What is WinRM and Remote Desktop?
In addition to using RSAT to perform remote server management, you can also use WinRM and Remote Desktop.
WinRM does not use the local GUI
With Windows Remote Management (WinRM), you can use Remote Shell, remote Windows PowerShell, and other management tools and consoles to manage a server. With this method the graphical shell of the remote machine is not accessed. WinRM is enabled by default in Windows Server 2012.
You can check the WinRM status in Server Manager. Alternatively, you can use a command line or Windows PowerShell, by typing the command winrm id followed by winrm get winrm/config . If either returns an error or no output, winrm is not enabled. You can enable WinRM by typing winrm qc.
Remote Desktop does use the local GUI
Remote Desktop is the traditional method by which systems administrators remotely connect to the servers they manage. Remote Desktop connects to the remote machine then uses the local GUI to configure the computer. In Windows Server 2012, Remote Desktop is not enabled by default.
