Sequencing Microsoft Management Console - Recipe

If you virtualize the Windows Server Admin Pack or the Group Policy Management Console or WSUS console, etc and you want to create a customized management console with those tools you won't be able to because the MMC doesn't know of the existence of them.

So let's virtualize it. With the virtual version you can add both local and virtual snap-ins.

I'm going to use Sequencer 4.6 SP1 in a Windows SP3.

Launch Sequencer and select Create a New Virtual Application Package.

Select Create a Package (default) and click Next.

You should get the screen below with no errors or warnings. Click Next.

Select Standard Application (default) and click Next.

 

Select Perform a custom installation and Click Next.

Give the package a name and click Next.

Then tick I am finished installing and click Next.

You will get an empty box because we have not added any applications so far. Click Next. Next again.

Now select Customize. Further configure the virtual application package and click Next.

Click on Add, browse to C:\Windows\System32 and select mmc.exe and click on Add.

Now expand the Microsoft Management, right click File Type Association and click on Add File Type Association.

In the Extension type msc, choose an icon of your preference, type a file type description, select system as the perceived type, untick Confirm open after download and click on Add and then on Next.

Click on Run all. Close the mmc and click on Next.

Select you preference and click on Next.

Click on Create.

Now to enable the connection between the Management Console and the snap-ins, add the <CODEBASE> tag of the OSD snap-ins to the Management Console OSD between the <DEPENDENCIES> tag as below.