Microsoft Provides Sysadmins With Remote Troubleshooting Option

By Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
Article Date: 2011-04-07

System administrators who are tired of taking a walk - or a drive - every time someone has a problem should let out a cheer. A new beta version of Microsoft's Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) is available, and it introduces a remote troubleshooting option.

Niamh Coleman, a member of the Windows Product Management Team, explained this week on the Windows for your Business Blog, "Until now IT professionals had to physically visit a user's PC when there were issues that caused Windows not to boot. This new version allows IT pros to use the DaRT features to both diagnose and repair that PC without having to physically be there."

Coleman later continued, "With DaRT 7's remote recovery features, the help desk can have the end user boot into DaRT and enable the help desk to remote control the PC. The help desk person can then perform this initial diagnostic work and either repair the problem right away for the user or escalate the issue as needed to another team."

That should spare system administrators quite a few hassles over time. Then one other improvement that's been introduced - the ability to load DaRT to a USB drive rather than a CD or DVD - also promises to help make life a little simpler.

Microsoft's interested in receiving feedback if you have an opinion about these changes. Then perhaps it'll incorporate everyone's opinions into the final product, making DaRT better still.

Anyway, here's hoping system administrators get to enjoy less time spent running and/or driving around.

About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.