Posted: Apr. 19, 2004

In addition to the Microsoft Installer engine, the Automatic Update patch installer agent, and Software Update Services 1.0 server utility, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 ship with many other built-in or downloadable management technologies, including the following:

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) allows management applications, such as scripts, to get or set information about a computer’s resources. Computer resources include the Windows OS services, utilities, performance counters, event logs, physical and logical hardware, and applications. (WMI is also used by SMS and MOM management agents.)

Windows Scripting Host (WSH) enables management and other scripts written in JScript or VBScript to access WMI, applications, and OS services and utilities.

Active Directory Group Policy Objects (GPO) are used to centrally maintain standard Windows PC configurations.

Automated Deployment Services (ADS) and Remote Installation Services (RIS) make it easier for administrators to automate installation and configuration of Windows and applications on "bare-metal" computers—computers that do not have an OS already installed. (Although Microsoft has not publicly stated it, Directions on Microsoft believes the two technologies will be merged in Longhorn.)

Windows Error Reporting (WER) captures information about crashing software and uploads the data to Microsoft or to a customer’s server so that developers can use the aggregated data to help diagnose problems and create fixes.

User State Migration Tool (USMT) can move client-side user data and preferences on Windows 9x or higher PCs to other PCs running Windows XP.

Terminal Services Administration Mode, Remote Desktop, and Remote Assistance are three related technologies that make it possible for administrators to access the consoles of PCs and servers over the network, to perform management tasks while avoiding physical trips to the computers. Microsoft may release an upgrade to Terminal Services, code-named Bear Paw, prior to Longhorn Server, but it hasn’t yet decided and has not gone public with Bear Paw’s new capabilities.

Windows System Resource Manager (WSRM) is a Windows Server 2003 add-on that can allocate server resources—primarily memory and CPUs—to particular applications.

Although Microsoft has not yet announced any specific changes to these features, they will undoubtedly get enhancements in Longhorn.

Virtual Server

Not yet available, Virtual Server is a Microsoft product that will run on Windows Server 2003 and emulate a complete computer, including processor, memory, graphics card, network interface, and storage devices. This virtualized hardware will give users access to multiple virtual OSs (also called "guest" OSs) and applications, all running on the host OS of one physical server. Virtual Server will support a variety of uses including legacy application support, server consolidation, software testing and evaluation, problem reproduction, and training. Virtual Server and its sibling, Virtual PC (which has already been released), are based on technology acquired from Connectix in Feb. 2003.

Now in beta and due to ship in the second half of 2004, Virtual Server will support all major x86 OSs—including MS-DOS, Windows, NetWare, and Linux—as guests.

Although more of a platform than a management product, Virtual Server is considered by Microsoft to be part of its management portfolio because it will form an important element of the DSI. Microsoft and others believe that most applications will eventually run in virtual OS environments that can easily be moved or replicated among physical machines. Under DSI, this process will be dynamic and capable of being automated and configured by policies.