Chapter 2 -- Primary Site Installation

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Chapter 2

This chapter focuses on the process of installing a Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0 primary site server. SMS is relatively easy to install, but its implementation is far from trivial—as you'll see in the course of reading this book. Because the creation of an SMS site requires a great deal of thought, this chapter begins with a discussion of planning considerations. This planning includes identifying such issues as your current network and domain structures, which SMS features you plan to install, and personnel and training concerns. Next we will review preinstallation considerations, including hardware and software requirements and Microsoft SQL Server setup issues. We then look at the installation process itself, examining both express and custom setups. This installation discussion includes instructions for upgrading the site server with SMS 2.0 Service Pack 1. Then we review changes that take place after installation, such as adding SMS services, modifying the Microsoft Windows NT registry, and creating service accounts. We'll also take our first look at the SMS 2.0 directory structure. Last you'll learn how to navigate the SMS Administrator Console and how to remove SMS from the server if necessary.