SMS: Support Options for Crystal Info (Reports)

ID: Q215469

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Systems Management Server version 2.0

SUMMARY

The information contained in this article is from the Systems Management Server 2.0 Release Notes. You can find the Release Notes on the Systems Management Server 2.0 CD through the Taskpad or by opening Readme.htm in your browser.

MORE INFORMATION

Crystal Info Version 6 (Reports)

Do Not Install Crystal Info Version 6 on the Primary Site Server for Sites with 500 or More Clients Crystal Info version 6 (also called Crystal Reports) is a sample SMS 2.0 snap-in provided by Seagate Corporation. This sample reporting tool is fully integrated with SMS and allows you to run reports against data stored in the SMS site database. Microsoft provides this tool as an example of the type of SMS snap-ins you can create by using the SMS 2.0 Toolkit, which is included in the Microsoft BackOffice 4.5 Resource Kit.

If you use the Express Setup option to install SMS, Crystal Info version 6 is installed automatically on your site server. If your SMS site hierarchy will have more than 500 SMS clients, however, you should not install SMS by using Express Setup.

WORKAROUND: To use Crystal Info version 6 at a site with more than 500 clients, configure your site hierarchy so that your central site has SMS with only Crystal Info installed. That is, the only component you select in the Setup Installation Options screen is Crystal Reports; all other check boxes are cleared.)

This reporting site will be your central site, but no administrative actions will be performed from this computer. Instead, install an SMS site immediately beneath the central reporting site. You will administer your site from this site and from remote SMS Administrator consoles on various computers on your network. The procedure for this workaround is as follows:

Install SMS using the Custom Setup option on a stand-alone server that is not a domain controller. This site will be the central site, and it will be used only for reporting; it is referred to in the remainder of this procedure as the reporting site. When installing the reporting site, select Crystal Info as the only optional SMS component (note that Crystal Info is listed as Crystal Reports in the user interface). Do not install any other optional SMS components on this server.

On a computer other than the site server, install the SMS Administrator console. At the Information screen, specify the reporting site, and at the SMS Administrator Console Installation Options screen select only Crystal Reports Console. Restrict access to the Crystal Reports feature to remote administrators who are domain users or domain administrators only in the reporting domain, without granting such users any SMS security permissions in the target site. Users with such limited rights can view, but cannot access or manipulate, other SMS component settings at the target site (for example, they can see, but not access the contents of, Queries).

Configure this reporting site as the central site in your SMS hierarchy. Install remote SMS Administrator consoles on other computers that are running Windows NT 4.0 or later in your site, and use them to connect to the site to run reports.

Install a first-tier child site that you can use to perform all administrative tasks for your site hierarchy. This site will serve as your functional central site. When you install additional child sites, have them report to the central reporting site through this site.

For information about installing remote SMS Administrator consoles, see the BackOffice Resource Kit version 4.5, and Chapter 6, "Installing SMS 2.0 Sites" in the SMS 2.0 Administrator's Guide. Administrators who need to administer site configuration, software distribution, and so on, should set up remote SMS Administrator consoles that connect to the first-tier child site (the site directly below the reporting site).

Technical Support for Crystal Info Version 6 and Crystal Reports. For technical information about using Crystal Info version 6, visit the Microsoft Knowledge Base at http://www.microsoft.com/support/ and the Seagate Software Technical Support Web site at http://www.seagatesoftware.com/seagateinfo/techsupp/.

Before contacting Seagate Technical Support, make sure that you have registered your copy of Crystal Info and you have the following information available:

The version of Crystal Info you are using. Version 6 is supplied with SMS 2.0.

The type of data you are using.

The number of versions of the Crpe32.dll file on the computer, and their locations, file sizes, and dates.

A list of files in the following directories: CRW, %windir%\System32, Report, and Database.

TIP: You can create a file that lists all files sorted by extension by typing dir /oe > filename.dir from each of these directories.

Crystal Services provides online (modem), fax, CompuServe, and telephone support. These support options are described in more detail as follows:

Online dial (604)662-8298: If you have a modem, online support is the most convenient and effective way to solve your problems. To use it, on the Help menu, click Technical Support. Provide the appropriate information about your problem and attach any relevant files. To transmit your data, click Connect. Your request is electronically sent to the Crystal Reports Technical Support server and is immediately given an identification number. Telephone charges are minimal because the connection time to the server is brief.

After your information is received, a technical support representative will review your request and send a response. To check for a response, on the Help menu, click Technical Support, and then click Connect. Updated information about all outstanding requests is immediately transmitted back to you. If your problem is still being reviewed by technical support, a reply such as "requires liaison with the Crystal Research and Development team in progress" will be sent.

NOTE: You do not require any communications software to use online support. Because the software is built into the product, all you need is a modem.

Fax dial (604) 681-7163: To prepare your fax request, on the Help menu, click Technical Support, and provide the appropriate information about your problem. After you provide the necessary information, print the completed form and fax it to Crystal Services.

CompuServe (CompuServe address 72223,2632): Please leave the word "CRYSTAL" in the title of CompuServe messages on the MSBASIC forum in the Third Party area, to make it easy for other users to benefit from the discussion.

Telephone dial (604) 669-8379: When you are on the phone with a technical support representative, make sure that Crystal Reports and the problem report are both open.

Reports Provided with SMS: Documentation Update

The reports provided with SMS might differ from the reports listed in Chapter 19, "Creating Administrative Reports" in the SMS 2.0 Administrator's Guide.

WORKAROUND: None.

Additional query words: prodsms relnotes

Keywords : kbSMS200 kbReport
Version : winnt:2.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo