Software Update: Microsoft SMS 2003 Service Pack 1

Microsoft has released the first service pack for its Systems Management Server 2003 software. The package consists of almost all released patches, hotfixes and security updates for SMS 2003. Service Pack 1 is available via this link inside and weighs more than two hundred megabytes. Below you can read which changes implemented after installing SP1:

Configuration Changes

• To enhance security, the SMS Legacy Client will be supported on Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0 SP6a operating systems only. Note that SMS 2.0 clients and Legacy Clients running on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 will not upgrade to SMS 2003 SP1. For more information about upgrading these clients, see the Deployment section of the What’s New in SMS 2003 SP1 page.
• Reduced requirement for WINS in SMS. If DNS is configured to enable SMS clients and servers to resolve each other’s NetBIOS names then SMS 2003 SP1 does not require WINS. For more information, see the Platform Support section of the What’s New in SMS 2003 SP1 page.
• Product keys are required to install SMS 2003 SP1 and can be found on the SMS 2003 product CD case or through Volume Licensing.

Broadened Configurations

• Workgroups
• Advanced Client support for Virtual Server 2005 and Virtual PC 2004
• Advanced Client support on all Windows Server 2003 SP1 64-bit-based platforms at release
• Advanced Client and Distribution Point support for Windows Storage Servers
• Support for English site server installation on localized operating systems

usability

• Categorize queries, packages, advertisements, reports, and software metering rules easily with the addition of folders in the Administrator Console
• Over 100 accessibility changes to meet the needs of government and private industry

Security

• Authorize critical updates immediately without waiting for inventory scans
• Track the status of updates with more granular reporting
• Tightened data privacy for client inventory information provided through encryption of inventory data
• Enhanced security through the ability to configure the server and Advanced Client ports used for communication
• Apply signed security at the time the client is provisioned to operate at a higher level of security
• SMS 2003 had server authentication only. SP1 now has client authentication to protect servers from client spoofing

Performance

• Improve inventory performance by excluding the Windows Directory during software inventory scans
• Control bandwidth utilization by specifying the size of the data packages and by using pulse mode to define the time between packages when sending data between sites
• Improved client inventory performance to minimize user interruption during hardware inventory scans through enhancements for Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)-based inventory
• Reduced time for package distribution and support for a greater number of distributions points per site
• Improved software distribution and less network impact in 3-tier hierarchies by allowing the sending site to send content directly to the recipient sites without having to send multiple copies through a middle site