Restart Multiple Remote Computers

Managing a network of computers can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to restarting multiple remote computers. In a situation where you need to perform this task, manually restarting each computer can be time-consuming and inefficient. In this blog, we will discuss some methods that can be used to restart multiple remote computers.

So let’s see how to Restart Multiple Remote Computers with multiple methods

1. PowerShell

PowerShell is a powerful command-line tool that can be used to manage Windows computers. We all love (or some of us :)) PowerShell!

It includes a module named “Restart-Computer,” which can be used to restart remote computers. Here are the steps to restart multiple remote computers using PowerShell:

Step 1: Open PowerShell with administrative privileges.

Step 2: Type the following command to connect to the remote computers:

Enter-PSSession -ComputerName COMPUTER1, COMPUTER2, COMPUTER3

Note: Replace the COMPUTER1, COMPUTER2, and COMPUTER3 with the names or IP addresses of the computers you want to restart.

Step 3: Once connected, type the following command to restart the remote computers:

Restart-Computer

Step 4: Wait for the computers to restart and close the PowerShell window.

This method allows restarting of multiple computers at the same time. However, it is slow and does not allow administrators to see when computers are coming back up. This method can be combined with Ping, however, working on multiple computers, five and more at the same time, will be very confusing.

2. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a built-in feature in Windows that allows you to connect to a remote computer and control it.

We all know and use RDP regularly, and I think sometimes we over-abuse it, and what I mean by that is that there are almost all support tasks that Sys Admin can do without remoting to a computer.

Here are the steps to restart multiple remote computers using RDP:

Step 1: Connect to the remote computer using RDP.

Step 2: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box once connected.

Step 3: Type “shutdown /r /t 0” in the Run dialog box and press Enter.

Step 4: The remote computer will begin to restart.

Step 5: Disconnect from the remote computer and connect to the next computer to restart.

Step 6: Repeat steps 2-5 for each remote computer that needs to be restarted.

This method is not really restarting Multiple computers, it is more like restarting computers one by one. RDP’ing to each computer will create confusion when working on multiple computers, and tracking and verifying devices is an absolute nightmare, especially during tight maintenance windows. Modern system Admins should resort to RDP’ing to servers only during server configurations, but not maintenance.

3. Remote Shutdown

Remote Shutdown is a command-line tool that allows you to remotely shut down or restart a computer. Here are the steps to restart multiple remote computers using Remote Shutdown:

Step 1: Download and install Remote Shutdown on your computer.

Step 2: Open the command prompt with administrative privileges.

Step 3: Type the following command to connect to the remote computers:

shutdown -m \\COMPUTER1 -r -f

Note: Replace COMPUTER1 with the name or IP address of the computer you want to restart.

Step 4: Press Enter to execute the command.

Step 5: Wait for the computer to restart and then repeat steps 3-4 for each remote computer that needs to be restarted.

This method, like the previous PowerShell method, will help administrators restart multiple remote computers but will not provide the ability to see if a computer, in fact, receives the command to restart.

This command is OK to use in quick cases to power cycle a single computer on behalf of a user, for example, but when it comes to sensitive implementation, I will avoid using it altogether; as I mentioned before, the command does not provide the control that IT professional requires.

Is there an alternative method for remotely restarting computers that offers IT professionals more control and monitoring capabilities?

There is. Read on!

4. MPA Tools

I will start by saying that MPA Tools is super easy to use! And when it comes to restarting multiple remote computers it’s my best bud!

Why, you ask? Well simple,

I can choose what I am working on, from my custom list, AD OU, SCCM Collection, or my co-worker’s list.

I can restart remote computers in parallel. 

I can work on hundreds of computers at the same time.

I can continuously ping them to see when they are up or down.

And I can quickly check  the restart history, which will and with precision tell me when the computer was restarted (No sleep, hibernate, or anything else, but actual restart!)

In the end, instead of specifying the step-by-step, I would encourage you to quickly check out the video below and, most importantly, try it for yourself!

In conclusion, restarting multiple remote computers can be a time-consuming and challenging task. However, with the help of the methods discussed in this blog, you can efficiently restart multiple remote computers without having to manually perform the task on each computer.