Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 (SC OM2k7) Evaluation Edition

I highly recommend the new version of MOM (dubbed correctly as System Center Operations Manager 2007 - or as I refer to it on my Blog as SC OM2k7).  The RTM bits are due out the first Week of April 2007ish (scheduled to be announced at the Microsoft Managment Summit 2007 (MMS 2007)) and without question it will be one of the top Operations Management Environments for the Windows Platform.  There are some very interesting monitoring capabilities for non-Windows devices using SNMP and the mature Management Pack Ecosystem from 3rd Party Independent Software Vendors (ISVs).  Some major changes from MOM2k5SP1 have occurred including: 1) adding Audit Collection System (ACS) which is Realtime, Encrypted Security Event Log Consolidation and Reporting for both Windows Servers and Clients, 2) a highly evolved Management Pack Strategy where Management Packs are made available from OEMs in 'Signed' form (Digitally Signed Files like Code Signing) and 'unsigned' form (non-signed custom Management Packs developed by the Operations Management Administrator and Application Owners), 3) full SQL Reporting integration in a realtime capacity (no more Distributed Transaction Service (DTS) jobs, 4) custom defined Health Monitors that provide granular, Management Pack specific Health Indicators and Diagnostic Recoveries and alot more. 

Here is a link to the OM2k7 Team Blog.

Here is the reference for the Eval Edition:

       Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 Evaluation Edition

Lynn Lunik
Independent Security Consultant
Windows(R) Platform
IT Pro Secure Corporation
blog <at> itprosecure.com