Remote Network Monitor Agents Information Not Available

• Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.1 and 1.2

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to find all remote Network Monitor agents across routers in Systems Management Server Administrator User Interface (SMS Admin UI), the remote agents information is not available.

CAUSE

This problem occurs due to one or all of following:

   - The multicast forwarding option on the router is not enabled

   - Recent computer inventory of the client computer does not have
     the network monitor agent running for its current state.

WORKAROUND

To work around the problem, do one or all of the following:

   - Configure the router for multicast packets to pass through the router.
     The router may be allowing only IP and IPX packets to pass.

   - For remote network monitoring, manually enter the computer name or
     network address of the client computer in Network Monitor.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 1.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The SMS Admin UI runs a query against the database to find computers with the Network Monitor Agent current status as "Running." The Network Monitor user interface is invoked with a command line parameter of the computer name detected.

In Network Monitor, an "Identify Network Monitor users" option is available. This option sends a series of multicast packets to all NetBIOS- enabled systems that have the Network Monitor agent installed. After detecting all the Network Monitor agents, a list of the agents is displayed.