RE: Subject: RE: Deploying Office XP SP3 using SMS Feature Pack

["Threlkeld, Richard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>]

SMS is an extremely robust tool for PM however what many people tend to
forget is that its target audience is larger enterprises and needs a
dedicated Administrative support team with product knowledge, not just
as someone's part-time job.  This is no different for other services in
larger companies such as Authentication, Asset Management, etc.  This is
also why when you look at Microsoft's solutions for PM WUS is aimed at
smaller companies because it takes less workload to run however the
expense of that is that WUS isn't nearly as scaleable, robust, or
flexible as SMS is.  You have an almost unlimited amount of options with
SMS for PM because of the ability to build your own custom solutions if
needed around the existing PM infrastructure with little effort.

More info on SMS2K3's Software Updates feature set:
http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/evaluation/capabilities/patch.asp

SUSFP Guide for SMS 2.0, but it still holds weight and has many more
features added in SMS2K3 such as Change Windows, independent reminders,
etc:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=11C17A4C-CD03-4
F2F-AC76-67DAE1DFE3E4&displaylang=en


I personally recommend the Shavlik product solution line for smaller
companies that where implementing a large management solution like SMS
isn't prudent.  I'd love to hear a pure PM solution give technical
reasons why it's a better solution than SMS in a large enterprise
because of features it has and SMS doesn't (I'd like to hear feature
reasons that someone feels are missing from SMS so I can respond rather
than price or configuration concerns as this isn't a good comparison
using a PM solution against an EM solution).  A big bonus for using SMS
is the community support inside and outside of Microsoft behind it.
You'll find tons of support from fellow Administrators on
www.myitforum.com as well as on the Microsoft public newsgroups no
matter if you have a simple configuration question or site failure.
Many MVPs for SMS have been even known to spend time during the day,
evening, or weekend with fellow Administrators on the phone helping with
problems or issues.  If you are truly looking to get opinions from the
core SMS customer base I'd suggest posting to those forums or joining
the EXTREMELY active SMS email list:
http://lists.listleague.com/mailman/listinfo/mssms

Best,

Richard Threlkeld 
Microsoft MVP - SMS
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


-----Original Message-----
From: Pasquale Pescatore [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 6:59 AM
To: Patch Management Mailing List
Subject: Subject: RE: Deploying Office XP SP3 using SMS Feature Pack

Good Morning, I'm using Orphan's post because I've been asked to
investigate SMS 2003.  In a meeting I had with Microsoft on Friday April
2nd, Microsoft has advised me and my architect that their Patch
Management solution is an excellent solution and should not be dismissed
from the rest of the big vendors who specialize in Patch Management.
They have advised us that we can do anything the other vendors can do or
better.  

For us, the reason we may be considering SMS 2003 is because we have an
EA agreement with Microsoft and it would be a great cost effective
solution for us.

What I would like to ask is if anyone is using SMS 2003 as a Patch
Management solution is it a good solution?

I still find it hard to believe that SMS can provide everything the
other patch management products can provide that's why I'm asking the
question to the rest of the list members.

I want a intuitive solution and this is what I have seen with most of
the Patch Management companies.  I just remember SMS to be difficult to
set up and deploy properly.

Anything you could provide me (Pro's or Cons) would be greatly
appreciated.

Pasquale


Pasquale Pescatore B. Admin, MCSE
Senior Technology Analyst
The North West Company
e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> phone
204-934-1664
77 Main Street
R3C-2R1



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