Course 2596: Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server
2003
Five days—Instructor-led
Introduction
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.
At Course Completion
After completing this course, students 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
Prerequisites
Before attending this course, students must 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 associated
with this course currently.
Course Outline
Module 1: 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.
Lessons
- 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
Practices
- Identifying Products in the
Windows Server System
- Describing the Features of SMS
- Identifying SMS Site Roles
- Identifying Site-to-Site
Communication Considerations
- Identifying SMS Site Boundaries
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the position of SMS in
the Windows Server System
- Describe the features of SMS 2003
and how they provide change and configuration management
- Describe SMS site hierarchies
- Describe SMS site-to-site
communication
- Describe the role of SMS site
boundaries and roaming boundaries
Module 2: 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).
Lessons
- 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
Practices
- Reviewing the SMS Site Server
Installation Log and Verifying Installed Services
- Exploring the SMS Administrator
Console and the SMS 2003 Toolkit 1
- Exploring the System Management
Container
- Verifying SMS Settings in WMI
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the SMS site server and
its components
- Use the SMS Administrator console
and the SMS 2003 Toolkit 1
- Describe how SMS uses Active
Directory
- Describe how SMS uses dependent
technologies such as Internet Information Server (IIS), BITS, WMI, and
MSI
Module 3: 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.
Lessons
- 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
Practices
- Determining Which Clients to
Deploy
- Discovering Resources
- Deploying the Site Systems That
Support Client Installation
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the Legacy Client and
Advanced Client, how to determine which SMS client to use, and how the
SMS client gets assigned to a site.
- Describe resource discovery and
the methods used to discover resources.
- Explain the guidelines to
configure, deploy, and troubleshoot the site systems used by SMS to
support clients.
Module 4: 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.
Lessons
- Deploying the Advanced Client
- Deploying the Legacy Client
- Isolating Problems When Installing
SMS Clients
- Discussion: Deploying SMS Clients
Practices
- Installing the Advanced Client
- Explaining the Differences Between
the Installation Methods and When to Use Each Method
- Installing the Legacy Client Using
a Logon Script
- Describing the Characteristics of
the Legacy Client Installation Methods
- Identifying the Common Causes of
Installation Problems
- Using Troubleshooting Techniques
to Solve Common Installation Problems
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Deploy the SMS Advanced Client.
- Deploy the SMS Legacy Client.
- Isolate problems that you might
encounter during Advanced Client installation.
Module 5: 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.
Lessons
- Introduction to Inventory
Collection
- Collecting Inventory Information
- Extending Inventory Collection
- Configuring Software Metering
- Discussion: Collecting Inventory
and Software Metering
Practices
- Explaining How Your Organization
Can Use Inventory Collection
- Collecting Software Inventory
Information
- Extending an Inventory Collection
- Using the Software Metering Client
Agent
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the inventory collection
process.
- Collect hardware and software
inventory information.
- Extend inventory collection.
- Use the Software Metering Client
Agent.
Module 6: 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.
Lessons
- 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
Practices
- Describing 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
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the architecture of data
and status queries.
- Create and run queries.
- Configure and deploy a reporting
point.
- Configure and run reports.
- Create and run dashboards.
Module 7: 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.
Lessons
- 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
Practices
- Explaining How SMS Distributes
Software
- Managing Distribution Points
- Configing Software Distribution and the Advertised
Programs Client Agent
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explain how SMS distributes softwar
- Explain how to manage distribution points.
- Configure software distribution and the Advertised
Program Client Agent.
Module 8: 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.
Lessons
- 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
Practices
Configuring Software Distribution Objects Using a
Software Distribution Methodology
- Creating a Collection with a Direct Membership
Rule
- Creating a Collection with a Rule Based on a Query
- Creating and Configuring Collections
- Creating a Package
- Configuring Packages
- Creating an Advertisement to Install the Visio Viewer
- Running an Advertised Program on a Client
- Running Standard Reports on Software Distribution
Lab A: Using SMS Software Distribution to Deploy an
Office Application
- Creating a System-targeted Application Deployment
- Verifying the Application Distribution
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Configure software distribution objects.
- Create and configure collections.
- Create and configure packages.
- Create and configure advertisements.
- Manage software installation at the client.
- Monitor software distribution.
Module 9: 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.
Lessons
- 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
Practices
- Explaining How the Software Update Process Works
- Installing the Software Update Scanning Tools
- Deploying and Verifying the Software Update Scanning
Tools
- Distributing a Software Update
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the SMS software update process.
- Install the software update scanning tools.
- Perform a software update inventory.
- Deploy and verify software updates.
Module 10: 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.
Lessons
- Introduction to Remote Tools
- Configuring the Remote Tools Client Agent
- Using SMS Remote Tools in Troubleshooting
- Discussion: Using SMS Remote Tools
Practices
- Identifying Remote Tools That Can Be Used to
Troubleshoot Client Issues
- Configuring the Remote Tools Client Agent
- Using SMS Remote Tools in Troubleshooting
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the tools available for remote control of
SMS clients.
- Configure the Remote Tools Client Agent.
- Use Remote Tools in troubleshooting.
Module 11: 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.
Lessons
- 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
Practices
- Applying SMS Hierarchy Principles to your
Organization
- Configuring Site Communications
- Installing the Secondary Site
- Configuring Roaming Boundaries to Allow an Advanced
Client at a Secondary Site to Download Software
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the site hierarchy architecture.
- Configure communication between SMS sites.
- Install an SMS secondary site server.
- Manage roaming clients in an SMS hierarchy.
Module 12: 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.
Lessons
- Performing Site Maintenance
- Performing an SMS Site Backup
- Recovering an SMS Site
- Discussion: Performing Site Maintenance, Backup, and
Recovery Tasks
Practices
- Creating a Customized Maintenance Task
- Performing an SMS Site Backup
- Recovering an SMS Site
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Perform site maintenance.
- Perform an SMS site backup.
- Recover an SMS site.
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