Omar's Blog on Systems Management: System Center News, Development

Attached Knowledge Services technology compairs performance of your organization to others anonymously..

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:39:16 GMT

During the second day keynote of MMS 2008, Bratt Anderson introduced a new concept that will launch as a Service Enabled environment, called a attached service (e.g. WSUS) . This solution is still in beta and goes by the name of Attached Knowledge Services technology.

The solution is focused on creating decision/business information about the effectiveness / innovation factor between organizations. Bratt Anderson described it in a recognizable way: the answer to questions about 'how are we doing IT versus other organizations? This information will be generated by SC family products: If you participate your SCCM / SCOM etc. environent generates data and will be send anonymously to a microsoft Inet location. The information will display KPI of your organisation in comparison to other organizations level of technology. This should give decision makers information on where they stand in comparison to their compatitor companies.

It seems an easy way for the IT pro to use this service as a foundation for roadmapping and to base future investments on it. But I get a little scaired with the idea that this information miht fall in the wrong hands... .

MMS 2008: Generation -Y and 'That Old Admin guy'...

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:14:45 GMT

The keynote for the second day of MMS 2008 was presented by Brad Anderson, GM of the Management and Solutions division and focussed on the the challenges for IT for delivering service in the future. One of the key elements will be the next generation users who aren't afraid of computers; they grew up with it and experience 'mobility' as a part of their daily routine. Or as Brad put it: Now the Client is the User.... .

Their expectations of the service an IT organization should give are parrtially defined by the way they are used to use technology. They use their home pc, cellphone, laptop or office PC transparantly, which challenges the way the IT organization manages application deployment and data availability. Security, Centralization and Virtualization were again keywords where the solutions from the System Center family were used as examples how to get things done (Xen Desktop virtualization, SoftGrid App virtualization, Terminal Services, NAP, DCM) in a controlled environment (e.g. the Domain) with managed systems. If you are interested in a managed workspace solution that already has all these components integrated, please visit the Getronics FRW site.

I expect that this 'evolution' of the user will be becoming far more complicated than we are able to solve now. I am already involved in projects where organisations are being confronted with unmanaged clients and still need to deliver applications and services to what I call 'Alienated Environments'. In the next couple of weeks I will try to write some articles about the issues and possible scenario's, for example the challenges of "Bring your own hardware" environments.

For a full annotation of Brad's keynote see Joseph Hinkle's article

The Virtual Data Center: VMM will manage VI3 infrastructure

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:57:02 GMT

In het first key note of MMS 2008, VP Bob Muglia talked about Dynamic IT: Transforming Management and the Data Center. He confirmed that most of us already understood: Virtualization is the way to go, especially for Data Center environments. The announcement of the VM Manager Beta 2 release was followed by a short demo that showed SCVMM managing a heterogenous VM environment of Windows Hyper-V and ESX servers. For ESX, VM Man drills into the VM tools installed on the VM machine so you are actually able to perform a guest-OS migration between ESX host servers.

SCOM: OpsMan Authoring Console released

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:07:25 GMT

At MMS 2008 Microsoft announced the release of the SCOM Authoring Console. The current methode (using notepad) for creating xml for Model Based Management was too difficult and did not support off-line action. This should give you the highlights:

Online / Offline authoring in SCOM
simplified by using wizards for service and health models

Microsoft expects great opportunities for software manufacturers and specialists to build customized models for their environments.

2010: A System Center Odyssey

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:48:29 GMT

Without disclosing any extra information, I can only the year 2010 will be a big year for System Center with the release of new versions. So get better reserve some money for your 2010 + budget !

SCCM SDK Arraybbuilder scheduled task

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:43:46 GMT

During MMS 2008, Microsoft partner DELL showed a add-on to the SCCM OS deployment tasks. Based on the SCCM SDK, they have build the array builder which configures your disk array during OSD task sequence. The most brilliant part was that the task was highly flexible: depending on the ammount of disks detected, the raid configuration could be set. For instance, if a raid set of six disks was detected, the task sequence would arrange the disks as 2x RAID 1, 3x RAID 5 and one hot spare. The same task could be used for other disk configurations, consequently configuring the raidset as defined. HP and IBM have co-operated too, providing similar task sequences for their hardware.

This tool I think looked awsome and would love to use it, but it seems that this SDK is only planned for (OEM) partners

erratum: I got the following mail from Jim Dempsey:

"Your statement that the SCCM SDK is not planned for public release is incorrect. It has been available for public download for over a month: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=064A995F-EF13-4200-81AD-E3AF6218EDCC&displaylang=en . If you're talking about the OEM toolkit, that's a different story, and I don't really have any information on it other than the fact that it was created using the standard SDK. So even if it is not available other than to OEMs, you can still accomplish the same things with the SDK."

I would like to thank Jim for correcting this part. All I can say is that the session I attended was quite confusing because the presenter added some humor and other statements during his presentation that I must have misunderstood. The folks at DELL told me that they are going to add some of they task sequences to their Website shortly just for 'evaluation resons'.

MMS 2008: SCSM gets three databases!

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:32:01 GMT

At MMS 2008 the SCSM team opened up about the issues that resulted in a reset of the SC Service Manager. Poor performance (database tables) and tooling that did not worked as well as thought up, meant a complete redo of SCSM.

One of the redesigned features of SCSM is that the system can/will use three databases:

CMDB: this database will contain all assets (SCCM / SCOM will provide extensive data)

Datawarehouse: this database will contain all workflows etc.

Reporting: This database will provide the reporting services for SCSM. This database will probably also be used for sustaining CMDB information that is being discarted form de the actual CMDB database.

SMS 2003 support update: Extended support ends January 2015

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:13:41 GMT

As mentioned in an earlier blog, Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 and Systems Management Server 2003 R2 will transition from Mainstream Support to Extended Support on January 12, 2010. Extended Support will now end on January 13, 2015. Both the Mainstream and Extended Support dates were extended once the follow-on product, System Center Configuration Manager 2007, was released to manufacturers

Server 2003 mainstream support ends 2010

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:03:22 GMT

Microsoft announced today Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 – Mainstream Support Ends July 13, 2010, Extended Support Ends July 14, 2015
Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 will transition from Mainstream Support to Extended Support on July 13, 2010. Extended Support for both will end on July 14, 2015. This date was announced because the follow-on product, Windows Server 2008, was released to manufacturers on February 4, 2008.

This transition timeline is in line with the Support Lifecycle policy, which states that Mainstream Support for Business and Developer products will be provided for either five years or for two years after the successor product (N+1) is released, whichever is longer.

for more information see http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle

Getting ready for MMS 2008

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:38:39 GMT

It has been a while since I posted to this blog. Due to personal circumstances and my involvement with a new developmentproject within our company, blogging became a second or even thirth level priority. Anyway, buzz will fade away this week and at the end of this month: Viva MMS2008 Las Vegas!

From that time on I hope to blog some usefull and interesting articles from 'the Mother of all Management Conventions'. I would be suprised as this will be the last year to be called MMS since there is much more focus on the whole of the System Center family. Eitherway some points on my agenda I am looking forward to:

The Invitee only sessions on monday
The MyITforum party (I do hope they didn't change the buttons, I still have mine from last year...)
Getting in touch with the guys and girls again (Marc, Anthony C., April, Rod, I hope to see you there!)
beefjerkey (Costs a fortune in Europe, but with the current dollar I''ll be shipping it back to the max. Probably will be gone in three weeks)

See you at MMS 2008?

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:29:33 GMT

Today the approval for my attendance @ MMS 2008 came through. I hope to meet some of you there. @ Rod Trent: Save me a button!

Service Manager delayed untill Q2 2010

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:48:05 GMT

On Monday 11th February Microsoft announced that the Service Manager’s planned release has been delayed until the first half of 2010. A refresh of the Service Manager beta will be released towards the end of 2008. The reason for the delay is the feedback for beta 1 and can be summarized as a need to:

Improve the performance of the product
Provide improved integration across System Center

Senior Product Marketing Manager for SCSM Paul Ross comments the delay: "I’m confident that our strategy for Service Manager is going to provide the capabilities that our customers are asking for in terms of the IT service desk, deep integration across System Center products, and support for service management process frameworks such ITIL or MOF. I know any delay is unfortunate, but we must ensure that the product is ready on day one, rather than deliver a product that has to be changed once it is deployed in customers' environments."

Many thanks to my friend and colleague Gerben pointing out to http://blogs.technet.com/systemcenter/archive/2008/02/07/system-center-service-manager-update.aspx

SCCM R2 Beta release with SoftGrid integration!

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:13:00 GMT

Together with the SP1 beta release, Microsoft has also decided to publish the ConfigMan R2 beta for Beta Participants. And one of the biggest ones for this year: Application virtualization is added! I'll be quick so I will not drewl over my keyboard :-)

What's new for SCCM 2007 R2?

Application Virtualization Management support
Forefront Client Security Integration
SQL REporting Services Reporting - Allows you to report on ConfigMan activity using Reporting Services
Client Status Reporting that provides a set of tool and ConfigMan reports to asses status of client computers (Client health)
OS deployment enhancements like:
- Unknown computer support without adding computer infomation to the SCCM database
- Multicast Support (about time ;-))
- Running command lines in Task Sequences with credentials other than the Local System account
Support for new Intel Vpro based network cards (no more issues with Network switches / routers).

SCCM 2007 Service Pack 1 available for Beta participants

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:57:45 GMT

Microsoft has released the beta versions for SCCM 2007 Service Pack (SP) 1 and R2. These are not public (yet) but to give a general idea:

What's new in SCCM 2007 SP 1

Introduction of a new feature for Out of Band management
The Length of the evaluation period has changed in Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 to be more consistent with other Microsoft products. In Configuration Manager 2007, the evaluation period is 120 days. In Configuration Manager 2007 SP1, the evaluation period is 180 days
The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Connector and the System Center Updates Publisher are no longer included with the Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 installation media
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 provides support for Windows Server 2008 as clients and site systems

Note: Windows 2008 does not include WebDAV by default, which is needed for Management Points (MP) and Distribution Points (DP)

SMS 2003: Mainstream support until January 2010

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:40:35 GMT

Microsoft has published new information on SMS 2003 support for the near future. Mainstream support has been extended to january, 2010.

Originaly the support for SMS 2003 and SMS 2003 R2 was planned to go off mainstream support from April 19th, 2009. Due to the release of SCCM, Microsoft has decided to extend this period. A prolonged support program will be offered until 2015.

For more information, see http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifean29

Microsoft starts survey for SMS V5 feature set

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:50:11 GMT

The Microsoft SMS V5 design team has started a survey to establish a feature prioritization list for SMS V5 (SCCM 2009?). During MMS 2006 there were already some informal chats about SMS v5 with members of the v4 design team, but for all I know, this is the first official communication to selected customers and partners about SCCM 2009 content. The survey contains items that span the current operational fuctionality that SCCM provides. Some of these features feel so 'natural' in extending current fuctionality, it almost feels like these are 'left-overs' that did not make it for the SCCM 2007 release.

More remarkable are tems that can only be described as an practical approach to easily integrate management processes like Change and Release management (ITIL) or even Risk Management. Wow..!

Windows Server 2008 RTM in 8 flavours with and without Hyper-V 'beta bit' topping...

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:33:07 GMT

Microsoft's Brad Anderson anounced that Microsoft plans to introduce 8 versions of Windows Server 2008 around February 2008. The Standard edition, Enterprise edition and Datacenter edition will be available with or without Hyper-V (aka "Hypervisor"). The Windows 2008 Web Server edition and the version for Itanium processors will remain as non-Hyper-V edition.

"The Hyper-V code will still be in Beta during RTM of Windows Server 2008, but we can expect the final code within 180 days available through an update".

Prices are $999 for the standard edition with Hyper-V ($971 without). Enterprise goes for $3,999 with Hyper-V, but you can save 21 bucks by ordering it without the VM environment. Datacenter licenses are 2,999 per processor.

IT Forum 2007 Barcelona: System Center @ the center

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:09:22 GMT

During IT Forum 2007 Barcelona www.buit.org reports about a demo where System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) is used to manage Virtual Server 2006, Hyper-V and also VMware ESX from one single console.

Can we expect this span of control for other SC products? Just imagine:

Managing Altiris through SCCM 2007?
Managing and controlling HPOV components directly through SCSM?

Citaat

War on VM starts

IT Forum Barcelona 2007: Announcing....

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:02:24 GMT

Windows Server 2008 / SQL2008 / Visual Studio 2008 will be launched on Feb. 27th next year. This is a joint launch with a phased product release. This launch will be the biggest launch event ever, split up in 300 events and will have a reach of 15.000.000 people.

Some other Announcements:

The new virtual server role in Server 2008 (Viridian) has lost its codename and will be called Hyper-V. The server running this role will be Hyper-V Server.
Next t o Windows Server 2008 there will also be 2 servers for small businesses, called Windows Small Business Server 2008 (75 seats) & Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (300 seats)
In the summer of 2008 Microsoft will release Microsoft Application Virtualization formally known as SoftGrid.
Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) will be renamed to Windows Deployment and will be capable to deploy clients as well servers.

IT Forum 2007 Barcelona: New Trends

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:58:26 GMT

This year I did not have the opportunity to attend Tech Ed 2007, Microsoft's only large venue in Europe. Colleagues Eric Luppes and Jeroen Janssens (Speaker @ Tech Ed on Groove) are attending and do their reporting @ www.buit.org

During the Keynote, Bob Kelly (Corporate VP Infrastructure Server Marketing) focuses on trends that Microsoft is seeing in the market:

Hardware Performance
Web 2.0
Broadband / Wireless / Mobility form factors

SCCM 2007 now available through TechNet Direct

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:57:52 GMT

The SCCM 2007 DVD is currently available for download for Technet Direct subscribers. Time to get started!