Feature Pack Frequently Asked Questions

Our intent is for the naming to reflect the purpose and content of each pack. Although the Systems Management Server Software Update Services Feature Pack, for example, adds value to Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0, the "Feature Pack" designation more accurately reflects the investment that Microsoft continues to make in developing features that keep Microsoft Windows®-based systems secure.

The tools that comprise the respective Feature Packs address different business problems, and we want to make it easier for you to distinguish between them and determine which ones to evaluate and use.

Feature Packs are being made available at no charge to those who have licensed Systems Management Server 2.0.

Yes, equivalent Feature Pack functionality will be available for Systems Management Server 2003 when it is released.

The SMS Software Update Services Feature Pack incorporates Software Update Services functionality into the security patch management and distribution capabilities of Systems Management Server. Just as small and medium-size organizations can use Microsoft Software Update Services to get critical patches directly from Microsoft and apply them, large organizations can use the SMS Software Update Services Feature Pack to obtain those same updates and feed them directly into SMS for application across the enterprise.

Businesses can use the Software Update Services Feature Pack to take advantage of the critical software updates Microsoft provides for Windows and Microsoft Office. As a result, administrators can more easily manage security updates throughout the enterprise using Systems Management Server.

This Feature Pack helps administrators maintain the security of their installations of Windows and Office software by making it easy to obtain and deploy the latest critical software patches and updates from Microsoft. While this functionality will be included in Systems Management Server 2003, those organizations currently using Systems Managment Server 2.0 can benefit from it immediately, and for this reason, we are also releasing it in the form of a Feature Pack for Systems Management Server 2.0.

Administrators can use it to deploy the Windows and Office update scan tools to accumulate security patch status for all their managed Windows-based desktops and servers. With this stored in inventory, the System Management Server administrator can run reports to understand the exact security status of their enterprise. The Systems Management Server administrator can then use a wizard to select and authorize any required security updates. The wizard connects back to the Microsoft download site and allows the administrator to select and import any or all required updates published there, package appropriate groupings of updates together, and then use standard Systems Management Server targeting and distribution features to deploy these updates.

Yes. This Feature Pack works with the Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0, Windows 2000, and the Windows XP operating systems. It also supports Microsoft Office updates.

The Systems Management Server Software Update Services Feature Pack is a superset of Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS) functionality. The purpose of Microsoft Software Update Services is to bring critical updates within your firewall and allow you to determine which updates to publish. The Systems Management Server Software Update Services Feature Pack supports all the Software Update Services functionality, and also supports additional platforms (Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP). Systems Management Server also provides more control and functionality than Software Update Services, including advanced scheduling, more granular targeting, and improved reporting.

Connecting to Software Update Services is not required. The Software Update Services Feature Pack allows System Management Server to import the same patches and updates directly from the same Microsoft update site without requiring further action.

No. Systems Management Server, with its Software Update Services Feature Pack, provides a superset of SUS functionality. There should be no need to use Software Update Services and Systems Management Server in the same environment. Software Update Services can be used in IT environments where Systems Management Server has not been deployed. These are typically places where the more sophisticated enterprise functionality provided by Systems Management Server is not a critical business requirement.

This Feature Pack provides a set of tools to help you better manage and use System Management Server 2.0 on a daily basis in distributed, multi-site environments. For example, you can manage both settings and accounts across one or more Systems Management Server sites from a single command-line interface.

Yes, the Web Reporting Tool is contained in both Feature Packs. This tool plays an important role in the business scenarios supported by each Feature Pack. By providing this tool in both Feature Packs, you can choose either and still benefit from advanced reporting.