Upgrading Clients

After you initiate a discovery method, such as Network Discovery or a logon discovery method, SMS 2.0 will build a list of all potential client computers, including SMS 1.2 clients. Then you can upgrade your site’s SMS 1.2 client computers to SMS 2.0 clients by using one of four methods, depending on how you decide to administer your site, what operating system the clients are running, and your network type. This section will describe the following tasks:

• Identifying SMS 1.2 Clients Prior to Upgrade
• Using Logon Discovery and Client Installation Methods
• Using the Systems Management Installation Wizard to Manually Upgrade SMS 1.2 Clients

Figure 12.1 is a simplified flowchart that illustrates the client upgrade process. Although this flowchart illustrates many of the most common upgrade and installation methods, many of the resource discovery methods can be used with several of the client installation methods. For a complete description of the relationships between resource discovery and client installation methods, see “Understanding Resource Discovery and Client Installation” in Chapter 9, “Discovering Resources and Installing Clients,” in the SMS 2.0 Administrator’s Guide.

Figure 12.1 Client upgrade process

Your client installation method choices will determine the resource discovery methods to use for your site. Table 12.2 lists the client installation methods that can be used with each discovery method.

Table 12.2 Summary of Resource Discovery and Client Installation Methods