System Center Essentials

Operations Guide for System Center Essentials 2010

rodtrent — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:56:11 GMT

Microsoft System Center Essentials 2010 provides a unified management solution that enables IT professionals in midsize organizations to proactively manage their IT environment. Features include monitoring computers, deploying software and updates, and virtualization management.

Deployment Guide for System Center Essentials 2010

rodtrent — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:55:06 GMT

Deployment Guide for System Center Essentials 2010 Beta

rodtrent — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:19:36 GMT

This guide steps you through the deployment process for System Center Essentials 2010. The guide includes system requirements, supported deployment topologies, step-by-step instructions for installing Essentials, and step-by-step instructions for configuring Essentials.

Microsoft System Center Network Device Monitoring Management Pack for System Center Essentials 2007 SP1 (KB960569)

rodtrent — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:46:51 GMT

The Microsoft System Center Network Device Monitoring Library Management Pack provides System Center Essentials 2007 with the ability to identify and monitor network devices such as routers and switches. This update resolves an issue where Essentials is unable to monitor network devices that report an interface speed greater than 2147483647. Refer to KB960569 for more information. Note: It is necessary to delete the existing Network Device Monitoring Library Management Pack before importing this updated version.

Feature Summary

Monitoring for SNMP v1 and SNMP v2c devices such as routers and switches
Performance monitoring for network devices
Health monitoring and alerting for network devices
Topology for network devices

Release History

2/21/2008 - Original release with System Center Essential 2007 Service Pack 1, version 6.0.1885.0
3/23/2009 - Updated MP, version 6.0.1885.4, to resolve issue preventing Essentials from monitoring network devices that report Network Interface speeds greater than 2GB per second.

WSUS, SCE & Security Visio Stencils

rodtrent — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:48:19 GMT

For some time I have the idea of grouping some Stencils and create other so we can generate charts on Microsoft Visio about WSUS, System Center Essentials, etc..

Some charts were taken from the Microsoft standards, others were added by my self inside the package. With this package of Stencils, you’re going to be able to generate any kind of graphics about WSUS or any other platform about patching or security. I think I added all kind of graphics but if you find out that someone is missing please let me know here or through the forum in order to improve the Stensils package.

Below are some examples of what kind of graphics can be generated with this group of Stencils. This can be added to other Stencils that you already have so you can generate any kind of chart in Visio. I couldn’t find any official Microsoft package about this, so I make my own and want to share for all those who are in the same search.

The article is translated into English and Spanish as there may be people interested anywhere in the world, remember that this package is universal and the names of the objects are in English so that anyone can use them.

It was tested in Microsoft Visio 2003 as 2007, I don’t know whether they work well in previous versions of the product. If you tried in an earlier version and it worked well, please let me know so others can use it too.

SOURCE

System Center Essentials 2007 Operations Guide

rodtrent — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:26:12 GMT

This guide discusses best practices for everyday use of System Center Essentials 2007. The guide includes the following:
• Getting Ready to Operate Essentials 2007
• Managing Computers
• Monitoring Network Devices
• Deploying Software and Updates

System Center Essentials 2007 & System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 Installation Guide

rodtrent — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:00:23 GMT

This guide provides information on installing System Center Essentials 2007 (Essentials 2007) and System Center Virtual Machine Manager Workgroup Edition (VMM 2007) in the same environment.

It focuses on the system requirements, setup overview and best practices. Please refer to the installation guides of each product for more information.
Essentials 2007 provides end-to-end monitoring for the mid-market IT environment, along with software and update deployment. VMM 2007 provides centralized administration of your virtual infrastructure and rapid provisioning of new virtual machines.

In summary, the installation requires installing the Essentials 2007 components on a single computer, and VMM 2007 components on another computer. Each product also uses separate database instances.

System Center Essentials 2007 Technical Walkthrough CD ISO Image

rodtrent — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:56:39 GMT

The System Center Essentials 2007 Technical Walkthrough CD is an interactive self paced learning tool for customers and partners that explains the process of installing and operating Essentials 2007. This download is an ISO image of the CD.

System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista; Windows XP

Minimum Processor: Pentium III 500
Operating System: Windows 2000, XP or Vista
Computer memory (RAM): 512 MB RAM
Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768 screen resolution
Color-depth: 16-bit color depth
Bandwidth: 256K network connection
Browser: Internet Explorer 6+
Flash Player: Version 7+
JavaScript: Must be enabled
Cookies: Must be enabled
Pop-up windows: Not blocked