Using Systems Management Server to Analyze Your Network Infrastructure

Network administrators can use Microsoft® Systems Management Server (SMS) to perform a variety of Microsoft® Windows® 2000 deployment tasks, including collecting planning details, preparing computers, deploying Windows 2000, and monitoring the deployment process. This chapter focuses on SMS features you can use to analyze your network infrastructure. The results of this analysis will help you determine network infrastructure changes you need to make in preparation for deploying Windows 2000. By using SMS, you can save costs associated with performing an enterprise-level deployment.

You do not need any prior experience with SMS to understand the concepts and processes presented in this chapter. However, the chapter does not include procedures for deploying and using SMS. Refer to the SMS documentation for those details. You will need personnel trained in SMS to properly deploy and use it in a well-planned manner. See the Additional Resources section at the end of the chapter for resources that can help you learn more about SMS.

In This Chapter

Analyzing Your Network Infrastructure

Collecting Inventory

Using Inventory to Prepare Your Network Infrastructure

Monitoring Your Network

Ensuring Application Compatibility

Network Analysis Planning Task List

Chapter Goals

This chapter will help you develop the following planning documents:

A network infrastructure analysis process that incorporates SMS
Reports detailing the existing network infrastructure, including all hardware and software

Related Information in the Resource Kit

For more information about deploying Windows 2000 with SMS, see "Using Systems Management Server to Deploy Windows 2000" in this book.
For more information about testing applications for Windows 2000 compatibility, see "Testing Applications for Compatibility with Windows 2000" in this book.