SMS Useful Resources

• Accessing the Microsoft Newsgroups through a Browser [updated 18/9/02]
• Download Microsoft Presentations [26/8/03]
• Get Notified of Changes to Microsoft Management Products [26/6/03]
• Giving Microsoft Feedback on SMS [12/2/03]
• Mark.Nunn.net [9/6/03]
• Microsoft Release Management Community Pages [9/6/03]
• Microsoft Re-organising SMS Newsgroups [20/8/03]
• Microsoft Seminar On-Line [updated 23/12/03]
• Microsoft SMS FAQs and Highlights [9/8/01]
• Microsoft SMS 2.0 Support WebCasts [updated 26/2/03]
• Microsoft SMS Operations Guide [12/2/03]
• Microsoft SMS Whitepapers [updated 6/4/02]
• Microsoft Systems Management Server Software Update Services Guide Released [22/8/03]
• Microsoft Technical Chats [9/12/02]
• New Application Installation Using Microsoft Systems Management Server [12/3/03]
• Order Your Free Systems Management Evaluation Kit - UK ONLY [24/7/03]
• Patch Management Using Microsoft Systems Management Server [10/3/03]
• Server Management Magazine [07/02/06]
• What Are The Best Books for Learning/Using SMS? [11/8/01]
• Where Do I Find the SMS Recovery Tools? [10/05/04]

Accessing the Microsoft Newsgroups through a Browser

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
Did you know that you can use Google to access the Microsoft newsgroups, (which is handy for those of us who can't use Outlook Express as the newsgroup traffic has been filtered on the network)?

Here's how to do it:

1. Goto http://www.google.com/grphp?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8
    
2. Do a search for the subject of the newsgroup you're looking for such as "SMS".
    
3. Look down the results for an entry whose last line contains text such as "microsoft.public.sms.admin". Click on this and hey presto you're in.

If you want to see a list of newsgroups such as all of the SMS one's, under the "Google groups" logo click the "sms" entry in the line that reads "Group: microsoft . public . sms . admin"

Here's a list of the SMS and MOM newsgroups:

SMS

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.admin
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.installer
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.inventory
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.misc
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.netmon
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.rcdiags
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.setup
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.sharedapps
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.sitecomm
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.swdist
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.tools
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.sms.win2k

MOM

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=microsoft.public.mom

The following MOM newsgroups are also available but for some reason not through Google Groups:

microsoft.public.mom.managementpack.ad (Active Directory)
microsoft.public.mom.managementpack.exchange (Exchange 2000)
microsoft.public.mom.managementpack.iis (Internet Information Server)
microsoft.public.mom.managementpack.sql (SQL)

But this isn't the only way to access these groups. You can also participate through a web interface on TechNet's site (thanks to Rod Trent for this snippet):

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/newsgroups/default.asp

or use the following link submitted by Sean Ademy:

http://communities.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.asp?icp=technet

or from Michael Niehaus here's another option, through the Microsoft support web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.aspx

and if you want developer newsgroups:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/newsgroups/
 

Download Microsoft Presentations

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
Microsoft runs loads of different events across the US which is fine if you live there and have got time to attend them. So imagine being able to find and download copies of the presentations used at these events for free? Well your wish has been answered. Simply use the link below, type in your keywords (such as SMS or MOM), and hit the Submit button:

http://www.microsoft.com/usa/presentations/ms.asp

Get Notified of Changes to Microsoft Management Products

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
Microsoft has released a new signup service on their Management website to help you stay current on new changes to their Management products such as MOM and SMS as they make them.  You can signup at:

http://www.microsoft.com/management/notifyme/default.mspx

Giving Microsoft Feedback on SMS

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
If you want to give Microsoft some feedback on SMS (or many of their other products), then this is the place to go:

http://register.microsoft.com/mswish/suggestion.asp

Mark.Nunn.net

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
This site was selected as 'Site of the Month' for June 2003 for good reason. Run by Mark Nunn it offers really cool SMS scripts that make a valuable addition to any SMS Administrator's arsenal and best of all they're free.  Drop by and check them out at:

http://mark.nunn.net/

Microsoft Release Management Community Pages

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
These pages provide a consolidated list of available community resources: newsgroup, webcasts, 3rd-party websites (including us), user groups, and community resources for related Microsoft products. Customers (and you too!) should now have an easier time locating and using Management Community support resources. Check them out... [Go to article]
 

Microsoft Re-organising SMS Newsgroups

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
In an announcement made last Thursday, Microsoft stated that several SMS-related newsgroups would be retired in effort to help make getting answers to problems easier…  [Go to article]
 

Microsoft Seminar On-Line

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
Microsoft have several SMS-related Seminars on their website at http://www.microsoft.com/seminar/default.mspx

Here's a list of the SMS-related one's... [Go to article]
 

Microsoft SMS FAQs and Highlights

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
Want to see all the FAQs & Highlights for SMS 2.0 as published by Microsoft?...  [Go to article]
 

Microsoft SMS 2003 Support WebCasts

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
With SMS 2003 well on it's way Microsoft have already released a number of Support WebCasts covering SMS 2003.  This article contains a list sorted by date (most recent first) of past and future SMS 2003-related WebCasts... [Go to article]
 

Microsoft SMS 2.0 Support WebCasts

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
Often overlooked, the Microsoft Support WebCasts offer a wealth of information. In this article you can find a list sorted by date (most recent first) of SMS 2.0-related WebCasts... [Go to article]
 

Microsoft SMS Operations Guide

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
This little gem is designed to give you operational guidance on using SMS and is well worth a read.

'The intent of this document is to provide operational guidance on Microsoft® Systems Management Server version 2.0 (SMS) for organizations that have deployed, or are considering deploying, Microsoft technologies in a data center or in other enterprise computing environments. This document describes how to use and maintain SMS within such an environment.'

To download it goto:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=0A440215-BB58-4E5A-9157-FA7AF7984C92

Microsoft SMS Whitepapers

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
You can access several SMS whitepapers from the SMS Home Page at:

http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/default.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/techinfo/default.asp

Here's the current list:
 

SMS Security Essentials

Changes to Windows Networking Logon Discovery in Service Pack 2

Systems Management Server 1.2 and 2.0 Interoperability

Integrating SMS 2.0 with Novell NetWare

Migrating from Hewlett-Packard Desktop Administrator to SMS 2.0

Migrating from Intel LANDesk Management Suite 6.4 to SMS 2.0

SMS Maintenance & Recovery

Managing SMS Mobile and Slow–Link Clients

Managing Duplicate SMS Unique Identifiers

Moving SMS Servers Between Domains

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Clustering Interoperability with SMS

Microsoft Systems Management Server Software Update Services Guide Released

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
If you're using or thinking of using the SMS SUS Feature Pack then you are DEFINITELY going to want to check out the "Microsoft Systems Management Server Software Update Services Guide" that Microsoft has just released:

You can download the guide from:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=11C17A4C-CD03-4F2F-AC76-67DAE1DFE3E4&displaylang=en

or if you prefer read it online at:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/sms/maintain/operate/Smssusgd.asp
 

Microsoft Technical Chats

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
Unlike Microsoft SMS Support WebCasts which are one-way (the information is broadcast to you), Technical Chats allow you to 'talk' to Microsoft in real-time using the Microsoft Chat Software (which you'll need to download to take part in any of the chats).

You can see the current list of Technical Chats at:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/itcommunity/chats/Default.asp

If you want to see a list of Transcripts from previous chats go to:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itcommunity/chats/trans/default.asp

Chats relating to SMS include:

Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0: What Is New in Service Pack 5
March 11, 2003. 1:00 – 2:00 P.M. Pacific time 4:00 – 5:00 P.M. Eastern time 21:00 – 22:00 GMT/London
Join Microsoft experts in an online chat to discuss what’s new in Service Pack 5. Service packs are a compilation of QFEs (fixes) that have been released, and do not typically include new functionality. However, to improve the functionality of Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0, and to provide improved security and interoperability with both Windows .NET Server 2003 and SMS 2003, Service Pack 5 for SMS 2.0 does include some functionality changes. You must be aware of these changes to effectively support your SMS sites. You bring the questions & we will supply the answers.

SMS 2.0 Feature Pack (September 18, 2002)
September 18, 2002. 11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Pacific time. 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. Eastern time. 18:00 - 19:00 GMT. 19:00 - 20:00 London. The Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0 Value Pack is being readied for release. Learn about what tools will be included, and how these tools can extend SMS capabilities and benefit your business.
 

New Application Installation Using Microsoft Systems Management Server

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
This document provides operational guidance on managing the distribution of new installations—for example, Microsoft® Office XP—within organizations that have deployed, or are considering deploying, Microsoft technologies in data center or enterprise computing environments. It provides conceptual information, best practices, and detailed procedures related to the software distribution process. It further describes the daily, weekly, monthly, and as-needed tasks that have to be completed in order to deploy patches into a live environment:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/itsolutions/msm/swdist/naismsog.asp
 

Order Your Free Systems Management Evaluation Kit - UK ONLY

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
You can test the products behind Microsoft's Systems Management Solutions with this free kit. You will receive a resource CD and trial versions of:

• Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Operations Manager 2000
• Systems Management Server 2.0
• Application Center 2000

Request your free kit from:

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windowsserversystem/smserver/default.mspx

Patch Management Using Microsoft Systems Management Server

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
This document provides operational guidance for the deployment of software updates, service packs, and Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) fixes using Microsoft® Systems Management Server (SMS). It describes the daily, weekly, monthly, and as-needed tasks that have to be completed in order to deploy patches into a live environment:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/itsolutions/msm/swdist/pmsmsog.asp
 

Server Management Magazine

http://www.server-management.co.uk

What Are The Best Books for Learning/Using SMS?

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
Want to know what are the Best Books for Learning/Using SMS? Well check out the Recommended SMS Books Section of the Bookstore.
 

Where Do I Find the SMS Recovery Tools?

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
If you need to re-install an SMS Site using a Site code or Site Server Name that has been used previously then you’re going to want to use the Recovery Tools to repair and resynch your Site.

Here’s where to download the SMS Recovery Tools:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=42A0123F-8117-40E4-8B9E-B5579996BAC1&displaylang=en