Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager

Term	Definition
Active Directory Security Group Discovery method	A Configuration Manager discovery method that searches for security group resources by polling the closest Active Directory domain controller.
Active Directory System Discovery method	A Configuration Manager discovery method that searches for system resources by polling the closest Active Directory domain controller.
Active Directory System Group Discovery method	A Configuration Manager discovery method that searches for system group resources by polling the closest Active Directory domain controller.
Active Directory User Discovery method	A Configuration Manager discovery method that searches for computer user resources by polling the closest Active Directory domain controller.
Active Management Technololgy (AMT)	An Intel networking management technology that is supported by Configuration Manager out of band management, which enables a Configuration Manager administrator to manage desktop computers independently from the Configuration Manager client or the computer operating system.
active software update point	The software update point for a site that interacts with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to configure software updates settings and manage software updates synchronization. The active software update point can accept connections from the intranet and the Internet.
Advanced Client	An SMS 2003 client type, supported on Windows 2000 or later operating systems, that can be assigned to a Configuration Manager mixed mode site.
advertise	To make a program, software update deployment, or task sequence available to clients via a collection.
advertisement	A Configuration Manager object that the site server sends as a notification to the management points, specifying that a program, software update deployment, or task sequence is available for clients.
Asset Intelligence	A Configuration Manager feature that allows administrators to inventory and manage software license usage throughout their enterprise.
Asset Intelligence Knowledge Base	A part of the Asset Intelligence feature that is used to produce new reports that identify and categorize deployed hardware and software assets.
assigned management point	The default management point at the assigned primary site for the Configuration Manager client.
assigned program	A program that has been advertised to a Configuration Manager collection and that clients are required to run.
assigned site	A site to which a Configuration Manager client is currently assigned.
backup snapshot	A snapshot of a site’s data, created by the Backup Configuration Manager Site Server task or by another backup utility, used during a site recovery process to restore the site’s data.
binary delta replication	The copying of only the changed portions of a Configuration Manager package or program file rather than the entire file when an update has been made.
boundary	An IP subnet, IP address range, IPv6 prefix or Active Directory site that is used to define the scope of administrative control for a Configuration Manager site. Boundaries are used by the site to determine which distribution points are closest for retrieving content and used by the client to determine which site it should be assigned to.
branch distribution point	A Configuration Manager site system that has the role of storing package source files and is designed to be located in a distributed location with limited network bandwidth or a limited number of clients.
central site	The primary site at the top of the Configuration Manager hierarchy, to which all other sites in the system report their inventory, site configurations, software metering data, and status.
collection-limited query	A query scoped to include only resources that are in a specified collection.
component server	A Configuration Manager site system role that is filled by any site system running a component installed by Configuration Manager Site Component Manager. The only site system that is not a component server is the distribution point.
Configuration Manager health state reference	A reference that is published to Active Directory to refer to Configuration Manager NAP policy and stored for the System Health Validator (SHV) to use in determining policy compliance.
Configuration Manager hierarchy	A collection of one or, typically, more Configuration Manager sites bound together via child-parent relationships. The site at the top of the hierarchy is known as the central site.
Configuration Manager site	A collection of clients and Configuration Manager site systems that are bounded by a group of subnets, such as IP subnets or an Active Directory site, and which are specified by a Configuration Manager administrator as a site.
Configuration Manager site database	A Microsoft SQL Server database that stores Configuration Manager site data, such as discovery data, configuration data, status messages, and inventory data. Every primary site has a Configuration Manager site database. The server supporting the Configuration Manager site database is automatically assigned the site database server role.
Configuration Manager software distribution	A Configuration Manager feature that automatically distributes software programs to Configuration Manager client computers.
Configuration Manager software inventory	A Configuration Manager feature that automatically gathers information about software on clients in a Configuration Manager site.
Configuration Manager software metering	The Configuration Manager feature that monitors software usage on client computers.
Courier Sender	A Configuration Manager communication mechanism that enables you to create and send package information to another Configuration Manager site through non-network channels.
DCM digest	A predefined XML schema used by Configuration Manager 2007 that is used with the desired configuration management feature to create and validate configuration baselines and configuration items.
DDR	See Other Term: discovery data record (DDR)
default management point	The active management point for a site, which could also be an IP address of a Network Load Balancing (NLB) cluster that combines several management points.
delta inventory file	A file generated after Configuration Manager performs a complete inventory, containing only hardware or software properties that were added, removed, or changed since the previous inventory cycle.
delta replication	The copying of only the changed Configuration Manager package or program file rather than the entire package or program when an update has been made.
desired configuration management	A Configuration Manager feature that provides a set of tools and resources for assessing and tracking configuration compliance of client computers in the enterprise.
device management point	A Configuration Manager site system that communicates with mobile device clients and that must be hosted on a Configuration Manager management point.
direct membership rule	A collection membership rule that targets an individual resource, such as a user, user group, or a Configuration Manager client.
discovery data	A set of properties collected by a discovery method that reflects the attributes of a Configuration Manager resource.
discovery data record (DDR)	The file format (.ddr) and the actual file that is used by Configuration Manager to report discovery data to a Configuration Manager site database.
distribution point	A site system that has the role of storing package source files. Clients contact distribution points to obtain source files when they run advertised programs, advertised task sequences, or deployed software updates.
distribution point group	A set of distribution points that you can manage as a single entity.
fallback status point	A Configuration Manager site system role that helps you to monitor client installation and to identify the clients that are unmanaged because they cannot communicate with their management point.
global roaming	The capability of roaming to lower level sites, higher level sites, and sibling sites. This roaming method requires Active Directory Domain Services and the Configuration Manager Active Directory schema extensions.
Heartbeat Discovery method	A Configuration Manager discovery method that is used to update data discovery records (DDRs) for each Configuration Manager client on a set schedule to ensure that they remain current in the site database.
hierarchy branch	A group of Configuration Manager sites, interconnected via child/parent site connections, that report up to the same primary site.
IDMIF file	A type of Management Information Format (MIF) file that can be used to add new architectures or updates to existing architectures in the Configuration Manager site database to accommodate custom hardware inventory properties.
Internet-based client management	A feature in Configuration Manager that allows you to manage computers that have the Configuration Manager client agent but do not connect into the network through a VPN or dial-up connection.
Internet-based site system	A site system role that allows connections from clients when they are managed over the Internet.
Internet-based software update point	The Internet-based software update point for a site that interacts with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to configure software updates settings and manage software updates synchronization and that accepts communication only from client computers on the Internet.
maintenance window	A period of time, defined by administrators, when changes can be made on the systems that are members of a Configuration Manager collection.
Managed Object Format (MOF)	The file type, based on the Interface Definition Language (IDL), that describes management information. The MOF syntax is a way to describe object definitions in textual form.
management controller	The hardware and firmware component on desktop motherboards that supports out of band management in Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 and later.
Management Information Format (MIF) file	The file type (.mif) that can be used to modify the Configuration Manager database by creating architectures, object classes, and attributes.
management point	The Configuration Manager site system role that serves as the primary point of contact between Configuration Manager clients and the Configuration Manager site server.
membership rule	The criteria by which Configuration Manager evaluates whether a resource belongs to a particular collection. A membership rule can be a query, or it can explicitly specify a resource.
MIF file	See Other Term: Management Information Format (MIF) file
mixed mode	An operational mode of Configuration Manager 2007 that provides backward compatibility with SMS 2003 sites and provides a basic level of security for organizations that cannot meet the PKI requirements for native mode.
MOF	See Other Term: Managed Object Format (MOF)
NAP-capable client	A Windows-based client that supports Network Access Protection.
native mode	A security-based operational mode setting in Configuration Manager, where the site server signs all policies and where site systems require mutually authenticated SSL connections to client computers.
Network Discovery method	The Configuration Manager discovery method that enables the Configuration Manager administrator to discover any network resources that are IP addressable.
NOIDMIF file	A custom Management Information Format (MIF) file that Configuration Manager administrators can use to modify or append object classes and properties to existing client inventory data.
operating system deployment	A Configuration Manager feature that allows you to create operating system images and deploy those images to target computers.
out of band management	A feature in Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 and later that allows computers to be managed outside standard management channels by connecting to a supported management controller. This management channel is independent from the Configuration Manager client and the operating system.
out of band service point	A site system for Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 and later that has the role of provisioning computers for out of band Management.
package	A Configuration Manager object that contains the files and instructions for distributing software, software updates, boot images, operating system images, and drivers to Configuration Manager client computers.
package definition file	An ASCII text file that contains predefined software distribution objects, such as programs and packages to be used for software deployment.
package refresh	A Configuration Manager software distribution operation in which the compressed package source files are redistributed to distribution points to repair a package.
package source directory	A directory containing Configuration Manager package source files that are used for package distribution.
package source file	In a Configuration Manager package, the software file or files that are being deployed to clients.
package update	A Configuration Manager software distribution operation in which updated package source files are recompressed, the package version is incremented, and then the package is redistributed to distribution points.
preferred sender	The sender specified in the package properties to use when sending the package to a child site.
primary site	A Configuration Manager site that is configured to store its information in a SQL Server database.
protected distribution point	A Configuration Manager distribution point that has boundaries configured to prevent clients outside the boundaries from retrieving packages.
proxy management point	A secondary Configuration Manager site management point that services the Configuration Manager clients that are within its boundaries.
PXE service point	A Configuration Manager site system that initiates a PXE operating system deployment process. The PXE service point responds to network PXE boot requests and determines the appropriate actions to take.
remediation server	A server that is used to update the computer state by providing software updates, new antivirus signatures, additional intrusion detection signatures, and so on.
Report Viewer	A reporting tool, accessible through the Configuration Manager console, that uses your Web browser as a report viewer.
reporting point	A Configuration Manager site system that hosts the Report Viewer component for Web-based reporting functionality.
reporting services point	In Configuration Manager 2007 R2 and later, a site system role that enables administrators to use Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reports from the Configuration Manager console.
resident management point	The default Configuration Manager management point of the site in which a globally roaming client is currently located.
Resource Explorer	A Configuration Manager console feature that displays the hardware and software inventory that has been collected from clients.
secondary site	A Configuration Manager site that does not require a dedicated SQL Server database, is always a child of a primary site, and is administered solely through its parent or through another primary site above it in the Configuration Manager site hierarchy.
security context	The Configuration Manager security attributes or rules that are currently in effect.
send request file	A Configuration Manager file with instructions that a sender uses to connect to and transfer data to a destination.
server locator point	A Configuration Manager site system that completes site assignment and can locate management points for Configuration Manager clients when clients cannot retrieve that information from Active Directory Domain Services or other mechanisms.
service component	A Configuration Manager program that runs as a service that can be started and stopped through the Services icon in Control Panel or the Computer Management administrative tool.
site assignment	The process of including selected resources in a Configuration Manager site.
site assignment rules	A group of site boundaries that a Configuration Manager administrator defines for a Configuration Manager site.
site code	A three-character code that Configuration Manager uses to uniquely identify a Configuration Manager site. The site code is specified during the site installation and cannot be changed after installation.
site control file	An ASCII text file that contains the settings of a Configuration Manager site.
site database server	A Configuration Manager site system role assigned to the computer that hosts the Configuration Manager site database (a SQL Server database). The computer might or might not be the site server.
site server	The Configuration Manager site system role assigned to the server on which Configuration Manager Setup has been run successfully. When Configuration Manager is installed on a computer, that computer is automatically assigned the site server role. Every Configuration Manager site has one site server.
site system	A server that provides Configuration Manager functionality to a Configuration Manager site.
SMS Executive	The primary Configuration Manager service, which accesses and updates the database and manages many different process threads.
SMS Installer	An SMS tool that enables you to create customized, self-extracting, software installation files.
SMS Provider	A WMI provider that allows both read and write access to the Configuration Manager 2007 site database.
software metering	A Configuration Manager feature that monitors program usage on client computers.
software update point	A Configuration Manager site role that is configured on a computer running WSUS.
stand-alone site	A Configuration Manager site with no parent sites and no child sites and which is always displayed as a central site on the site properties.
standard distribution point	A Configuration Manager distribution point that has the role of storing package source files and has not been specifically designated as a branch distribution point.
Standard Sender	A Configuration Manager communication mechanism that enables you to create and send package information to another Configuration Manager site over standard network channels.
state message	A message type used to identify at what stage a Configuration Manager client process succeeded, failed, or stopped.
state migration point	A Configuration Manager site system role that stores user state data while a computer is being migrated to a new operating system.
status filter rule	A filtering rule that controls how status messages are reported and viewed.
status message	A message generated by a Configuration Manager component and viewed in the Status Message Viewer. Status messages differ from operating system events in that they represent the flow of activity within a Configuration Manager site.
status message threshold	The limit that defines when the summary status for a component or site system should indicate OK, Warning, or Critical status.
Status Message Viewer	A tool in the Configuration Manager console that is used to browse the status messages in the Configuration Manager site database.
status summarizer	Consolidates the data generated by Configuration Manager status messages into a succinct view of the status of a component, a server, a package, or an advertisement.
status summary	A data set that is generated by the Configuration Manager status summarizer.
System Health Validator point	The site system role assigned to the Network Policy Servers for a Configuration Manager 2007 site.
task sequence	The mechanism in Configuration Manager for performing multiple steps or tasks on a client computer at the command-line level without requiring user intervention.
thread component	A Configuration Manager program that runs as a thread of the SMS Executive service component. A thread component can be started and stopped through the SMS Service Manager.
trusted root key	An encryption key used in Configuration Manager to help clients identify valid management points.
unmanaged client	A client that is not communicating with its assigned site in the Configuration Manager hierarchy and therefore cannot receive policy or upload inventory data.
wake-up packet	A packet sent by Configuration Manager's primary site server when using Wake On LAN to bring targeted computers out of a sleep state so that they can perform a management function, such as installing a mandatory software update.