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Chapter and Appendix Overview

This course combines notes, hands-on procedures, multimedia presentations, and review questions to teach you systems management, design, and implementation methods using SMS 2.0. It is designed to be completed from beginning to end, but you can choose to complete only the sections that interest you. (See the next section, "Finding the Best Starting Point for You" for more information.) If you choose the customized track option, see the "Before You Begin" section in each chapter. Any hands-on procedures that require preliminary work from preceding chapters is explained in "Before You Begin."

The self-paced training book is divided into the following chapters:

"About This Book" (this chapter) contains a self-paced training overview and introduces the components of this training. Read this section thoroughly to get the greatest educational value from this self-paced training and to plan which lessons you will complete. It is imperative that you complete the "Getting Started" section to properly prepare the computers for the exercises in the chapters.
Chapter 1, "Introduction to Microsoft Systems Management Server" introduces SMS 2.0. It provides an overview of the functional areas, hierarchy, and network configurations of SMS 2.0.
Chapter 2, "Installing a Primary Site" explains how to install SMS 2.0 to function as a primary site server. It lists the hardware and software requirements of the program, and it explains the specific information you have to supply and the decisions you have to make during the installation process. Following installation, the modifications made by SMS setup is described. Post installation procedures, making computer resources client computers, and upgrading SMS 1.2 to SMS 2.0 conclude this chapter.
Chapter 3, "Administering Inventory Collection" describes how to install, configure, and customize inventory collection. Explains the process of inventory collection and how to use Resource Explorer to view collected inventory.
Chapter 4, "Distributing Software" addresses how packages, programs, collections and advertisements work together to complete the software distribution process to client computers. The final lesson in this chapter explains how to use the SMS Installer.
Chapter 5, "SMS Software Metering" discusses SMS Software Metering. The roles played by software metering site systems and client computers are delineated. How to configure and manage software metering using the Software Metering application, concludes this chapter.
Chapter 6, "Using Remote Tools" provides information on supporting various client computer operating systems using remote support utilities accessed through the SMS Administrator console.
Chapter 7, "SMS Network Management Components" details the use of critical network management tools, including Network Monitor, the Network Monitor Control Tool, and the Event to Trap Translator.
Chapter 8, "Querying the Database and Producing Reports" describes the purpose and construction of queries and reports. Query Builder and Crystal Info are explored in this chapter.
Chapter 9, "Planning for SMS" explains how to successfully design and implement SMS 2.0.
Chapter 10, "Configuring Site Systems" describes the site system creation and configuration process. The last lesson in this chapter describes how to monitor site systems with Network Trace.
Chapter 11, "Site-to-Site Communications" describes how SMS communicates between sites. Details are provided that explain how to create an SMS hierarchy, and install a secondary site. The chapter concludes by explaining how to successfully remove SMS software from a computer acting as a primary or secondary site server.
Chapter 12, "Configuring SMS Security" discusses how the file system, users, groups, and the WBEM/SMS Provider interface protect SMS from unauthorized access.
Chapter 13, "Administering SMS Databases" discusses SQL Server features important to the operation of SMS 2.0, and how to maintain SMS in case a recovery procedure is required in the future. The last lesson in this chapter explains how to restore an SMS site.
Chapter 14, "Monitoring and Troubleshooting SMS" addresses the major categories where problems occur in SMS 2.0 and the tools included with SMS 2.0 for analysis of various problems.
The Appendix, "Questions and Answers" lists all of the practice and review questions from the book, showing suggested answers.
The "Glossary" provides definitions of commonly used terms relating to SMS.

Finding the Best Starting Point for You

Because this book is self-paced, you can skip some lessons and revisit them later. Note, however, that you must complete the procedures outlined in the "Getting Started" section of About This Book and any procedures outlined in Before You Begin in each chapter, before you can successfully complete exercises within the chapters:

If you	Follow this learning path
Are planning an implementation	Read Chapters 1 and 9, and then complete SMS Chapter 2.
Are new to SMS	Read all chapters in consecutive order.
Need to learn about SMS features	Read Chapter 1, and then read Chapters 3 to 8 SMS features of this book.
Are having trouble completing any of the exercises in this guide	Read Lesson 1 of Chapter 14, and then locate the the function in Chapter 14, Lesson 2 that is relevant to the exercise with which you are having trouble completing.
Are preparing for the Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Systems Management Server 2.0 certification exam	Read through the tested skills list that follows in the "Where to Find Specific Skills in This Book" Section, and then read all chapters and complete all exercises in this book. At the completion of certification exam your studies, return to the skills list for the exam to verify that you have a firm grasp on all the tested skills.

Where to Find Specific Skills in This Book

The following tables provide a comprehensive list of the skills measured on certification exam 70-086, Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Systems Management Server 2.0. The tables list the skill and indicate where in this book you will find the lesson relating to that skill.

NOTE
Exam skills are subject to change without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft.

Skills measured by exam 70-086

Planning	Location in this book
Design a Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) site; plan for various elements. Identify location of resources. Identify types of resources, which consist of computers, printers, routers, users, and user groups. Choose features of SMS to be implemented. Identify hardware and software requirements for site systems.	Chapter 1, Lessons 1-3; Chapter 9, Lessons 1-3
Design an SMS site hierarchy. Identify the number of sites needed, based on con- siderations that include number and types of resources, network connectivity, and international issues such as language. Identify the number of layers needed, based on con- siderations that include number and types of resources, network connectivity, and international issues such as language.	Chapter 9, Lessons 1-3; Chapter 11, Lesson 1
Plan a security strategy for SMS servers. Implement appropriate SMS accounts. Implement access permissions for varying levels of SMS administration.	Chapter 12, Lessons 1-3
Plan the interoperability or upgrade for various situations. Plan the interoperability of a mixed SMS 1.2 and SMS 2.0 site. Plan the upgrade of an SMS 1.2 site to an SMS 2.0 site.	Chapter 2, Lesson 7; Chapter 9, Lesson 2; Chapter 4, Lesson 1

Installation and Configuration	Location in this book
Install, configure, and modify a primary site server. Use Express Setup and Custom Setup. Configure the Windows NT Server computer that will be the site server. Set up SQL Server during SMS setup. Use a remote SQL Server computer. Shut down, reset, and restart the current installation. Modify the SMS service account to a different user name or password. Change the SQL Server information. Remove SMS. Install new SMS components.	Chapter 2, Lessons 1, 2, 4-6; Chapter 11, Lesson 3
Install a secondary site server. Perform the installation from the CD-ROM. Perform a network installation by using files from the network or the CD-ROM.	Chapter 11, Lesson 3
Configure site system roles. Configure component servers. Configure logon points. Configure distribution points. Configure client access points. Configure software metering servers. Configure the SMS Administrator console.	Chapter 10, Lesson2; Chapter 5, Lesson 2; Chapter 12, Lesson 2
Configure a site hierarchy. Configure site addresses. Add and configure senders, which consist of Standard, Courier, and RAS. Implement parent-child relationships. Remove a site from the site hierarchy.	Chapter 11, Lessons 2 and 3

Configuring and Managing Resources	Location in this book
Configure software and hardware inventory collection for a site. Enable and configure hardware inventory collection. Enable and configure software inventory files to be scanned and collected.	Chapter 3, Lesson 2
Manage inventory. View inventory data, including history. Use the SMS Administrator console to manage inventory. Customize inventory data.	Chapter 3, Lesson 4
Distribute software. Use SMS Installer to produce installation scripts. Create a query to locate target computers. Create a collection of target computers. Create a package, program, and advertisement to distribute software. Monitor the software distribution process by using status messages. Use the SMS client software to run or install a program on a client computer. Remove advertised software from distribution points.	Chapter 4, Lessons 2-5; Chapter 8, Lesson 2; Chapter 14, Lesson 1
Create database reports. Use Crystal Info to view data and create reports.	Chapter 8, Lesson 3
Configure and use software metering. Configure software metering server and client components. Add products to be licensed. Configure licensing options. Exclude products from being metered. Meter software. Manage software metering data. Generate reports and graphs.	Chapter 5, Lessons 2 and 3
Install and configure an SMS client computer. Discover clients. Configure client setup methods. Run the client installation. Identify changes made to client.	Chapter 2, Lessons 5 and 6; Chapter 3, Lesson 3; Chapter 14, Lesson 2
Install and configure remote utilities on clients. Configure Remote Control Agent at the site server. Configure remote control settings at the client. Configure protocols on clients. Use diagnostic utilities for clients. Use remote tools.	Chapter 6, Lessons 1-3
Install and configure Windows NT Event to Trap Translator.	Chapter 7, Lesson 4
Install and configure Health Monitor to monitor Windows NT Server computers.	Chapter 14, Lesson 1
Identify changes to a site server after SMS installation. Types of site servers are domain controllers, non-domain controllers, and secondary site servers.	Chapter 2, Lesson 3
Monitor SMS status messages. Configure status messages. Configure and use SMS Status Message Viewer. Configure and use SMS logs to monitor SMS process activity.	Chapter 14, Lesson 1
Monitor the progress of SMS functions. Monitor the progress of client installation. Monitor the progress of inventory collection. Monitor the progress of software distribution. Monitor the progress of remote control. Monitor the progress of software metering.	Chapter 14, Lessons 1 and 2
Use SMS utilities to monitor SMS functions. Use the Windows NT Event Viewer to view SMS error messages. Use the Status Message Viewer to monitor SMS components and processes. Use Network Monitor to view and filter network traffic. Use Network Trace to trace the SMS network. Use SMS Trace to track and view log files.	Chapter 7, Lesson 2; Chapter 14, Lesson 1; Chapter 10, Lesson 3
Optimize SQL Server for SMS.	Chapter 2, Lesson 1; Chapter 13, Lesson 1
Optimize sender network utilization.	Chapter 11, Lesson 2
Monitor the SMS database. Configure SMS database maintenance tasks. Back up and restore the site database.	Chapter 13, Lesson 2
Back up an SMS site.	Chapter 13, Lesson 2
Choose the appropriate diagnostic tool.	Chapter 7, Lesson 1; Chapter 14, Lesson 1
Diagnose and resolve installation problems in SMS site systems. Diagnose and resolve installation problems involving the primary site server. Diagnose and resolve installation problems involving the secondary site server. Diagnose and resolve installation problems involving client access points, distribution points, logon points, and component servers.	Chapter 2, Lesson 4; Chapter 14, Lesson 2
Diagnose and resolve installation problems involving clients.	Chapter 14, Lesson 2
Diagnose and resolve problems involving software distribution.	Chapter 14, Lesson 2
Diagnose and resolve problems involving inventory collection.	Chapter 14, Lesson 2
Diagnose and resolve problems involving remote control.	Chapter 14, Lesson 2
Diagnose and resolve problems involving software metering.	Chapter 14, Lesson 2
Diagnose and resolve problems involving SNMP integration.	Chapter 7, Lessons 3 and 4
Restore an SMS site. Restore a SQL Server. Restore a site server. Restore logon points, client access points, and distribution points.	Chapter 13, Lesson 3
Diagnose and resolve problems involving site-to-site communication.	Chapter 11, Lesson 2