Management Pack Overview
Applies To: System Center 2012 - Service Manager
[This topic is pre-release documentation and is subject to change in future releases. Blank topics are included as placeholders.]
The management pack is at the heart of every management group. Each management pack describes a set of functionality that Service Manager can operate with. Service Manager is an extensible platform, and management packs enable you to extend Service Manager capabilities.
A management pack is composed of all the parts of a complete solution. A management pack includes the data model, presentation elements, automation workflows, and any language requirements. A management pack can exist in definition form, as an XML file, or as an object model loaded into the SDK objects. When that object model or XML file is imported into the management group, the management pack becomes effective.
How to Create Management Packs
Management packs can be structured and defined through code or through XML files. Management packs objects (classes, categories, references, and so on) that are created through code are technically code-based XML counterparts. A management pack object can be saved to an XML file or loaded from an XML file. A management pack is not functional until it is committed to the management group. If the management pack did not exist previously, it can be added to the management group with one of the many import methods on the IManagementPackManagement interface, which is implemented by the management group’s ManagementPacks property.
It is possible to convert the XML into the code-based objects and vice-versa. For example, you can create the majority of the management pack through XML and then load it into the code objects and do any final adjustments or preparation before you import it. As your management pack grows, it will probably easier to manage through pure XML. Management of large management packs through code becomes useful when you have to apply logic to how it is created.
How to Modify Management Packs
When you create or modify a management pack, your changes are not immediately applied in the management group. You must accept the changes before those changes are made to the management group. In order to work with a management pack reference obtained directly from the management group, call the AcceptChanges method. If you have loaded the management pack reference from a bundle or XML file, you must import it into the management group. When you do this, the imported management pack replaces the previous management pack.
How to Install, Uninstall, and Upgrade Management Packs
Management packs can be installed or uninstalled either directly or through a bundle. When you install a management pack, also import any resources that are referenced by the management pack. Generally, if the management pack is bundled, the resources are bundled with it and are automatically installed when the bundle is installed. To upgrade a management pack to a newer version, you just install the management pack again.
See Also
Other Resources
Management Pack
Scenario: Building a Management Pack
Scenario: Managing Management Packs