Frequently Asked QuestionsQuest Management Xtensions for SMS
What is Quest Management Xtensions for SMS?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS is a software solution that extends Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 to non-Windows systems enabling IT administrators and service providers to manage Unix, Linux, and Mac OS X systems through the SMS Administration console.
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What problems does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS solve?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS solves multi-platform administration and systems management problems by natively extending the change and configuration management capabilities of SMS to non-Windows platforms via the existing SMS infrastructure.
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Who is Quest Management Xtensions for SMS designed for?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS is designed for Microsoft-centric organizations with heterogeneous platform environments that want to extend SMS 2003 change and configuration management to non-Windows systems.
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What benefits does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS provide?
- Reduced Operating Costs and Complexities - leverage existing investments in SMS to reduce operational costs by eliminating redundant, non-integrated solutions.
- Improved Operational Efficiency - standardize change and configuration management for all systems through the existing SMS infrastructure, allowing your organization to meet compliance and security standards.
- Simplified Change and Configuration Management - management consolidation allows the organization to provide better services, while achieving the greatest possible returns from IT - both in service and investment levels.
- Standards-based Integration - Quest Management Xtensions for SMS is based on WBEM/CIM standards to deliver Unix/Linux clients that act just like SMS Advanced Clients.
- Microsoft Product Support - receive Level 1 product support for Quest Management Xtensions for SMS directly from Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS). *This is available for North American customers only.
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What makes Quest Management Xtensions for SMS unique?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS is the only scalable solution available that seamlessly integrates Unix, Linux and Mac OS X management natively within the SMS console. IT administrators can now utilize the same SMS capabilities they leverage to manage Windows systems.
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What features of SMS 2003 does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS support?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS enables system administrators to utilize the following features in SMS for Unix, Linux and Mac OS X systems:
- System Discovery
- Software and Patch Distribution
- Hardware and Software Inventory
- Software Metering
- Remote Tools
- Queries and Collections
- Reporting
- Integration with Vintela Authentication Services to discover non-Windows systems joined into Active Directory Domains
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What new features are available in the latest release of Quest Management Xtensions for SMS?
See current release information for more details on new features for the latest release. Return to Top
How does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS work with SMS 2003?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS is designed to look, feel, and act as if it were written by the SMS development team. Quest Management Xtensions for SMS uses the same database and tables, so all SMS features work as expected even when extended to manage Unix/Linux/Mac systems. Quest Management Xtensions for SMS does not replace the standard SMS Administration Console and other standard tools. Quest Management Xtensions for SMS seamlessly integrates Unix/Linux/Mac systems management into SMS by extending existing functionality, and by adding system-specific functionality that acts the way you would expect SMS to behave. Fundamentally Quest Management Xtensions for SMS delivers “WMI on Unix/Linux/Mac”.
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What non-Windows OS platforms does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS support in the current version?
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux - AS/ES/WS 2.1, 3, 4* and 5* (i386)
- SUSE Linux Standard Server - 8 (i386)
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server - 8,9* and 10*
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop - 10*
- Novell Linux Desktop - 9 (i386)
- Sun Solaris - 8 (sparc); 9 and 10* (sparc & x86)
- Hewlett Packard HP-UX - 11i v1 (11.11); v2 (11.23) and v3 (11.31) (PA-RISC & Itanium)
- IBM AIX - 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 (ppc)
- Mac OS X - 10.3 (ppc), 10.4 and 10.5 (ppc & Intel)
- Asianux 2.0
- VMware ESX Server 2.5.3 and 3.0.1
* Supports 64-bit
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Can I distribute software patches for non-Windows environments using Quest Management Xtensions for SMS?
Yes, Quest Management Xtensions for SMS will enable you to distribute Unix, Linux and Mac OS X patches through the SMS console. You can distribute either the native packages or distribute patches using a customized script for more flexibility.
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What remote tools does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS enable?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS provides the ability to launch native Unix and Linux remote tools and utilities from the SMS console: for example Red Hat Logviewer or Gnome System Monitor. You can configure your own command lines to execute any task. Remote controlling Mac systems is performed using remote tools.
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Is there any integration between Vintela Authentication Services (VAS) and Quest Management Xtensions for SMS?
Although VAS is not required to run Quest Management Xtensions for SMS, there is integration with VAS that provides system discovery options for VAS-enabled systems. Using the complete VAS solution or VAS-based utility that is provided with Quest Management Xtensions for SMS, administrators can join their non-Windows systems into an Active Directory Domain. Once added in the Domain, these non-Windows systems can be discovered and incorporated into the Quest Management Xtensions for SMS environment.
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How is Quest Management Xtensions for SMS supported?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS customers can receive Level 1 support for Quest Management Xtensions for SMS directly from Microsoft Product Support Services (for North American customers only). This will enable customers to receive SMS support from Microsoft for both their Windows and non-Windows systems.
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How do I purchase Quest Management Xtensions for SMS?
Quest Management Xtensions for SMS can be purchased directly from Quest Software by contacting us via e-mail at sales@quest.com.
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What languages does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS support?
The current version of Quest Management Xtensions for SMS is available in U.S. English only. Quest will support additional languages in subsequent releases.
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How is Quest Management Xtensions for SMS priced?
Quest Management Xtensions is priced per managed server and managed workstation. You also have the option to include or exclude a SMS Client Management License (CML) based on whether you already own a CML for additional non-Windows systems. This may be the case with customers who have MS Enterprise Agreements (EA).
For pricing information, please contact a Quest sales representative at 1-800-263-0036 or via e-mail at sales@quest.com.
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Can I see a demo of Quest Management Xtensions for SMS?
Yes, Quest has an on-demand Webcast available for viewing the Quest Management Xtensions for SMS demo. Quest can also schedule a live Quest Management Xtensions for SMS demo for you to view the solution with a Quest Solution Consultant. To schedule a live demo of Quest Management Xtensions for SMS, contact us via e-mail at sales@quest.com.
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How can I become a reseller of Quest Management Xtensions for SMS?
Resellers interested in selling Quest Management Xtensions for SMS can contact us via e-mail at sales@quest.com.
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How does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS handle a dual boot environment where one box would have both a Unix and Windows host name?
The Quest Management Xtensions for SMS client would only be installed on the Unix partition of the dual boot system. When the system is a Unix box, it will act like a Unix system regardless of being dual booted. The only thing to watch out for would be if the Windows system and the Unix system share the same hostname and IP address. There's no reason that they would need to share the same hostname and IP address, but if they did it might cause problems for how SMS manages them.
As long as the ip address / hostname of the two environments are different, it will just look to SMS like two different machines, both of which are only on half the time.
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Which version of SMS does Quest Management Xtensions for SMS support?
Quest Management Xtensions supports SMS 2003 SP1, SP2, R2 and SP3.
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