Error message in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows 7 when you try to connect to a remote server: "Server Manager cannot connect to <server_name>"

You install a full installation of Windows Server 2008 R2. When you use Server Manager (Servermanager.msc) to connect to a remote server that is running Windows Server 2008 R2, you receive the following error message: Additionally, when you click See Details, you receive either of the following error messages:

• If you tried to connect to a remote server that is running a Full Installation of Windows Server 2008 R2, you receive the following error message:
  Connecting to remote server failed with the following error message: The WinRm client cannot complete the operation within the time specified. Check if the machine name is valid and is reachable over the network and firewall exception for Windows Remote Management service is enabled.
• If you tried to connect to a remote server that is running a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2, you receive the following error message:
  Connecting to remote server failed with the following error message: The WS-Management service cannot process the request. The resource URI ...://schemas.microsoft.com/powershell/Microsoft.ServerM... was not found in the WS-Management catalog. The catalog contains the metadata that describes resources, or logical endpoints.

Note This problem also occurs when you run the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7.

This problem occurs when the remote computer is not configured to enable remote Server Manager connections.

To resolve this problem, the remote computer must be configured to allow for remote Server Manager connections. To do this, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for your situation.

For a remote server that is running a Full Installation of Windows Server 2008 R2

Method 1

1. Log on as an administrator to the remote server by using the console or by using Remote Desktop Services.
2. Start Server Manager.
3. On the Server Summary page, click Configure Server Manager Remote Management.
4. Click Enable remote management of this server from other computers, and then click OK.
5. Connect to the remote server by using Server Manager.
   
   Note You do not have to restart the remote server.

Method 2

1. Log on as an administrator to the remote server by using the console or by using Remote Desktop Services.
2. Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
3. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   winrm quickconfig
4. Connect to the remote server by using Server Manager.
   
   Note You do not have to restart the remote server.

For a remote server that is running a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2

Method 1

1. Log on as an administrator to the remote server by using the console or by using Remote Desktop Services.
2. Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
3. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   sconfig
4. At the command prompt, type 4 to select the Configure Remote Management option, and then press ENTER.
5. At the command prompt, type 3 to select the Allow Server Manager Remote Management option, and then press ENTER.
   
   Note If you have not already installed PowerShell, you are prompted to do this. Type 2 to select the option to install PowerShell. Click OK when you are prompted that the installation of PowerShell is finished. Additionally, you must restart the server before you complete step 5.
6. Connect to the remote server by using Server Manager.
   
   Note You do not have to restart the remote server unless you have to install PowerShell before you complete step 5.

Method 2

1. Log on as an administrator to the remote server by using the console or by using Remote Desktop Services.
2. Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
3. At the command prompt, type the following commands, and then press ENTER after each command:
   DISM.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:MicrosoftWindowsPowerShell
   
   DISM.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:ServerManager-PSH-Cmdlets
   
   DISM.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:BestPractices-PSH-Cmdlets
   Note The DISM feature name arguments are case-sensitive.
4. Restart the server.
5. Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
6. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   powershell.exe
7. At the command prompt, type the following commands to enable PowerShell script execution, and then press ENTER after each command:
   get-executionpolicy
   
   set-executionpolicy unrestricted
   Note Record the value of set-executionpolicy so that you can set it back to this value in step 9. By default, the value is "Restricted."
8. At the command prompt, type the following PSH script command, and then press ENTER:
   configure-SMremoting.ps1 -force -enable
9. At the command prompt, type the following command to set the script execution policy back to the level that you noted in step 7, and then press ENTER:
   set-executionpolicy <value that you noted in step 7>
10. Connect to the remote server by using Server Manager.
    
    Note You do not have to restart the remote server.

For more information about the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7, visit the following Microsoft Download Center Web site: For more information about Remote Management with Server Manager, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site: