~terry
Sat, Jan 10, 1998 (21:33)
seed
Systems Management Server provides for central management of computers in
an enterprise. The Spring is growing so much that it will have to go to
a system like this to manage it's network of NT and Windows 95 based
authoring and business management systems.
SMS has the following basic features:
inventory mangement
software distribution
shared network applications
troubleshooting and remote support
~terry
Sat, Jan 10, 1998 (21:47)
#1
Inventory Management - SMS collects and maintains an
inventory of computers on a network and stores this
information in a SQL server database.
The inventory agent also collects any Management
Information Format (MIF) files that are present on
the computer.
SMS provides an AUDIT.RUI file that identifies more
than 2,800 software programs.
Software Distribution - SMS can install software on
computers on the network.
Shared Network Applications - Shared apps are set up
based on user groups. SMS can choose from among a
set of application servers and run a users program
when the user starts the application.
Troubleshooting and Remote Support - SMS helps system
administrators and help desk folks with management and
troubleshooting. You can view real time diagnostics
on client computers including device drivers, CMOS,
interrupts, and memory configurations.
You can connect to the user's desktop over the
network and control the screen, keyboard and mouse.
Administrators can transfer files or even edit files
on the user's computer.
Remote boot and "chat" with users is also possible.
SMS Customization - SMS is flexible enough that third
parties can add product features in various ways in
the SMS environment via:
Microsoft SQL Server
DMTF MIF compatibility
SMS SDK
SNMP Support
~terry
Sat, Jan 10, 1998 (22:00)
#2
SMS Customization
Microsoft SQL Server - SMS uses Microsoft's SQL
SErver to store inventory, events and configuration
details. SMS has a utility called SMSVIEW that
creats "friendly" versions of SMS tables with these
tools. SMS SErver 1.1 also provides a ocopy of
Crystal Reports software to help create reports from
your SMS data.
DMTF MIF compatibility - The Desktop Magement Task
Force (DMTF) was orginated to develop a standard for
the management of hardware and software on the
desktop. The Desktop Management Interface (DMI) is
a
DMTF specification.
SMS Server is compatible with version 4.5 of the DMI
spec. The SMS MIF parser accepts any valid MIF that
complies with v. 4.5 (although SMS does not use some
of the fields defined and modifies some field
datatypes).
SMS also allows the client computer user to complete
a form with the MIF entry program and passes this
data back to the central database.
SMS SDK (software development kit) - The separately
purchased SDK enbales programmers to write cutsom
code to manage SMS by calling the SMS functions that
are provided through the SMS DLLs.
SNMP Support - SMS communicates twith the Windows NT
Simple Network Management Protocol service to allow
third party SNMP apps to manage SMS, such as IBMs
Netview.