Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003

Overview:

This instructor-led course provides the knowledge and skills you need to manage Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). Learn how to configure SMS components and manage the ongoing operations of an SMS infrastructure.

This course incorporates material from the Official Microsoft Learning Product (OMLP):

• 2596: Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003

Description:

1. Overview of Systems Management Server 2003

Learn to configure and manage Microsoft SMS 2003's powerful desktop
administration tools for managing hardware inventory, software inventory,
software distribution, and remote client troubleshooting. Get an introduction to
the key features of SMS 2003, examine differences between SMS 2.0 and SMS 2003,
and discover the primary components of the SMS 2003 infrastructure.

• Where SMS Fits in the Windows Server System
• How SMS 2003 Features Provide Change and Configuration Management
• SMS Hierarchies
• SMS Site-to-Site Communication
• SMS Site and Roaming Boundaries
• Discussion: Overview of Systems Management Server 2003

2. Exploring SMS Site Architecture

In this module, learn how SMS 2003 is implemented as a site. Explore the
properties of the principal site system-the SMS site server. Learn how to
install and use the SMS Administrator console and other tools that allow
administration and support of an SMS implementation. Also, learn about the new
role of Active Directory in SMS and how SMS uses related technologies such as
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Microsoft Windows Management
Instrumentation (WMI), and the Windows Installer (MSI).

• Introduction to the SMS Site Server
• Exploring the SMS Administrator Console and the SMS 2003 Toolkit 1
• Role of Active Directory in SMS 2003
• How SMS Uses Dependent Technologies
• Discussion: Exploring SMS Site Architecture

3. Preparing to Deploy the SMS Clients

In this module, learn how to prepare for SMS client deployment, which
involves configuring and deploying the site systems required to support clients
and using discovery methods to identify resources.

• Introduction to the SMS Clients
• Discovering Resources
• Deploying the Site Systems that Support Client Installation and
  Client/Server Communication
• Discussion: Preparing to Deploy the SMS Clients

4. Deploying SMS Clients

Learn to deploy the SMS Advanced Client and the SMS Legacy Client. Learn
about available installation methods and their benefits, and learn how to
isolate problems that you might encounter during Advanced Client installation.

• Deploying the Advanced Client
• Deploying the Legacy ClientIsolating Problems When Installing SMS Clients
• Discussion: Deploying SMS Clients

5. Collecting Inventory and Software Metering

In this module, learn to use SMS hardware and software inventory collection
features to collect a wide variety of information about client computers and
files in an SMS hierarchy. By collecting hardware and software inventory data
with SMS 2003, you can build a rich database of details about the computers in
your company. Also, learn to use software metering to identify which
applications are being used in your company.

• Introduction to Inventory Collection
• Collecting Inventory Information
• Extending Inventory Collection
• Configuring Software Metering
• Discussion: Collecting Inventory and Software Metering

6. Querying and Reporting Data

In this module, learn to create, run, and view queries and reports. Also,
learn how to deploy the reporting point site system.

You can create and run queries to locate objects in an SMS site database that
match your query criteria. Queries are most useful for extracting information
related to resource discovery, inventory data, and status messages. Reports
allow systems administrators to easily organize and display information about
the computers managed by SMS. Reports are managed in the SMS Administrator
console, but they are viewed in either the SMS Administrator console or Internet
Explorer.

• Introduction to the Architecture of Data and Status Queries
• Creating and Running QueriesConfiguring and Deploying a Reporting Point
• Configuring and Running Reports
• Creating and Running Dashboards
• Discussion: Querying and Reporting Data

7. Preparing an SMS Site for Software Distribution

Examine the SMS software distribution process in this module. Learn about the
flow of software distribution and the roles played by the site, the SMS objects
used to distribute software, and the SMS client. Finally, learn how to prepare
the site for software distribution by allocating distribution points and
configuring the SMS client.

• Explaining How SMS Distributes Software
• Managing Distribution Points
• Configuring Software Distribution and the Advertised Programs Client Agent
• Discussion: Preparing an SMS Site for Software Distribution

Audience:

SMS Administrators who are responsible for configuring and managing one or more SMS sites and all supporting systems and who have one to three years of experience supporting multiple desktop and server computers running Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 in medium to large enterprise organizations.

Objectives:

• Features and infrastructure of SMS 2003
• Explore the SMS Site Architecture
• Deploy SMS clients
• Discover SMS resources
• Collect inventory and monitor software usage
• Query and report data
• Distribute software
• Implement Software Update Tools
• Use SMS Remote Tools for client support
• Work with SMS Hierarchies
• Perform site maintenance, backup, and recovery tasks