Updated: July 16, 2020 (January 30, 2017)

Management Backported to Older Windows

Wes Miller analyzes and writes about Microsoft’s security, identity management, and systems management technologies. Before joining Directions on Microsoft, Wes... more

Windows Management Framework (WMF) 5.1, which is built into the latest versions of Windows, became available for download in Jan. 2017 for older versions of Windows Server and the Windows desktop OS. WMF, and particularly PowerShell, enables organizations to use scripts to automate and standardize management procedures for Windows servers and desktops. Organizations may want to update older systems to WMF 5.1 to enable new management functionality, fix issues, and standardize the PowerShell scripts across systems.

Retrofitting and New Features

WMF 5.1 upgrades Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 to the PowerShell and supporting management components that were released with Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607). It includes new features such as the following:

New cmdlets for managing local users and groups on an endpoint, which helps with provisioning and maintenance of systems
Enhanced security

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