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.
Microsoft Certification exams
No Microsoft Certification exams are associated with this course currently.
Target Audience:
This course is intended for SMS Administrators who are responsible for configuring and managing one or more SMS sites and all supporting systems. They have one to three years of experience supporting multiple desktop and server computers running Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 in medium to large enterprise organizations.
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
Lab : 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
Lab : 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
Lab : 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
Lab : 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
Lab : 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
Lab : 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
Lab : Practices
Explaining How SMS Distributes Software
Managing Distribution Points
Configuring Software Distribution and the Advertised Programs Client Agent
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain how SMS distributes software.
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
Lab : 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 : 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:
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
Lab : 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
Lab : 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
Lab : 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
Lab : Practices
Creating a Customized Maintenance Task
Performing an SMS Site Backup
Recovering an SMS Site
After completing this module, students will be able to:
