May 2008 - Posts
Today new Resource Kit v1.1 downloads were made available for the Client and Server, together with the long awaited Reporting Services!
I will attempt to post a more detailed review of all the tools at a later date.
For now this is a quick overview and what is included in which release:
MDM Server Tools:
- v1.0: MDM Certificate Tool
- v1.0: MDM Bulk Pre-Enrollment Tool
- v1.0: MDM Cleanup Tool
- v1.0: MDM Device Enrollment Cleanup Tool
- v1.0: MDM Application Hash Code Tool
- v1.1: MDM CAB Signing Tool
- v1.1: MDM Active Directory Validation Tool
- v1.1: MDM System Configuration Cmdlets
- v1.1: MDM Device Records Synchronization Tool
- v1.1: MDM Additional Group Policies
- v1.1: MDM Group Policy Models
- v1.1: MDM Blocked Device Cleanup Tool
- v1.1: MDM Security Configuration Wizard Templates
MDM Client Tools:
- v1.0: MDM Connect Now Tool
- v1.0: MDM VPN Diagnostics Tool
- v1.1: MDM Managed Device Status Viewer
MDM Reporting Services:
"provides a reporting and data access service across all feature areas of MDM. MDM Reporting Services is based on and integrated with SQL Server Reporting Services 2005."
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Since things are heating up and more and more people are asking questions on SCMDM information, I have gathered up this little quick-hit list:
System Center Product Page:
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/mobile
One page overview:
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/mobile/evaluation/overview.mspx
TechNet Product Page:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scmdm
TechNet Forum for SCMDM 2008:
http://forums.technet.microsoft.com/en-US/SCMDM/threads/
Product Documentation:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scmdm/cc304592.aspx
This currently has the following guides listed:
- Architecture Guide
- Planning Guide
- Deployment Guide
- Security Guide
Resource Kit Tools: (v1.1 released on May 14th, 2008)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scmdm/cc304591.aspx
This currently has the following downloads:
- Self Service Portal (SSP)
- Server Tools (See my other blog posting for the v1.0 release)
- Client Tools: ConnectNow and VPNDiag see this blog posting, MDM Managed Device Status Viewer new with the v1.1 release)
- Best Practices Analyzer Tool (BPA)
- Reporting Services (new with v1.1)
One note on the Server and Client Tools:
The v1.0 downloads dated April 1, 2008 where removed and updated with the v1.01 or later dated after May 1, 2008. Do not extract the older versions to your root C:\ drive folder as it will blow away your OS! See the KB article on this here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/952338.
120-day Trial/Evaluation Download:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc339027.aspx
MSDN media: http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/downloads
Windows Mobile 6.1 Emulator
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3D6F581E-C093-4B15-AB0C-A2CE5BFFDB47
Emulator setup documentation: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc461417.aspx
Windows Mobile 6.1:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/6-1/default.mspx
Windows Mobile - System Center Mobile Device Manager overview:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/mobiledevicemanager
Proxy assistance:
To configure a Proxy running ISA server to tunnel HTTPS packets on port 8443 to the Device Management server, use the AddTPRange.vbs script from here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/isa/2004/plan/managingtunnelports.mspx
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Summer 2008 is coming and a new wave of mobile devices are being announced. Yesterday it was the long anticipated new batch HTC Touch devices.
As these devices come towards to the consumer (via direct stores and carriers), there will automatically be questions raised to the Enterprise administrator when these employees start bringing these new devices into their work space.. "When can these be supported?", "How can I get my corporate e-mail and apps on them?", etc..
The major good news is that many of these newer devices now are coming with WM 6.1, so using them with your MDM infrastructure and mandating the same settings throughout your environment has become much easier!
Comparison Table of the HTC Touch Diamond and Sony Ericsson Xperia X1:
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone2=2368&idPhone1=2246
For grins, an added comparison with an iPhone, as this new wave of devices appear to attack that premium marketplace:
http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacomparer&id1=815&id2=1311&id3=1117
Together with a new breed of mobile browsers (ie. Skyfire, etc) and graphical display engines (Adobe Flash, Silverlight), it think these high-powered, high-resolution, memory crammed devices will be highly sought after and enter the enterprise space rather quickly!
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Steve Hughes from BostonPocketPC made this very detailed and slick review of this killer device. It basically extends your Windows Mobile device over Bluetooth to an external screen, with full keyboard, USB ports, VGA output and additional battery.
Check it out the length review here: http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/Review++Celio+REDFLY.aspx
I had a similar positive experience when I had a REDFLY unit for a day and used it with an AT&T Tilt to display an internal SharePoint site through SCMDM 2008 on a projector. Very sweet and brings a lot of possibilities to the table as you can manage the WM 6.1 devices through SCMDM!
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For those going to the upcoming TechEd North America 2008, IT Pro Conference, June 10-13 in Orlando Florida my Enterprise Mobile colleague Patrick Salmon has two sessions just about SCMDM:
My other Enterprise Mobile college Doug Field, is managing the Hands-On-Lab for SCMDM as well!
Find more information on TechEd 2008 here:
http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched2008/itpro/default.mspx
There is also a ton of sessions on Windows Mobile and Windows Mobile 6.1 that could be very interesting!
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There is a new interesting online forum Microsoft has brought up:
http://www.windowsmobiletraining.com/connection/ or
http://www.windowsmobileconnection.com
“Join the Windows Mobile® Connection, the official Microsoft forum for anyone who sells mobile phones or works in the mobile industry. Built by us and made awesome by you, it's a destination for sharing discussions, opinions, and advice with other sales and support professionals in the mobile industry.”
Already found several interesting tidbits of information, such as this excellent listing of mobile optimized sites:
http://www.windowsmobiletraining.com/connection/forums/t/14.aspx
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Another great article in the current issue of Smartphone/PocketPC Magazine from my Enterprise Mobile colleague Patrick Salmon:
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/cms/_archives/Jun08/SystemCenterDevice
Good round up of knowledge skills and necessary to get started with SCMDM. Provides an excellent overview of the technology and why it is important as well!
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