Microsoft Systems Management Server
Encyclopedia
System Center Configuration Manager (CM07 or SCCM or ConfigMgr or Configuration Manager), formerly Systems Management Server (SMS), is a systems management
software product by Microsoft
for managing large groups of Windows
-based computer systems. Configuration Manager provides remote control, patch management, software distribution, operating system deployment, network access protection, and hardware and software inventory.
There have been three major iterations of SMS. The 1.x versions of the product defined the scope of control of the management server (the site) in terms of the NT domain
that was being managed. Since the 2.x versions, that site paradigm has switched to a group of subnets that will be managed together. Since SMS 2003, the site could also be defined as one or more Active Directory
sites. The most frequently used feature is inventory management, which provides both hardware and software inventory across a business enterprise.
The major difference between the 2.x product and SMS 2003 is the introduction of the Advanced Client. The Advanced Client communicates with a more scalable management infrastructure, namely the Management Point. A Management Point (MP) can manage up to 25000 Advanced Clients.
The Advanced Client was introduced to provide a solution to the problem that a managed laptop
might connect to a corporate network from multiple locations and should not always download content from the same place within the enterprise (though it should always receive policy from its own site). When an Advanced Client is within another location (SMS Site), it may use a local distribution point to download or run a program which can conserve bandwidth across a WAN
.
The current generation of the product, System Center Configuration Manager 2007, was initially released in November 2007.
Systems management
Systems management refers to enterprise-wide administration of distributed systems including computer systems. Systems management is strongly influenced by network management initiatives in telecommunications....
software product by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
for managing large groups of Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
-based computer systems. Configuration Manager provides remote control, patch management, software distribution, operating system deployment, network access protection, and hardware and software inventory.
There have been three major iterations of SMS. The 1.x versions of the product defined the scope of control of the management server (the site) in terms of the NT domain
Windows Server domain
A Windows domain is a collection of security principals that share a central directory database. This central database contains the user accounts and security information for...
that was being managed. Since the 2.x versions, that site paradigm has switched to a group of subnets that will be managed together. Since SMS 2003, the site could also be defined as one or more Active Directory
Active Directory
Active Directory is a directory service created by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems. Server computers on which Active Directory is running are called domain controllers....
sites. The most frequently used feature is inventory management, which provides both hardware and software inventory across a business enterprise.
The major difference between the 2.x product and SMS 2003 is the introduction of the Advanced Client. The Advanced Client communicates with a more scalable management infrastructure, namely the Management Point. A Management Point (MP) can manage up to 25000 Advanced Clients.
The Advanced Client was introduced to provide a solution to the problem that a managed laptop
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
might connect to a corporate network from multiple locations and should not always download content from the same place within the enterprise (though it should always receive policy from its own site). When an Advanced Client is within another location (SMS Site), it may use a local distribution point to download or run a program which can conserve bandwidth across a WAN
Wide area network
A wide area network is a telecommunication network that covers a broad area . Business and government entities utilize WANs to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from various geographical locations...
.
The current generation of the product, System Center Configuration Manager 2007, was initially released in November 2007.
Version history
| Product | Revision | Year of Release | Service Pack | Feature Pack | Version/Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Management Server (SMS) | 1.0 | 1994 | ||||
| Systems Management Server (SMS) | 1.1 | 1995 | ||||
| Systems Management Server (SMS) | 1.2 | 1996 | ||||
| Systems Management Server (SMS) | 2.0 | 1999 | ||||
| Systems Management Server (SMS) | 2003 | 2003 | ||||
| Systems Management Server (SMS) | 2003 R2 | 2006 | ||||
| System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) | 2007 | 2007 | RTM | 4.00.5931.0000 | ||
| System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) | 2007 SP1 | 2008 (May) | SP1 | 4.00.6221.1000 | ||
| System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) | 2007 SP1 (Updated with KB977203) | 2010 | SP1 | 4.00.6221.1193 | This update (KB 977203) may be run against SP1 or SP2 clients. | |
| System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) | 2007 R2 | 2008 | R2 | no change | The R2 feature add-on requires at least SP1, and can be installed after SP2. | |
| System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) | 2007 SP2 | 2009 | SP2 | 4.00.6487.2000 | ||
| System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) | 2007 SP2 (Updated with KB977203) | 2010 | SP2 | 4.00.6487.2111 | This update (KB 977203) may be run against SP1 or SP2 clients. | |
| System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) | 2007 R3 | 2010 | R3 | 4.00.6487.2157 | The R3 update requires SP2 Client. | |
| System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) | 2012 (Formerly "v.Next") | 2011 | Release Candidate (1) | Beta 1 released 2010/05/26 Beta 2 released 2011/03/23 RC1 released 2011/10/28 Current Projected Final Release Date April 2012 |
||
See also
- Windows Server SystemWindows Server SystemMicrosoft Servers is a brand that encompasses a line of Microsoft server products. This includes the server editions of Microsoft Windows operating system itself, as well as products targeted at the wider business market...
- Microsoft System Center
- System Center Data Protection ManagerSystem Center Data Protection ManagerSystem Center Data Protection Manager is a software product from Microsoft, designed to help IT professionals manage the Windows environment. It is part of the Microsoft System Center family of products and integrates disk-to-disk and near-continuous data protection for reliable recovery of...
- System Center Operations Manager
- System Center Virtual Machine ManagerSystem Center Virtual Machine ManagerSystem Center Virtual Machine Manager forms part of Microsoft's System Center line of management and reporting tools, alongside previously established tools such as Microsoft Operations Manager and Microsoft Systems Management Server...
- Configuration managementConfiguration managementConfiguration management is a field of management that focuses on establishing and maintaining consistency of a system or product's performance and its functional and physical attributes with its requirements, design, and operational information throughout its life.For information assurance, CM...
External links
- System Center Configuration Manager homepage
- Configuration Manager TechCenter on TechNet
- myITforum.com
- FAQShop (FAQ specifically for SMS and for ConfigMgr)
- SMSUG.ca User Group for SMS in Canada
- The Configuration Manager Support Team Blog
- Nexus SC: The System Center Team Blog
- SCCM - System Center Configuration Manager Blog
- Configuration Manager OSD Feature Team Blog
- Managing Privileged Accounts from within System Center Configuration Manager (Product Datasheet from Lieberman Software)