About Microsoft

Since its inception in 1975, Microsoft's mission has been to create software for the personal computer that empowers and enriches people in the workplace, at school and at home. Microsoft's early vision of a computer on every desk and in every home is coupled today with a strong commitment to Internet- related technologies that expand the power and reach of the PC and its users. As the world's leading software provider, Microsoft strives to produce innovative products that meet customers' evolving needs. 

Microsoft® products include operating systems for personal computers, server applications for client/server environments, business and consumer productivity applications, and interactive media programs, and Internet platform and development tools. Microsoft also offers online services, sells personal computer books and input devices, and researches and develops advanced technology software products. Microsoft products, available in more than 30 languages and sold in more than 50 countries, are available for most PCs, including Intel microprocessor-based computers and Apple computers. 

Microsoft's early vision of a computer on every desk and in every home is coupled today with a strong commitment to Internet-related technologies that expand the power and reach of the PC and its users. As the world's leading software provider, Microsoft strives to produce innovative products that meet customers' evolving needs. The company's substantial investment in research and development, along with a firm belief in using customer feedback, enables Microsoft to offer technological advancements that ensure customers the highest-quality software products available today. 

Product Info

Microsoft® Systems Management Server 2.0 

The most scalable way to reduce the cost of change and configuration management for Windows®-based desktop and server systems 

Overview 

Microsoft® Systems Management Server 2.0 includes detailed hardware inventory, software inventory and metering, software distribution and installation, and remote troubleshooting tools. These integrated features make Systems Management Server 2.0 the most scalable way to reduce the cost of change and configuration management for Windows® based desktop and server systems. Systems Management Server 2.0 is built on industry-standard management protocols, ensuring compatibility with complementary management tools. Systems Management Server 2.0 is tightly integrated with Microsoft SQL Server™ and Microsoft Windows NT® Server operating system, making it easier than ever to install, configure, and maintain Systems Management Server in any size network. 

Lowest Cost of Management Through Best-of-Breed Tools 

Planning Tools 

1. Hardware Inventory - Gathers accurate information automatically without ever visiting a desktop. Administrators can use the data to plan hardware updates or identify machines capable of running new software and operating systems. 

2. Software Inventory - Reports every application installed on every PC to help administrators identify computers with software that may not be year 2000 compliant, software that is out of date, or software that is not approved. 

3. Compliance Checking - Compares inventory to a predefined list of hardware or software. This tool could be used for any compliance check including Windows 2000 compatibility and Euro compliance checking. It includes a database to identify year 2000 compliance status for Microsoft software. 

4. Software Metering - Tracks and controls application use based on application name, user, time of day, and quota. Software use statistics can help plan software licensing and even charge departments based on software use. 

5. Network Discovery - Discovers and maps network topology, clients, and operating systems with minimal impact on available network bandwidth. This helps administrators understand the network and plan for growth. 

6. Reporting - Includes Crystal Info reports and over a dozen built-in reports to help administrators track, manage, and plan the environment. Reports may be customized to fit any need. 

Deployment Tools 

1. Electronic Software Distribution - Eliminates desktop visits and human error by electronically distributing software to all desktops and servers on the network from a central location. 

2. Integrated Inventory - Ensures only compatible systems install software by using the integrated, up-to-date hardware and software inventory. Accurate inventory makes software distribution more reliable. 

3. Rules-Based Software Distribution - Reduces administrative overhead by dynamically adding and removing machines, users, or user groups from collections based on criteria set by the administrator. Software gets installed or removed automatically as users and machines are added and removed from collections. 

4. Scheduled Software Distribution - Allows administrators to control application deployment to occur during a specific time of day to avoid network congestion or to distribute software after a certain date to ensure users are trained first. 

5. Installation - Provides an installation tool that allows administrators to repackage changes and write scripts to create a package for any Windows-based application. No programming expertise is required to distribute software effectively. 

6. Unattended Software Installation - Installs software without requiring any user interaction and can install software with administrator rights even if a low-rights user is logged on. Microsoft Windows NT® based servers and desktops never need to log on, making Systems Management Server ideal for off-hours distribution or distribution to physically secured servers.

7. Integrated Status - Reports the status of software installations and operating system upgrades so administrators know when software is installed correctly or not. 
   

Diagnostic Tools 

1. Network Trace - Builds a map of network servers and devices to help administrators understand and troubleshoot the network.

2. Network Monitoring - Identifies network problems such as unwanted protocols, duplicate IP addresses, and attempted Internet break-ins by monitoring network traffic. 

3. Remote Diagnostics - Reduces the time it takes to fix problems on servers and desktops anywhere on the network by remotely running applications, "chatting" with end users, rebooting, and even controlling the keyboard and mouse. 

4. Server Health Monitoring - Keeps mission-critical servers and applications up and running by providing real-time performance information on Windows NT Server and Microsoft BackOffice® processes. 
   

Most Scalable Management Solution 

Easy to Use for Any Size Organization 

1. Microsoft SQL Server™ Integrated Setup - Reduces administrator training requirements through better integration with Microsoft SQL Server during setup, configuration, maintenance and backup. 

2. Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Snap-In - Makes tasks easier to perform and ensures that the correct steps are completed. The task-oriented interface helps administrators with wizards and an integrated Help engine. 

3. Non-Intrusive 32-bit Client - Reduces training requirements and enhances support for end users with non-intrusive client software that runs in the background. 
   

Scales Up for Large Enterprises 

1. WAN-Aware - Avoids clogging wide area network connections by throttling bandwidth used based on time of day or distributing software via physical media such as CD-ROM to sites without reliable WAN connections. 

2. Granular Security - Windows NT integrated security allows flexibility to delegate tasks without security risk. 

3. Supports Diverse Environments - Easily installs for use on small networks yet scales to networks with hundreds of thousands of clients. Manages inventory, software metering, and distribution to remote users gracefully. Works in Novell Netware NDS and bindery environments. 
   

Best Set of Tools for Managing Windows 

1. Comprehensive Windows Management Tools - Offers the broadest range of integrated management tools for the entire Windows family, including hardware inventory, software inventory, software metering, and remote diagnostics. 

2. Operating System Deployment - Systems Management Server is the best tool for distributing Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, and service packs for any Windows operating system. 

3. Uses Windows Services and Interfaces - Minimizes additional management overhead on clients and training for users.

4. Windows 2000 Planning - With Systems Management Server 2.0 in place, planning for Windows 2000 is easier. Inventory can be used to determine computers ready to upgrade to Windows 2000. Network discovery can be used to help plan sites and domains based on IP subnets. Software distribution can be used to update the applications and operating systems, and track the progress. 
   

Summary of Integration

SMS contains the hardware and software inventory for individual PCs. HEAT has the capability to view the inventory item for a machine from the SMS database. As a call comes into the help desk, the analyst can see inventory information about that customer via an external table link to the SMS database. 

Business Benefit

SMS provides the ability to manage desktop resources (e.g. personal computers, printers, applications, etc.) without physically requiring a technician to go to the desktop. The ability to remotely solve desktop issues can reduce the frequency and cost of sending technicians into the field to solve those types of problems. Working together, HEAT and SMS provide the help desk with the opportunity to increase first call problem resolution.

For more information on Microsoft please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/.

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