • Create guest from parent (or multiple guests)
  • Automatic reconnect to a designated Virtual Server host
  • Toolbars in both Guest and Console Manager for quick access
  • Unlimited number of guests
  • Maximum of 32 Virtual Server hosts
  • Sorting on columns of guests so you can sort based on status and multi-select
  • Automatic detection of Virtual Machine Additions and notification
  • Detection of Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1

The tool doesn’t require official web console at all, so Microsoft customers could install Virtual Server without it (even on upcoming Windows Server 2008 Server Core edition) and use VMRCPlus to complete every administrative task.

Despite Matthijs is not a Microsoft employee, VMRCPlus has been announced by a Microsoft employee, Keith Combs, and is distributed through Microsoft Download facility (on the other side nor Matthijs neither Microsoft will provide support for it).

Download it here.