Modeling Improves Management Packs

Of all the new capabilities in OM 2007, its new MP architecture is the most significant. To monitor one or more instances of a system component-which could be an OS service, such as Active Directory (AD) or DNS, an application, such as Exchange, or a hardware device, such as a computer, storage array, network printer, or router-OM requires an MP for that class of component. The MP models the way the component ought to function and provides other information useful to operators when troubleshooting problems.

Microsoft’s Systems Definition Model (SDM)-a new, advanced format for expressing model data-coupled with better authoring tools makes it possible for Microsoft and third-parties to create OM 2007 MPs that are far more capable than their MOM 2005 predecessors.

The OM 2007 MPs and MP infrastructure are superior to those of MOM 2005 in the following respects:

• There is less chance a single underlying problem will flood the console with multiple errors and warnings that are difficult