microsoft system center configuration manager latest

You may recall the original SMS (Systems Management Server), which was very hard to work with. SCCM (Configuration Manager) helps deploy operating systems, software applications, and software updates, as well as inventory hardware and software and do remote administration of computers. Tie-ins to the Overview interface for both Virtual Machine Manager services and Windows Azure services let you deploy and configure new services and entire machines easily. But first, here's an overview of its core components:Īpp Controller provides a single interface for managing both your Windows Azure services and, via the VMM (Virtual Machine Manager) tool, your internal virtual machines. In the coming months, I'll go deep into several components of System Center 2012. System Center also remains a desktop and virtual-desktop management tool for Windows PCs, as in its previous version.

That 'public cloud' claim is a stretch, though, as it means only resources hosted in Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud, not in competing public clouds.Īlso new in the 2012 version is System Center 2012's ability to manage Android, iOS, Symbian, and Windows Phone 7 mobile devices using the same EAS (Exchange ActiveSync) policies that Microsoft Exchange has long had to manage the same devices. Microsoft is positioning System Center 2012 as a cloud management tool for both your 'private cloud' of internal servers (Windows, Solaris, and Linux) and for public cloud services. That's not a certainty yet, but what I've seen so far of its integrated client-to-cloud management capabilities is causing me to warm up to it. But the forthcoming System Center 2012 - now available in the form of a release candidate - might just change my mind.

It's felt like a patch job of unrelated products. If you are one of my long-time readers, you know I mention it only sporadically, and even then without enthusiasm.

I admit it: I never liked Microsoft's System Center server management suite.

Microsoft system center configuration manager latest