RSAT Tools Built-In

by May 30, 2019

The Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) used to be an external download that added two important PowerShell modules: ActiveDirectory and GroupPolicy. Unfortunately, major Windows updates removed installed RSAT tools so if your scripts require Active Directory cmdlets on your client, you were forced to manually identify and download the appropriate RSAT package for your new Windows 10 and install it manually.

This is somewhat easier now on Windows 10 Build 1809 and beyond. You can control RSAT status via PowerShell like this (provided you have Administrator privileges):

 
PS> Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name *RSAT.ActiveDirectory*


Name         : Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
State        : NotPresent
DisplayName  : RSAT: Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools
Description  : Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) Tools include snap-ins and command-line tools for remotely managing AD DS and AD LDS on Windows Server.
DownloadSize : 5230337
InstallSize  : 17043386
 

To install RSAT, run this:

 
PS> Get-WindowsCapability -Online -Name *RSAT.ActiveDirectory* |
    Add-WindowsCapability -Online 


Path          : 
Online        : True
RestartNeeded : False




PS> Get-Module -Name ActiveDirectory -ListAvailable


    Directory: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules


ModuleType Version    Name                                ExportedCommands                                                                                               
---------- -------    ----                                ----------------                                                                                               
Manifest   1.0.1.0    ActiveDirectory                     {Add-...
 

While you still have to download the RSAT package in some cases, you don’t have to search for the correct version and build manually any longer.


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