Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 is Microsoft's solution for change and configuration management. SMS 2003 can save money and enhance the value of your business network by bringing a high degree of automation and manageability to key IT services including application and operating system deployment, security patch management, software and hardware asset management, and software distribution for mobile workers. Building a more secure and reliable infrastructure while lowering operating costs requires on the ability to update independent software vendor (ISV) and in-house applications as well as updates provided by Microsoft. With SMS 2003 R2 and the Inventory Tool for Custom Updates (ITCU), organizations can achieve this goal quickly and efficiently.

Important features of SMS 2003 include:

• Detailed application deployment planning
  Detailed reports ease the application deployment process. For a planned deployment, you can easily obtain the target groups' current hardware base, existing applications and version information, and the current service pack and hotfix levels of the system.
• Rich distribution targeting
  You can finely target software distribution and other management tasks to machines and users using a wide variety of properties including network and hardware configuration, Active Directory organizational unit, or group membership and software installation status.
• Delta distribution between site servers and distribution points
  When you make alterations to previously deployed software package sources, only the source changes are propagated between Systems Management Server 2003 site servers and distribution points, rather than the entire application image.
• Elevated rights Windows Installer Service
  Because Systems Management Server 2003 supports the Windows Installer service (.MSI), SMS 2003 can switch user account contexts during a package installation allowing for self-healing application installation on “locked-down” systems.
• Add/Remove Programs support
  You can easily publish applications to the Add/Remove Programs interface to provide users with a consistent way of installing applications.
• Application usage monitoring
  You can generate summary and detail reports describing which applications were used by which users, for how long and on which managed systems. You can track usage by user or computer, and create compliance reports comparing concurrent usage data to current license ownership.
• Detailed hardware inventory
  WMI enhancements allow improved client-side performance during inventory scans and a richer set of inventory data, including BIOS and chassis enclosure data.
• Web-enabled reporting
  SMS 2003 includes more than 120 pre-built reports covering hardware and software inventory as well as computer status and software deployment progress.
• Vulnerability identification
  Using standard Microsoft security tools such as the Microsoft Baseline Security Inventory Analyzer and the Office Update Inventory Tool you can inventory your systems for applicable patches and vulnerabilities.
• Patch deployment wizard
  SMS 2003 provides a simple console wizard to assist administrators in deploying required patches to managed devices.
• Vulnerability assessment and mitigation reporting
  After SMS 2003 identifies missing security patches, the results of these individual scans are then rolled up into the central database for reporting and targeting purposes.
• Bandwidth-aware clients
  The new Advanced Client uses the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) technology to detect the capacity of the client network connection and adjust transfer rates efficiently.
• Checkpoint/restart
  Upon reconnection, any partial downloads to clients will continue where they left off, eliminating the need to restart transmissions because of a disconnected session. Checkpoint/restart works at a byte level so that only bytes not transferred need to be downloaded.
• Download and execute
  Once a new software package has been successfully downloaded to a client, it stays cached on the client system until the scheduled install time.
• Location Awareness
  As mobile users move through geographic locations, flexible site boundaries ensure that they always receive software packages and updates from the nearest appropriate installation source, and are not required to install software across the corporate WAN.
• Active Directory discovery
  Systems Management Server 2003 can automatically discover the Active Directory properties of users and systems, including organizational unit container and group level membership. You can use these Active Directory attributes to target the distribution of software packages.
• Active Directory-based site boundaries
  You can base site boundaries on Active Directory site names rather than IP subnets.
• Advanced Security Mode
  You can use built-in computer and local system accounts for all server functions, simplifying account and password management and enhancing corporate security by avoiding the proliferation of high-rights accounts.
• Windows XP Remote Assistance support
  The Windows XP Remote Assistance feature integrates with the manageability features for remotely troubleshooting clients directly from the Systems Management Server Administrator Console when a user is present at the remote machine.

Systems Management Server 2003 offers added functionality for change and configuration management of Windows-based systems by introducing Feature Packs. Features Packs reduce the overall operational costs of managing and deploying software by making it easier to deploy system images, manage mobile devices, and operate management tools.

How Progent's Consultants Provide Microsoft SMS 2003 Help
Successful implementation of SMS requires detailed planning. Implementation without planning can cause inherent design problems, which can lead to costly downtime and user perception issues regarding the reliability of the system. Progent has in-depth experience helping small businesses save time and money by using Microsoft Systems Management Server to streamline configuration and change processes. Progent can help you deploy SMS 2003 to minimize IT management costs, enhance network security, maximize productivity by keeping applications up-to-date, ensure compliance with software licenses, and track software usage patterns to help you make smart purchasing decisions. Progent's expertise with remote support can further leverage the economic advantages of SMS 2003, and Progent's CISSP-certified consultants and CISM-certified consultants can help you develop a comprehensive security plan that incorporates powerful security features of SMS 2003. Progent also offers world-class consulting for Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM), which is a key component of Microsoft's System Center 2005 solution for integrated network management.

For more information about Progent's consulting and support services for Systems Management Server 2003, call 1-800-993-9400 or send email to windows-server-help@progent.com.