Stronger Systems Management Server Worth A New Look

Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003, available as a release candidate beta, features better support for roaming and mobile computers, a revamped system for tracking software usage, and integration with Active Directory (AD). It also has built-in support for software patch distribution and Web reports, features added to its predecessor SMS 2.0 through a feature pack. The most important factor for many customers, however, is not on the feature list: SMS 2003 has undergone much more testing than its predecessor. However, it still does not manage the actual software installation process or make target computers comply with a desired software configuration state.

The Need for SMS

Although small organizations can configure and track software configurations by physically visiting each computer and manually performing these tasks when necessary, this approach becomes problematic beyond a dozen or so computers, and even simple, repetitive tasks consume an inordinate amount of IT resources. A steady onslaught of viruses and worms aggravates the problem by mandating frequent patching. These tasks can become overwhelming for organizations with many geographic locations, many of which have no on-site IT personnel. Without software tools to help automate these tasks, these organizations cannot effectively manage changes to their computers, which ultimately affects business operations.