Systems Management Server (SMS) - Updates & News, 10/6/04
SMS 2003 SP1 Released to Manufacturing
The focus for the release of SMS 2003 SP1 was raising the bar in security, reliability and scalability established by SMS 2003 at RTM, enable newly supported scenarios, and enable new products in the market such as the upcoming SMS Feature Packs and System Center.
To deliver on this vision, investments were made in the following areas in SMS 2003 SP1:
- Increased security through mutual authentication and client to server encryption.
- Improved performance. SMS 2003 SP1 delivers reduced time to complete hardware inventory (client scan), increased scalability and faster content replication thanks to multi-thread content distribution.
- Increased reliability through Watson support for SMS server roles.
- New supported platforms: Virtual PC, Virtual Server, XP SP2, 64-bit platforms (both x64 and IA64). Partners are also enabled to extend SMS to non-Windows platforms through SDK.
- New supported configurations. SMS 2003 SP1 provides support for managing devices that are not members of a domain (workgroup), ability to customize HTTP port used by SMS and enhanced support for critical patch distribution scenario.
AdminStudio SMS Edition Released
AdminStudio® SMS Edition is the result of collaboration between Macrovision (formerly InstallShield), and the Microsoft Systems Management Server team to provide integration for customers seeking to simplify their Windows Installer software repackaging, customization, and distribution efforts. AdminStudio provides enterprises with the ability to prepare, publish, and distribute software packages via SMS 2003 without needing to touch the SMS server console, improving the efficiency of application management efforts.
AdminStudio SMS Edition includes the full-featured industry leading InstallShield Repackager that prepares one or more legacy setup.exe packages for deployment by converting it to a Windows Installer .MSI package. The InstallShield Tuner is included to assist in customizing MSI packages by adding files, changing registry settings, adding license keys, removing registration wizards, or making other modifications that will then be compiled in a transform (MST). Finally, a Distribution Wizard and secure SMS Web console are included to assist in handing the packages off for distribution through Systems Management Server 2003.
SMS 2003 Device Management Feature Pack Release Candidate 1 Released
The SMS 2003 Device Management Feature Pack Release Candidate (RC) helps SMS 2003 manage devices running Windows Mobile™ 2002 and 2003 for Pocket PC, and Windows CE 3.0 and above. New from the Beta 2 release is support for PocketPC 2002 and Windows CE 3.0 (with required dependencies). The Feature Pack installs components on existing SMS 2003 Service Pack Administrator Console, Site Server, and Management Point roles. The Windows Mobile device management client can be manually installed or automatically deployed and configured using an SMS 2003 desktop client. The feature pack includes the following functionality:
- Hardware Inventory
- Software Inventory and File Collection
- Software Distribution
- Settings Management (not Windows CE)
- Password Policy Management (not Windows CE)
- Automated Device Management Client Deployment using an SMS 2003 desktop
New SMS 2003 SP1 Documentation Available for Download
SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Updates (Beta) Released
The SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Updates (Beta) allows you to determine compliance and deploy the necessary updates for Dell BIOS, firmware and drivers using the same process utilized to deploy security updates with SMS 2003.
