Systems Management Server 2003 Mobility
As enterprises become increasingly mobile, roaming users need the same access to critical business applications and security updates as the desktop worker. Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 supports roaming and infrequently-connected users by extending its asset management and application deployment capabilities to the mobile workforce.
Mobility Datasheet
Read how SMS 2003 supports your mobile workforce through technologies such as Advanced Client, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), HTTP, XML, and Windows Installer.
Mobility Demo
Watch how mobility works in SMS 2003. Note: if you have a popup blocker installed, you will need to disable it to allow the demo to run.
SMS 2003 Product Overview
Get a review of the new features and capabilities included in SMS 2003.
Infrequently Connected Users
Until ubiquitous connectivity is a reality, business travelers will continue to utilize slow, unpredictable network connections to conduct their business. These systems need to remain managed in order to ensure access to critical business applications, as well as maintain up-to-date security configurations, while also providing IT staff with visibility into application configuration, presence, and usage. SMS 2003 extends the enterprise-proven application deployment and asset management capabilities to these devices and users through the new bandwidth-aware Advanced Client, using standard Internet technologies to deliver support to mobile users and systems with unreliable or varying connections.
| • | Bandwidth-aware clients: The Advanced Client uses the BITS technology to automatically detect the capacity of the client network connection and to adjust transfer rates efficiently, allowing both traditional desktops and mobile PC's to download software in a bandwidth-sensitive manner. The download rate is dynamically tuned to relegate SMS 2003 traffic to the background as other services start using the shared link. Rather than installing applications and updates while connected, the Advanced Client can also be configured to download an entire package, running the installation at a later time, even when no network access is available. Should a connection be terminated during transmission, SMS 2003 provides restart capabilities for resuming a transfer where it left off when a connection is restored. Instead of resending the entire package, SMS 2003 transfers the minimal amount of software to targeted recipients. |
| • | Standards-based Communication: SMS reduces the reliance on proprietary technology by communicating to mobile clients through standard Internet technologies such as HTTP and Extensible Markup Language (XML), and by utilizing standard installation technologies such as Windows Installer, which greatly reduces deployment and support costs. |
Roaming Users
Business users frequently traveling between multiple sites require the same level of cost-effective management as is provided for users in a fixed location. SMS 2003 provides location awareness, resulting in the Advanced Client locating the closest software distribution point and downloading critical software and updates from that source. This capability dramatically reduces the traffic across expensive wide area networks (WANs), and allows effective support for devices frequently moving between physical locations.