You can’t run SQL Server Configuration Manager on a Windows Core server – no UI.
You can’t run SQL Server Configuration Manager on another server and direct it to point to your server running Windows Core.
But what you can do is run Computer Management from your full-fat server, and connect that to your Core server to do stuff there. And one of the things you can do is run the SQL configuration tools…
How has it taken me so long to find that out? Oh yes – I hardly ever *see* a Windows server core edition installation. Probably in part because of this sort of thing. Heigh ho.
The Lone DBA 
It’s shocking how many people don’t know that MMC can connect to other servers like this. Not all snap-ins support it, but it’s very useful.
When I was training new hires, I felt like I was constantly having to remind people about this feature. For example, when restarting an application that’s distributed across multiple servers, they’d RDP onto every single one and fire up Services there – I’d just point Services at each of the servers, which was generally faster.
(Although not as fast as doing it via PowerShell, but that’s another thing altogether!)
Oh, I knew it would connect to the other servers – I’ve done the same with services and event viewers and things – I’d just never though to use it for SQL Configuration management.
And you’re right about PowerShell, if you know your way around it. 🙂
Hello,
I can’t see the SQL server configuration manager in the computer management! Firewalls are open. Is there something to configure on the Windows core?
The Core server in my case is Azure VM and SQL is clustered with two nodes.
Thanks,
The SQL Configuration manager tools have to be installed on the machine on which you’re running MMC.
And if that’s not the problem, I’m not sure how much else I can suggest here, other than taking the query to https://www.sqlservercentral.com/forums
Thanks for your reply!
The SQL Configuration manager tools are installed on Windows Server Core where the DB engine is installed.
I’m trying to get the SQL Configuration manager from Windows 11 VM and there is no Configuration manage installed on this machine.