Part I: Installation, Planning, and Management

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Part I introduces the reader to SMS 2.0, outlining its features and functionality and comparing and contrasting it to the previous version, SMS 1.2. This part also covers a wide range of topics specific to the installation and planning of an SMS site. Chapter 1 presents an overview of SMS 2.0. Chapter 2 provides a detailed discussion of the installation process for an SMS primary site, including preinstallation requirements as well as post-installation system modifications. You'll also learn how to navigate administrative functions using the SMS Administrator Console, which uses the new Microsoft Management Console (MMC) format. In Chapter 3, you'll learn how to define and configure the SMS site and site systems. Chapter 4 suggests planning considerations for a multiple-site structure, including developing parent-child relationships among primary sites, creating secondary sites, and establishing SMS 2.0 communication mechanisms between sites. Chapters 5 and 6 introduce the reader to the various tools available in SMS 2.0 that enable the administrator to monitor activity in the SMS site, track the flow of information, and analyze network and server performance. These tools will be examined in more detail in subsequent chapters.