Browser-based management for Windows Server. Besides registering servers with Azure, its extensions can configure Azure Extended Network, Azure Network Adapter and Azure Backup (using MARS).
Also called WAC, WAC.
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Terms in this definition
- Azure Extended Network
Windows Admin Center feature letting migrated VMs keep their IP addresses by stretching an on-premises subnet into Azure; two appliance VMs carry a VXLAN tunnel between them, and up to 250 addresses can be extended.
- Azure Network Adapter
Windows Admin Center option for linking a single Windows Server to a VNet by point-to-site VPN. If the VNet has no VPN gateway it creates one, taking about 25 minutes, and no VPN hardware is needed on premises.
- Azure Backup
Azure's backup service, which keeps recovery points, long-term retention included, in a Recovery Services vault. It restores data rather than failing workloads over, which is the job of Site Recovery.
- Microsoft Azure Recovery Services agent
Usually installed on on-premises Windows machines, the MARS agent sends their files, folders and system state directly into a Recovery Services vault.
Related terms
- Gateway administrators
A Windows Admin Center role whose holders can, in addition, alter who can use the gateway and how it is configured.
- Gateway users
A Windows Admin Center role for people who manage servers via the gateway, limited to the servers where they already hold rights.
- OSConfig
Applies role-specific security baselines in Windows Server 2025 via Azure Policy, Windows Admin Center or PowerShell, putting settings back automatically if they drift.
- Packet Monitor
A built-in network troubleshooting tool, available as pktmon.exe and as a Windows Admin Center extension, that captures packets, spots drops, and filters and counts traffic throughout the networking stack.
- Windows Admin Center Administrator Login
A built-in Azure role allowing someone to open Windows Admin Center in the Azure portal and connect through it to an Azure VM or Arc-enabled server.