Introduction to Desktop Management

To maximize the productivity of users of computer systems while minimizing the total cost of ownership (TCO) associated with these systems, organizations must manage their computer systems efficiently. Microsoft® Windows® 2000 is designed to increase the availability of computer resources and reduce the overall cost of supporting users of Windows 2000 through Group Policy–based change and configuration management. The primary goal of desktop change and configuration management is to ensure that the computing resources that are necessary for users to do their jobs are available when the users need them. The challenges to desktop management include centralizing control of many personal computers, dealing with multiple computer hardware and software configurations, dealing with user accounts, and updating systems to address changing business needs. You can use Windows 2000 to accomplish all these tasks.

In This Chapter

Change and Configuration Management

IntelliMirror

Windows 2000 Technologies That IntelliMirror Uses

Remote OS Installation

Configuring and Maintaining the Network Environment

Managing the Desktop

Related Information in the Resource Kit

For more information about Remote OS Installation, see "Remote OS Installation" in this book.
For more information about Group Policy, see "Group Policy" in this book.
For more information about how to manage software, see "Software Installation and Maintenance" in this book.
For information about troubleshooting change and configuration management, see "Troubleshooting Change and Configuration Management" in this book.
For more information about the client-side options that are available in Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional, see the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional Resource Kit and the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server Resource Kit Deployment Planning Guide.