SMS 2.0 Client Deployment using Active Directory

[Eclipse23]

Hello all, I first want to say hi and how invaluable these forums are to us IT professionals trying to get through our frustrating projects. I appreciate and all help provided.

With that being said maybe one of you gents can resolve a few questions I have on SMS 2.0.

1. Can I use Active Directory to deploy the SMS Client or do I have to use the script to install the client. Doing manual installs is out of the question (but they do work as I set up a host of machines doing it manually. Any use of group policy?

2. Is there a way to have SMS go out and find all my devices within a subnet w/out needing to have the client installed? It seems like my queries only find my logon points and client systems I fear I am not doing discovery correctly. I thought I would be able to view everything at a hardware level. ???

3. Any problems using Kix-start to run the SMS Client install batch file? Our main login script is just too darn long and I can't have SMS add it onto the bottom or top so I have a line which reads basically "If member of X then run Y". Y = the location of a seperate batch file which has the SMSls.bat file in it.

4.

 

[ceigl]

Hi Eclipse,

Regarding your questions:

1.) With SMS 2.0 it is not possible to use ActiveDirectoy simply because it is not supported. If you want to use this you have to wait till the release of SMS 2003 (hopefully in this year)

2.) Of course you can tell SMS to discover all relevated resources in your specified IP range without installing the client to them - But make sure you set up the Boundaries correct for that to work !
Open Site Database / Site Hierarchy and then right-click on your site. Go to Properties / Boundaries, there you can enter the subnet(s) for client assignment. Then be sure to set Netwirk Discovery to the same subnet(s).

3.) You can also install the SMS client with the command "smsman.exe /A /Q" form your SMS-Server. Give it a try !

If you need any assistance let me know !

Greetings,
Chris

 

[Eclipse23]

Thank you so much for the reply! I did try your steps and everything works now. While I have your attention I will ask you this.... any success w/ the feature pack w/ security updates and office updates? Also, are service packs easily delivered via SMS?

 

[ceigl]

Eclipse,
glad I could help you

Concerning your question about the delivery of ServicePacks and so via SMS:
I delivered Win2000 SP3 via SMS without any big probs to about 1400 clients.... Hope, that also helps !

Chris