Systems Management Server (SMS) (Windows Embedded Standard 2009)

  • Article

4/23/2012

Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 provides a feature-rich management and servicing solution. You can use SMS 2003 or System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (ConfigMgr) to manage networked Windows Embedded Standard-based devices alongside Windows desktop, Windows Server, and other Windows Mobile systems. SMS supplies an administration console that can be used on a Windows Server 2003 system to remotely perform management functions.

Embedded device developers can use SMS or ConfigMgr to manage the deployment of security updates to Windows Embedded Standard-based devices. Client and server components for SMS are not included in the Windows Embedded Studio component database and must be separately obtained.

The SMS Advanced Client runs on the Windows Embedded Standard device and reports system status to the server. Windows Embedded Standard requires the SMS 2003 Advanced Client; earlier versions of SMS are not supported.

The SMS 2003 Advanced Client must be added to your configuration in Target Designer before the run-time image is built and deployed.

With SMS, you can do the following:

  • Manage embedded devices as if they are desktop computers and servers.
  • Inventory hardware and software.
  • Meter software usage.
  • Deploy updates and monitor the update installation process.
  • Generate a single status report tracking updates on all clients, servers, and embedded devices.
  • Deploy remote-boot images to a server.

SMS provides flexible support for applying any kind of update package that the run-time image can execute. This includes desktop updates, custom scripts, and application-specific executables. If the Windows Installer Service component is included in the run-time image, you can also use SMS to deploy Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) packages for installation.

Systems Management Server can be especially useful for the embedded devices that are described in the following table.

Device Use

Retail Point-of-Sale (RPOS)

SMS is frequently used to manage POS devices that have a computer architecture. SMS is generally used to inventory devices and to make updates to operating system and applications.

Windows-based Terminal (WBT)

Complex WBT implementations frequently use SMS in combination with Microsoft Internet Explorer and line-of-business applications. SMS is especially helpful in this implementation for inventory and update management.

Automated teller machines (ATM)

ATM implementations use SMS for software management and inventory.

For more information about SMS, see the Microsoft Systems Management Server Web site.

See Also

Concepts

Comparison of Servicing Solutions

Other Resources

Run-Time Image Servicing
Manage and Service a Run-Time Image
Software Update Services (SUS)
Device Update Agent