Systems Management Server relies on the robust data storage and management features in SQL Server. SMS uses SQL Server databases containing tables, indexes, stored procedures, and triggers for data storage and management. SQL Server can be used to back up and restore SMS databases in order to prevent loss of data due to a database server failure. Database maintenance tasks specific to SMS may be configured in the SMS Administrator console. If an entire site fails, SMS provides a number of methods to recover the data. However, these recovery methods depend on regular and complete site backups.
To do the exercises in this chapter, you must have followed the instructions in "About This Book" and completed the exercises described in Chapter 2. That is, Computer 1 must be configured as a site server.