Introduction

With the release of System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Microsoft continues to enhance its premier systems management software product, used to manage large groups of Windows-based computer systems. Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) 2007, formerly known as SMS or Systems Management Server, is a wide and diverse product. It enables you to deploy, assess, and update servers, clients, and devices across physical, virtual, distributed, and mobile environments, as well as manage clients that connect only over the Internet (IBCM). Configuration Manager provides software distribution, patch management, operating system deployment, hardware and software inventory, asset management, and desired configuration management. Perhaps it is not surprising that writing this book has been just about as wide and diverse a project as the software itself. System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Unleashed provides in-depth technical information about the capabilities and features of ConfigMgr 2007, including information on other products and technologies on which Configuration Manager features and components depend. Our purpose is to go beyond just describing the product and its features, however, and provide insight and examples of how ConfigMgr can be used to help solve real-world problems. The book begins by describing a methodology and framework for solutions-based deployments, and then maps the numerous ConfigMgr feature areas to the architecture, design, and implementation requirements for that topic. Information is current as of Configuration Manager 2007 Release 2 (R2).

Regarding the domain name used in the examples in this book—the official abbreviation of Configuration Manager is “ConfigMgr,” which is the abbreviation we use for the product throughout the book. However, because we were unsuccessful in registering a domain name that had ConfigMgr or some permutation of it, the domain name is SCCMUnleashed.com, because SCCM is another commonly used abbreviation.