Remote Web Access provides a streamlined, touch-friendly browser experience for accessing applications and data from virtually anywhere that you have an Internet connection and by using almost any device.When you are away from your office, you can open a web browser and access Remote Web Access from anywhere that has Internet access.
Remote Web Access is turned off by default. To use the Remote Web Access functionality, you can turn it on using theSet Up Anywhere Access Wizard, and then set up your router and domain name. You can follow the detailed steps below to achieve that:
1. Start Set up Anywhere Access wizard
When install and configure Windows Server Essentials Experience role, please open Windows Server Essentials Dashboard, clickHOME tab and select Get Started, then navigate toSet up Anywhere Access option and select “Click to configure Anywhere Access” to start Set up Anywhere Access wizard.
Figure 1.
Or you can directly click “Settings” when open Dashboard. When Settings panel appeared, navigate to Anywhere Access tab and click “Configure…” button to start Set up Anywhere Access wizard. (Figure 2.)
Figure 2.
2. Set up the server’s router.
When startingSet up Anywhere Access wizard, you will find an option “Skip router setup. I want to set up my router manually.”
Figure 3.
If UPnP is supported and enabled in your router, Windows 2012 Server R2 Essentials may be able to automatically configure your router when complete this Set up wizard.
If the router does not support the UPnP, you must manually configure the router to forward the following ports to the IP address of the Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials server:
Service or Protocol Port
HTTPS web traffic TCP 443
For more details of Router configuration, please refer to following article and check if can help you.
Windows Server 2012 Essentials: Router Setup
In process of mySet up Anywhere Access, I checked “Skip router setup. I want to set up my router manually.” Option and then click “Next” and “Next” on the next page. (Figure 4)
Figure 4.
3. Set up domain name
In the Set Up Your Domain Name page, you can use an existing domain name or set up a new domain name.
Figure 5.
(a) Using an existing domain name.
If you use this option “I want to use a domain name I already own”, please type the domain name you already own and click “Next”.
Figure 6.
Then it will check your domain name.
Figure 7.
Then, there will have two options to configure your domain name.
Figure 8.
When selecting the option “Set up my domain name automatically”, you can choose a domain name service provider that supports the domain name extension that you want to use. The Set Up Your Domain Name Wizard includes a list of qualified providers that you can use with a link to each provider’s website.
Figure 9.
For more details, please refer to following section.
Choose a domain name service provider
When selecting “Set up my domain name manually”, it is necessary to import a trusted SSL certificate to work with your domain name service provider to create an “A Record” for your domain. In addition, you can also use a static IP address or purchase a Dynamic DNS Update Service for a dynamic IP address.
(Note: If you choose this option, the server does not monitor or maintain your domain name, and it does not alert you if there is a configuration issue.)
For more details, please refer to following article.
When finish manually configuring your domain name, please check “I have manually configured my domain name” and click “Next”.
Figure 10.
On the Set up a trusted SSL certificate page, you can click “Change…” button to change domain name prefix. It is recommended that you use the default remote as the prefix for your domain name.
Figure 11.
Figure 12.
In addition, for importing the trusted SSL certificate, you can purchase a trusted SSL certificate for the domain name or use an existing SSL certificate.
(I) If you choose the option “I want to purchase a trusted SSL certificate for the domain name”, you can generate a certificate request. Please copy the encoded data and paste it into the space provided on the request page of certificate service provider’s website. (Figure 13)
Figure 13.
Then when you get encoded text or download that certificate, please import it via theSet Up Your Domain Name wizard.
Figure 14.
Figure 15.
When domain name is set up on your server, you will be able to continue configuring Anywhere Access.
Figure 16.
(II) When you select “I want to use an existing SSL certificate”, you can import a Personal Information Exchange (PFX) certificate. Then click “Next”.
Figure 17.
Figure 18.
(b) Setting up a new domain name
If you choose the option “I want to set up a new domain name” to set up a new domain name and click “Next”, then you can select a kind of domain name. If need advanced features (such as e-mail), you can purchase a new domain name from a Windows Server Essentials supported domain name service provider. If don’t need any advanced features, you can get a personalized domain name from Microsoft via Live ID.
Figure 19.
Figure 20.
(I) Purchase professional domain name from a supported provider
Figure 21.
If use this option, then you can select a domain name service provider.
Figure 22.
Please type the domain name that you want to use. Meanwhile, you can also choose the extension.
Figure 23.
Then you can register and purchase the domain name. After register the domain name, please click “Next”.
Figure 24.
Please type the user name and password that registered with domain name service provider, then continue configuring.
Figure 25.
(II) Get a personalized domain name from Microsoft.
Figure 26.
If select this option, you can sign in with your Microsoft Account.
Figure 27.
Then you can create a new domain name or choose a registered name.
Figure 28.
If choose “Create a new domain name”, please type a name which describes your organization or website and click “Check availability”, Then click “Set up” button to register the domain name.
Figure 29.
Figure 30.
If you select “Choose a registered name”, after you type the domain name, it will register your domain name.
Figure 31.
Figure 32.
After you set up domain name correctly and click “Next”, you will be able to choose Anywhere Access features to enable.
3. Set up Anywhere Access
We select “Remote Web Access” to enable.
Figure 33.
On the next page, you will have an option which help you to simply Allow/Deny Anywhere Access for current and newly added user and user group accounts.
Figure 34.
Continue to click ”Next”, it will set up Anywhere Access automatically via the wizard.
Figure 35.
By the way, if want to control Anywhere Access permission for user or user group account after configured Anywhere Access successfully, please open Dashboard, clickUSERS tab and navigate to those users and open account properties. InProperties for user panel, please select Anywhere Access tab, then you will be able to configure Anywhere Access permission.
Figure 36.
In addition, for more details of Remote Web Access in Windows Server Essentials, please refer to following TechNet article.
Manage Remote Web Access in Windows Server Essentials
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