Overview
A
major challenge for the IT administrators who manage their
technology infrastructure is figuring out which tool is best for
which job. With MOM, SMS, and WSUS and Microsoft Update, it is
important for the administrator to understand the features of each
tool and to understand how the tools work together. In addition,
where there is some overlap in functionality between the tools the
administrator needs to understand the benefits of using one tool
over another. Over time, Microsoft is focused on delivering a
comprehensive set of solutions for operations under the banner of
System Center. In this chapter, we cover the following areas
related to System Center and Microsoft's Dynamic Systems Initiative
(DSI):
In addition to the development of the System Center
products, the Dynamic Systems Initiative will continue to be
advanced to help IT become more efficient in managing the lifecycle
of systems. Through the continued development of solutions that
leverage the System Development Model and enable better planning
for and management of deployed systems, the vision of Dynamic
Systems is starting to be fulfilled.
In this chapter, you get an overview of the
products that are part of the System Center solutions. You'll get a
description of the products, understand how they fit together, and
review criteria to help you decide when to use which of the
products in System Center. In addition, you'll gain an
understanding of the Dynamic Systems Initiative and Microsoft's
direction for improving the IT lifecycle.