• myITforum.com— http://www.myITforum.com is a community of worldwide Information Technology (IT) professionals and a website established in 1999 by Rod Trent. First known as swynk.com, myITforum has concentrated on Systems Management Server (SMS) and now Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr). It also includes topics on other aspects of System Center and IT.

The list of blogs and other ConfigMgr-related articles at myITforum.com is enormous. This appendix includes some specific links to pertinent information, but it does not include everything.

• FAQShop.com— http://www.faqshop.com/configmgr2007/ is the home page for the System Center Configuration Manager 2007 section of the site.

FAQShop.com provides hints, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to Microsoft’s various systems management technologies.

• SystemCenterCentral.com—Launched at the Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) in April 2009, http://systemcentercentral.com focuses exclusively on the technologies included in the System Center suite of products. This new site touts itself as the site to visit for “Everything System Center.” Webmaster is System Centre Configuration Manager 2007 Unleashed contributor Pete Zerger.

• SystemCenterForum.org— http://www.systemcenterforum.org was also established by contributor Pete Zerger. SystemCenterForum offers news, articles, solutions, and learning resources for Operations Manager, Essentials 2007, and the System Center product suite. System Center Forum was first established as momresources.org in 2006 and renamed to SystemCenterForum.org in 2007. Beginning August 2009, you will be redirected to SystemCenterCentral.com.

• http://www.techlog.nl—All about everything Microsoft, maintained by Maarten Goet, Kenneth van Surksum, Steven van Loef, and Aad Noman.

• System Center Virtual User Group—A user group dedicated to providing educational resources and collaboration between users of System Center technologies worldwide. Microsoft Live Meeting is used for regular meetings. You can join the user group at http://www.systemcentercentral.com/.

• If you are not already receiving email notifications of new articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base from kbalertz, you can sign up at http://kbalertz.com/ for them! You just need to create an account and select those technologies you want to be alerted about.

• TechNet Manageability Center—Links to resources and TechNet magazine articles can be found at http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7280963.

• Microsoft has published white papers on performance-tuning guidelines for Windows Server:

• The Windows Server 2003 Tech Center is located at http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/.

• To configure SQL Server site database replication, check out http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb693697.aspx. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb693954.aspx discusses disabling database replication.

• Michael Pearson has an excellent article discussing SRS recovery planning, available online from the SQL Server Central community (SQLServerCentral.com) at http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Administration/recoveryplanningforsqlreportingservices/1655/. You must register with SQLServerCentral to view the full article.

• For information on SQL Server best practices, see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb671430.aspx.

The SQL Server 2005 Best Practice Analyzer is available for download at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=da0531e4-e94c-4991-82fa-f0e3fbd05e63 (or at www.microsoft.com/downloads, search for SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer).

• To virtualize or not to virtualize? CIO magazine presents a discussion of potential cost savings from virtualization and consolidation at http://www.cio.com/article/471408/The_Tricky_Math_of_Server_Virtualization_ROI.

• An article by Microsoft on using SQL Server 2005 in a virtual environment can be found at http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/c/d/acd8e043-d69b-4f09-bc9e-4168b65aaa71/SQLVirtualization.doc

• Trying to set up a virtual server cluster? An excellent two-part write-up that provides step-by-step processes is available at http://www.roudybob.net/?p=118 and http://www.roudybob.net/?p=119.

The information is also available in PDF format at http://www.roudybob.net/downloads/Setting-Up-A-Windows-Server-2003-Cluster-in-VS2005-Part1.pdf and http://www.roudybob.net/downloads/Setting-Up-A-Windows-Server-2003-Cluster-in-VS2005-Part2.pdf.

• Did you know you could back up a running virtual server VM (virtual machine)? See http://redmondmag.com/columns/print.asp?EditorialsID=2324 for information.

• The Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) 2007 scripting guide is available for download at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104290. (At the time of writing this appendix, a similar guide for VMM 2008 is not yet available.)

• For information on the Microsoft Solution Framework (MSF), refer to http://www.microsoft.com/msf.

• The MSF Process Model is documented at http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/7/7/777104c9-506e-47c9-9da4-9e23138be493/MSF_Process_Model_v._3.1.pdf.

• Microsoft’s white paper on MSF Risk Management is available at http://www.brightwork.com/file/PDF/MSF_Risk_Management_Discipline_v.1.1.pdf.

This paper is also downloadable from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6C2F2C7E-DDBD-448C-A218-074D88240942&displaylang=en.

• An IDC white paper sponsored by Microsoft that quantifies how businesses can reduce costs by managing the Windows desktop is available for download at http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/4/4/a4474b0c-57d8-41a2-afe6-32037fa93ea6/IDC_windesktop_IO_whitepaper.pdf.

• Read about proactive desktop management in Greg Shield’s article in Redmond magazine on best practices for desktop management at http://redmondmag.com/columns/article.asp?editorialsid=2635.

• For information regarding the Active Directory schema, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms675085(VS.85).aspx.

• Information on LDIFDE is located at http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/8fe5b815-f89d-48c0-8b2ca9cd1d6986521033.mspx?mfr=true.

• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555636 describes the process of exporting and importing objects using LDIFDE.

• To troubleshoot port status issues, you can use the Portqry command-line utility (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/network/bb545423.aspx) or its graphical equivalent, PortQryUI at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8355E537-1EA6-4569-AABB-F248F4BD91D0&displaylang=en.

• Interested in learning more about the Microsoft Operations Framework? Check out the MOF at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50015.

• Information on the IO (Infrastructure Optimization) model is available at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/infrastructure.

• Details about the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) is located at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/solutionaccelerators/msf.

• You may want to implement the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit tools if you have not already done so. You can download them from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=4544.

The individual utilities are available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb405955.aspx.

• An excellent resource on group policy management is available online at the Windows Server 2003 Tech Center: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc706993.aspx.

The section on WMI filtering is found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779036.aspx.

Security group filtering is discussed in http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/ConfigMgr/cc462788.aspx.

• For information on using PowerShell with ConfigMgr, check out http://www.windows7th.com/?p=22028.

• Microsoft’s System Center website is located at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/.

• The System Center catalog, Microsoft’s multiple pages for all things ConfigMgr and OpsMgr, incorporates the following section for Configuration Manager 2007—https://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/scp/configmgr07.aspx.

This is the Configuration Pack Catalog, also accessible at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=71837. Approximately 70 configuration packs were in the catalog at the time of writing this appendix.

• Virtual labs for the System Center family can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/configmgr/bb539977.aspx.

• Want a concise list of the site system roles? Check out http://faqshop.com/configmgr2007/desplan/dsitesytems/what_are_configmgr_site_system_roles.htm, contributed by Cliff Hobbs, a ConfigMgr MVP.

• Garth Jones, a ConfigMgr MVP, provides updates us on System Center Configuration Manager in his interview at http://www.runasradio.com/default.aspx?showNum=54.

• Thinking about hardware configurations for your site servers? http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=28617 provides a description of the most widely used RAID configurations and part of the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit.

• Microsoft has published a white paper on ConfigMgr 2007 sample configurations and performance-related questions, available at http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/b/9/4b97e9b7-7056-41ae-8fc8-dd87bc477b54/Sample_Configurations_and_Common_Performance_Related_Questions.pdf.

• You may also want to view Microsoft’s best practices for central and primary site hardware and software configuration, available at http://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/bb932180.aspx.

• For information on configuring Windows Server 2008 for site system roles, check the article at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc431377(TechNet.10).aspx.

• Information regarding configuring site systems to use NLB clustering is found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb633031.aspx.

• http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680733.aspx lists the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificate requirements for native mode, and http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632727.aspx provides a detailed check list for migrating a site to native mode.

• Configuring Out of Band Management is discussed at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc161822(TechNet.10).aspx.

• If you want to check your knowledge of ConfigMgr dependencies and requirements for key ConfigMgr 2007 components, Microsoft has compiled a number of quizzes to help raise your level of awareness of some of the “nuances” of the product. Download the quizzes at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b9fb478a-ec98-47f2-b31e-57443a8ae88f&DisplayLang=en (or go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads and search for configuration manager quiz).

• After taking the ConfigMgr quiz, are you looking for training?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb694263.aspx contains links to documents to help you get started with ConfigMgr.

The syllabus for the Microsoft-developed course “Planning, Deploying and Managing Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007” (course 6451A) is located at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/syllabi/6451a.aspx.

A great ConfigMgr trainer who teaches 6451A is Michael Head. His current course schedule is located at http://www.HeadSmartGroup.com/.

Infront Consulting Group offers a 5-day course on Operating System Deployment (OSD); check the syllabus at http://www.infrontconsulting.com/docs/SCCM2007OSD.pdf. Infront is also developing a 3-day course on Desired Configuration Management (DCM); check http://www.infrontconsulting.com/training.php for status. http://www.infrontconsulting.com/training.php also lists the current training schedule.

• As the world moves towards 64 bit, the ConfigMgr client remains a 32-bit client. Cliff Hobbs has a nice write-up of the issues this creates when trying to monitor with OpsMgr at http://wmug.co.uk/blogs/cliffs_blog/archive/2009/02/14/configmgr-monitoring-configmgr-2007-with-operations-manager-2007-in-a-64-bit-environment.aspx. A Service Pack (SP) 1 hotfix is planned to address this, along with an updated ConfigMgr management pack for Operations Manager 2007 R2. In addition, ConfigMgr 2007 SP 2 will come with native 64-bit performance counters.

• Garth Jones, a ConfigMgr MVP, posts articles at http://www.myitforum.com/contrib/default.asp?cid=116. He also is affiliated with the SMS User Group in Canada—those blogs are at http://smsug.ca/blogs/.

• Configuring a software update point with NLB is nicely documented at http://blogs.msdn.com/shitanshu/archive/2008/05/13/how-to-setup-wsus-sup-role-in-nlb-insccm.aspx.

• http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779036.aspx discusses Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) filtering using GPMC.

• WMI documentation is available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394582.aspx.

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394564(VS.85).aspx discusses WMI logging.

• See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa826699(VS.85).aspx for a discussion of User Account Control and WMI.

• Command-line tools to manage WMI can be downloaded at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa827351(VS.85).aspx.

• The WMI Diagnosis utility (WMIDiag) is available at the Microsoft download site, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d7ba3cd6-18d1-4d05-b11e-4c64192ae97d&displaylang=en.

• The WMI Administrative Tools are downloadable at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6430f853-1120-48db-8cc5-f2abdc3ed314&DisplayLang=en.

• CIM is the Component Information Model that WMI is based on. To learn more about CIM, use the tutorial located at http://www.wbemsolutions.com/tutorials/CIM/index.html. The full CIM specification can be found at http://www.dmtf.org/standards/cim/cim_spec_v22.

• Trying to understand licensing? Microsoft discusses current ConfigMgr licensing at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/configurationmanager/en/us/pricing-licensing.aspx.

Operating System Environment (OSE) licensing information is located at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/configurationmanager/en/us/pricing-licensing.aspx.

General licensing information is at http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/default.mspx.

• To update your ConfigMgr help files to the latest version, download the Configuration Manager 2007 Help File Update Wizard from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=71816b0f-de06-40e0-bce7-ad4b1e4377bb&displaylang=en. Information on this is also available at http://blogs.technet.com/configmgrteam/archive/2009/02/03/need-the-latest-configuration-manager-2007-help-file.aspx.

• Microsoft’s TechNet reference on security best practices and privacy information for ConfigMgr features is located at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632704.aspx.

• To download the ConfigMgr SDK, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=064A995F-EF13-4200-81AD-E3AF6218EDCC&displaylang=en.

• Create custom reports using ConfigMgr 2007 SQL Views. Microsoft documentation is downloadable at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=87BBE64E-5439-4FC8-BECC-DEB372A40F4A&displaylang=en.

• For information regarding WMI Query Language (WQL), see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394606(VS.85).aspx.

• For a discussion of User Account Control and WMI, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa826699(VS.85).aspx.

• Command-line tools for managing WMI are available for download at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa827351(VS.85).aspx.

• A nice tool provided by Microsoft to search TechNet, the Knowledge Base, and TechNet Blogs for troubleshooting information related to Configuration Manager is available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/configmgr/bb625748.aspx.

• Microsoft provides preplanning worksheets for Configuration Manager to help you gather information about your environment, available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb694080.aspx.

• Microsoft also provides planning worksheets, which you can download at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb694186.aspx.

• A useful flowchart describing the major activities for a side-by-side migration to ConfigMgr 2007 is available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb681052.aspx.

• Microsoft documents prerequisites for installing Configuration Manager 2007 at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb694113.aspx, and http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680951.aspx discusses the specific checks made by the prerequisite checker.

• For starting the prerequisite checker from the command line, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb681060.aspx documents the specific arguments you can use.

• http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb693561.aspx provides an overview of running a ConfigMgr 2007 unattended setup.

• http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680980.aspx discusses client installation properties, including the different switches you can specify.

• Information on the Transfer Site Settings Wizard is located at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632809.aspx.

• Information regarding extending hardware inventory is available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680609.aspx.

• For information about package definition files, Microsoft provides documentation at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb693959.aspx.

• A great article by Raymond Chou, an Operations Manager (OpsMgr) MVP, on integrating App-V with the R2 release of ConfigMgr 2007 is located at http://mymomexperience.blogspot.com/2008/05/marrying-sccm-r2-and-softgrid-45.html.

• For information on converting WQL to SQL, Brian Leary has a nice article at http://www.myitforum.com/articles/8/view.asp?id=9908.

• Here are several links for information on Asset Intelligence:

• Deployment scenarios for IBCM (Internet-based client management) are discussed at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb693824.aspx.

• Prerequisites for IBCM are located at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb633122.aspx.

• The communication protocols and ports used by Configuration Manager 2007 are described at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632618.aspx.

• Information online regarding ports for Network Access Protection in Configuration Manager 2007 is located at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb694170.aspx.

• Microsoft’s white paper on using Configuration Manager with mobile devices is located at http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/5/6/556544f5-b09e-4818-953d-087e08a8303a/Mobile_Device_Whitepaper.pdf.

• See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632442.aspx for the full list of task sequence action and built-in variables.

• The Configuration Manager Team blog is located at http://blogs.technet.com/configmgrteam/.

• Carlos Santiago, a Premier Field Engineer at Microsoft, has a blog at http://blogs.technet.com/carlossantiago.

• Garth Jones, ConfigMgr MVP, blogs at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/gjones/.

• Don Hite’s blog is at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/dhite/.

• See http://configmgr.com/ by Anthony Clendenen, a ConfigMgr MVP. He also has a myITforum blog at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/socal/default.aspx.

• Sherry Kissinger, ConfigMgr MVP, blogs at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/skissinger/.

• The Microsoft IT (MSIT) blog on ConfigMgr 2007 is located at http://blogs.technet.com/configmgr/.

• Paul Thomsen, senior SMS/ConfigMgr engineer at Microsoft, blogs at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/pthomsen/.

• Rick Jones blogs at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/rjones/.

• You can find Ronni Pedersen’s blog at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/rpedersen/. Ronni is a ConfigMgr MVP.

• Scott Moss’s blog is at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/smoss/.

• Chris Mosby, ConfigMgr MVP, blogs at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/cmosby/.

• Andrius Kozeniauskas maintains a blog on ConfigMgr and SMS 2003 at http://andrius.kozeniauskas.com/blog/category/microsoft/sccmsms2003/.

• Kerrie Meyler, lead author for System Center Configuration 2007 Manager Unleashed, maintains a blog at www.networkworld.com/community/meyler.

• Greg Ramsey, one of our coauthors and a ConfigMgr MVP, has a blog at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/gramsey/.

• Contributor Cameron Fuller blogs at http://cameronfuller.spaces.live.com.

• A blog by contributor Jason Sandys(ConfigMgr MVP) can be found at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/jsandys/.

• Contributor Jannes Alink(ConfigMgr MVP) has his blog at www.jannesalink.com.

• Steve Rachui is a CSS guru on ConfigMgr and our technical reviewer. Check out his blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/steverac/.

• This book’s blog is located at http://configmgr.spaces.live.com/.

• http://blogs.msdn.com/shitanshu/ is a blog by Shitanshu Verma, ConfigMgr Production Manager at Microsoft.

• http://www.msfaq.se/ is Stefan Schörling’s blog on Microsoft System Management.

• http://www.feedghost.com/UserArea/LinkBlog/Htm.aspx?id=63 provides links to articles on Configuration Manager.

• Kim Oppalfens, MVP, blogs about Configuration Manager at http://blogcastrepository.com/blogs/kim_oppalfenss_systems_management_ideas/.

• http://desktopcontrol.blogspot.com/ is a blog by Ment van der Plas on desktop control.

• http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/don-hite/posts/tag/configmgr_2007/ is a collection of postings by Don Hite.

• Jeff Gilbert’s ConfigMgr blog is located at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/jgilbert/.

• Cliff Hobbs, ConfigMgr MVP, blogs at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/chobbs/ and http://wmug.co.uk/blogs/cliffs_blog/default.aspx.

• http://blogs.technet.com/configurationmgr/ is the Configuration Manager Support Team blog.

• Kevin Sullivan’s Management blog is located at https://blogs.technet.com/kevinsul_blog/. Kevin is a Technology Specialist at Microsoft focusing on management products.

• http://www.mcalynn.com is a blog by Duncan McAlynn that includes articles on Configuration Manager, SMS, and OpsMgr.

Duncan now concentrates his blogging activity at systemcenterguide.com. He has transferred the articles from mcalynn.com to www.systemcenterguide.com.

• http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/jnelson/ is maintained by John Nelson, a ConfigMgr MVP.

• Rob Marshall, another ConfigMgr MVP, blogs at wmug.co.uk. His blog is located at http://wmug.co.uk/blogs/r0b/default.aspx.

• John Marcum, ConfigMgr MVP, blogs at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/jmarcum/.

• http://blogcastrepository.com/level5/sccm/default.aspx is maintained by Brian S. Tucker, a ConfigMgr trainer.

• Steve Thompson, ConfigMgr MVP, blogs at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/sthompson/.

• Always interesting to look at is the PSS Manageability Official Blog at http://blogs.technet.com/pssmanageability/default.aspx.

• System Center Essentials combines the functionality of ConfigMgr and OpsMgr in a product designed for use by smaller organizations. For information on deployment planning and installation, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=94444.

• Here are some blogs on System Center Essentials (Essentials):

Simplifying IT Management— http://blogs.technet.com/caseymck/

Managed Services blog— http://blogs.technet.com/dustinj/

The System Center Essentials Team Blog (by the product group)— http://blogs.technet.com/systemcenteressentials/

SCE Setup, Policy, and Reporting— http://blogs.technet.com/rtammana/

• System Center Essentials Techcenter is located at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sce/bb677155.aspx.

• Can’t talk about Essentials (or ConfigMgr 2007 for that matter) without thinking about WSUS? See the WSUS 3.0 blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/athif/.

• Introducing System Center’s Service Manager at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/en/us/service-manager.aspx (in beta when this appendix was written). Service Manager is envisioned as an integration point for service management workflows across ConfigMgr and OpsMgr.

Earlier articles (the product was initially code-named “Service Desk”) include the following:

• You can find Microsoft’s information on Operations Manager at http://www.microsoft.com/opsmgr, with the TechCenter located at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/opsmgr/default.aspx.

• Configuration Manager – General (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrgeneral/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Announcements (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrannouncements/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Admin Console (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgradminconsole/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Asset Intelligence (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrai/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Backup and Recovery (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrbackup/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Desired Configuration Management (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrdcm/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Documentation (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrdocs/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Internet Clients and Native Mode (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgribcm/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Inventory (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrosd/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Operating System Deployment (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrosd/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – SDK (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrsdk/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Setup/Deployment (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrsetup/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Software Distribution (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrswdist/threads/)

• Configuration Manager – Software Updates Management (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/configmgrsum/threads/)

• myITforum also has a discussion list for Configuration Manager at http://www.myitforum.com/lists/#Microsoft_Systems_Management_Server_(SMS)_List. myITforum has a number of other discussion lists as well.

• Right Click tools for the ConfigMgr console can be found at http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/rhouchins/archive/2008/04/09/sccm-right-click-tools.aspx.

• Matthew Hudson, a ConfigMgr MVP, posts ConfigMgr tools at http://www.sccm-tools.com/.

• The Sysinternal PsTools allow you to perform tasks easily on remote systems. They are available for download at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896649.aspx and are discussed in the March 2007 issue of TechNet magazine, available online at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc162490.aspx.

• A number of other tools are available at the Sysinternals area of Microsoft.com (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx). This includes utilities such as Registry Monitor (RegMon) and Process Monitor (ProcMon). (An in-depth, on-demand TechNet webcast discussing advanced Windows troubleshooting with Process Monitor is available at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=346.)

• Another link providing information on Process Monitor and a link to download the tool can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx.

• Microsoft provides an extensive array of tools and add-ins for Visio through the Visio Toolbox site, http://visiotoolbox.com. This includes a System Center add-in at http://visiotoolbox.com/en-us/articles1.aspx?ArticleId=6&aid=104.

• Ron Crumbaker’s Web Remote Console 3.21 can be found at http://www.myitforum.com/articles/19/view.asp?id=8662 for SMS 2003.

For updates for ConfigMgr 2007, see http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/rcrumbaker/archive/2007/10/12/web-remote-tools-and-systemcenter-configuration-manager.aspx.

• Roger Zander’s stuff, specifically SMS Client Center, can be found at these locations:

• Don’t forget to take advantage of SMSMap, which will help you generate drawings of your sites and site servers. You can download SMSMap at http://www.tondtware.com/downloads.html.

Further information about the utility is available at http://technet.microsoft.com/enus/magazine/cc137998.aspx and http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/07/.

• The System Center Content Search Gadget allows you to easily search for System Center information. The gadget uses Live Search macros to search specific sites instead of the entire Internet. You can download this utility at http://gallery.live.com/LiveItemDetail.aspx?li=49e26ad0-113d-4f3d-a711-57f6530c75d9.

• http://www.instantapp.net/ provides a number of applications that are prepackaged and available as App-V-enabled applications.

• www.1e.com

• www.dudeworks.com

• www.enhansoft.com

• www.sccmexpert.com

• www.systemcentertools.com

• www.silect.com