Microsoft To Deliver SMS 2003 Nov. 11, MOM 2004 Expected Mid 2004

SMS 2003, which is expected to be released into manufacturing Oct. 22 and announced at IT Forum in Copenhagen in November, features enhanced patch and application deployment, advanced remote management for laptops/devices, new asset management features and tools to speed deployment, said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Microsoft's Enterprise Management Division.

For instance, SMS 2003 will feature integrated enterprise patch deployment tools and WAN-aware application and operating system software distribution, executives noted during a meeting with CRN on Tuesday.

As Microsoft strives to improve the overall management of the Windows infrastructure, SMS 2003 will play a more effective role in distributing full software upgrades, such as the forthcoming Office 2003 applications and security patches, Muglia said.

Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., also said it released its forthcoming Microsoft Operations Manager 2004 into private beta-testing last week and plans to ship the upgrade in mid-2004. MOM 2004 will offer management packs for security and Web services support, executives added.

In the near term, Microsoft will announce at its Professional Developer's Conference later this month the availability of the MOM Connector Framework, which will allow customers to integrate MOM with third-party management frameworks including IBM Tivoli, Computer Associates International Unicenter and SMARTS, executives said.

The framework and connectors will enable bi-directional information exchange and Web services-based APIs.

In addition, Microsoft will deliver to partners MOM Management Packs from key application and Web services vendors including Actional, Amberpoint and CA's Adjoin, executives noted.