Microsoft Course 2596 - Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 —  A 5-Day Course

 Open Public Course Closed In-House Course

Course Synopsis

This five-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to manage Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). Students will learn how to configure SMS components and how to manage the ongoing operations of an SMS infrastructure.

Course Objectives

On completion of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Describe the features and infrastructure of Systems Management Server 2003 (SMS)
• 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

Intended Audience

This course is intended for SMS Administrators who are responsible for configuring and managing one or more SMS sites and all supporting systems. They 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.

Course Prerequisites

Before attending this course, delegates should have:

• Completed Course 2272, Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional, or equivalent knowledge
• Completed Course 2277, Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Services, or equivalent knowledge
• System administrator-level working knowledge of:
  • Deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting for Windows-based personal computers
  • TCP/IP networking
  • SQL Server
  • Active Directory directory service

Microsoft Certified Professional Exams

No Microsoft Certified Professional exams are currently associated with this course.

Course Materials

The student kit includes a comprehensive workbook and other necessary materials for this class.

Publicly scheduled dates, locations, and prices

Outline Course Contents

Overview of Systems Management Server 2003

Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 provides powerful desktop administration tools for managing hardware inventory, software inventory, software distribution, and remote client troubleshooting. As an SMS administrator, you will need to know how to configure and manage these tools. This module introduces the key features of SMS 2003, explains differences between SMS 2.0 and SMS 2003, and describes the primary components of the SMS 2003 infrastructure.

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

Exploring SMS Site Architecture

In this module, you will learn how Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 is implemented as a site. You will explore the properties of the principal site system-the SMS site server. You will learn how to install and use the SMS Administrator console and other tools that allow administration and support of an SMS implementation. You will also learn about the new role of the Active Directory directory service 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
• Explaining the Role of Active Directory in SMS 2003
• Explaining How SMS Uses Dependent Technologies
• Discussion: Exploring SMS Site Architecture

Preparing to Deploy the SMS Clients

In this module, you will learn how to prepare for Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) client deployment. This process 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

Deploying SMS Clients

In this module, you will learn to deploy the Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) Advanced Client and the SMS Legacy Client. You will learn about available installation methods and their benefits. You will also learn how to isolate problems that you might encounter during Advanced Client installation.

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

Collecting Inventory and Software Metering

In this module, you will learn to use Microsoft Systems Management Server (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. You will 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

Querying and Reporting Data

You can create and run queries to locate objects in a Microsoft Systems Management Server (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. In this module, you will create, run, and view queries and reports. You will also learn how to deploy the reporting point site system.

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

Preparing an SMS Site for Software Distribution

In this module, you will learn about the Microsoft Systems Management Server SMS software distribution process. You will 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, you will 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

Managing Software Distribution

The Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) software distribution feature automates the distribution of programs to SMS clients. These programs run on the client computers to perform tasks such as installing software or scanning the client's hard drives for viruses.

In this module, you will learn to distribute software to SMS clients by creating a package and then advertising a program from the package to a collection of clients. In Module 7, the first stage of the software distribution sequence was discussed. This module will build upon the previous module and discuss the three remaining stages of the distribution sequence.

• Configuring Software Distribution Objects Using a Software Distribution Methodology
• Creating and Configuring Collections
• Creating and Configuring Packages
• Creating and Configuring Advertisements
• Managing Software Installation at the Client
• Monitoring Software Distribution
• Discussion: Managing Software Distribution

Implementing SMS Software Update Tools and Managing Update Deployment

In this module, you will learn to implement Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) software update scanning tools and manage the deployment of security and Microsoft Office updates.

• Explaining How the Software Update Process Works
• Installing the Software Update Scanning Tools
• Performing Software Update Inventory
• Deploying and Verifying Software Updates
• Discussion: Implementing SMS Software Update Tools and Managing Update Deployment

Using Remote Tools for Client Support

Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 Remote Tools is a suite of complementary applications that you can use to access any client in an SMS hierarchy that has the Remote Tools Client Agent components installed. By using Remote Tools, you can provide assistance and troubleshooting support from your computer to clients within your site. You can use Remote Tools to access and control clients that are using the Legacy Client or the Advanced Client.

You can use Remote Tools across a wide area network (WAN) or Microsoft Remote Access Service (RAS) links to assist clients at remote locations. Remote Tools supports RAS connections with a minimum speed of 28.8 kilobits per second (Kbps). You can also establish a connection to your organization and then access clients on your network.

In addition to SMS Remote Tools, SMS 2003 integrates Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop Connection into the SMS Administrator console for assisting applicable clients. You can also use the SMS Administrator console to manage and configure Remote Assistance settings for applicable clients on a site-wide basis.

In this module, you will learn to configure and use Remote Tools to assist the help desk and to provide troubleshooting support to clients.

• Introduction to Remote Tools
• Configuring the Remote Tools Client Agent
• Using SMS Remote Tools in Troubleshooting
• Discussion: Using SMS Remote Tools

Working with SMS Hierarchies

In this module, you will learn how to work within a Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) site hierarchy. The sites in your organization can be connected to create a single site hierarchy. Occasionally, site hierarchies must be modified and new sites must be created and added. The SMS secondary site is ideal for simplifying the installation and management of small branch offices. In this module, you will learn how to configure sites and work within a site hierarchy.

• Introduction to the SMS Site Hierarchy
• Configuring Site Communications
• Installing a Secondary Site Server
• Managing Roaming Clients in an SMS Hierarchy
• Discussion: Working with SMS Hierarchies

Performing Site Maintenance, Backup, and Recovery Tasks

In this module, you will learn how to perform site maintenance tasks and prepare for Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) backup and recovery operations.

Planning is essential so that you can recover SMS sites and hierarchies quickly with the least possible amount of data loss.

• Performing Site Maintenance
• Performing an SMS Site Backup
• Recovering an SMS Site
• Discussion: Performing Site Maintenance, Backup, and Recovery Tasks