Systems Management Server 2003: Hands-On

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? Throughout this course, you gain the skills to install, configure and deploy Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 throughout your enterprise. You gain the knowledge to plan and manage the SMS installation, manage software patches, track inventory, manage software licensing and support users. You also learn to collect software usage information through metering and reinforce your organization's Help Desk support with remote assistance capabilities. Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for anyone involved in using or evaluating SMS as an enterprise management solution. What background do I need? Experience with Microsoft Windows at the level of Course 595, Windows Server® 2003: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, is assumed. For example, you should have an understanding of network administration, the Active Directory, server roles, and file system security (DACL). Knowledge of TCP/IP, Group Policies, and SQL Server is also helpful. Why do I need this course? SMS offers a significant reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to large enterprise organizations as well as small IT shops. Its extensively automated configuration and change management features allow organizations to maximize their resources. This course shows you how to plan, implement, and navigate through many complex options in order to realize the full power of this tool. What is the difference between SMS 2.0 and SMS 2003? The differences between these versions are extensive. The latest version, SMS 2003, offers Active Directory integration, Web-based reporting capabilities and advanced security features including Office and patch management. The patch management improvements give network managers the ability to distribute patch upgrades remotely and automatically or schedule upgrades around users' convenience-something that was not available with previous versions. SMS 2003 also offers a bandwidth-aware client that optimizes network traffic flow. Improved application usage monitoring is another benefit of this version of SMS. Will I learn how to automate software distribution and patch management? Yes. You learn how to use packages and advertisements to centralize software distribution. Throughout the course, you also learn how to enable automatic security patch management to protect your enterprise from costly downtime. This course also examines the effects of Windows XP Service Pack 2 on SMS 2003. I manage a heterogeneous environment. Will this course help me? Yes, all skills learned in this course are equally applicable to UNIX, Linux and Macintosh systems with the aid of third party plug-in tools. Will SMS help me to track my hardware and software resources? Yes, SMS provides advanced inventory collection features to help you manage your organization's assets. SMS 2003 provides a rich set of inventory data collection, including BIOS and chassis enclosure information that is stored in a centralized SQL Server database. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Introduction and overview 1.5 Installing SMS on your network 3.0 Configuring your SMS environment 4.0 Managing and auditing assets 3.5 SMS as a Help Desk tool 2.0 Distributing software throughout your enterprise 4.5 Unleashing patch management 6.0 Ongoing monitoring and maintenance 4.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much time is devoted to course exercises? Exercises throughout the course account for approximately 40 percent of class time. You gain immediate hands-on experience applying concepts learned in class, including: Installing and configuring SMS 2003 Collecting hardware and software inventory Controlling SMS clients remotely Creating packages and advertisements for software distribution Automating and authorizing the patch distribution process Metering applications to collect software usage information Querying the SMS database to create custom collections Creating custom dashboards and running Web reports Why should I attend this course instead of one offered by Microsoft? Learning Tree is dedicated to accelerating the careers of our clients by providing them with world-class technology and management training. Our independence from Microsoft (and any other vendor) allows us to give an unbiased view of what works and what does not. This course is objective in its approach, having been developed independently from Microsoft by industry experts who bring their real-world experience to the classroom. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? Learning Tree offers a variety of courses throughout an extensive Microsoft Windows curriculum, including: 595, Windows Server® 2003: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction , offers the skills to implement and configure Windows Server 2003 599, Securing Windows Server® 2003: Hands-On , provides the skills to secure a Windows Server 2003 environment 558, Automating Windows® Administration with VBScript: Hands-On , offers experience in exploiting Windows scripting technologies to automate tasks, manage resources and deliver solutions via the Web 597, Deploying and Managing a Windows Server® 2003 Environment: Hands-On , offers the skills needed to deploy and administer clients and servers within Windows Server 2003 domains 589, Hands-On Vulnerability Assessment: Protecting Your Organization , offers the skills to continually control your exposure and response to current security threats by implementing preventative measures.