SCCM 2007 R3 Adds Centralized Power Management
Microsoft has released an update to System Center Configuration Manager 2007, one that brings with it new power management and policy creation tools, along with an increase in the number of supported clients.
The system management software, which gives users the ability to implement network-wide patches, remote control access, OS deployment, network protection, and hardware and software inventory, includes a handful of new features in its third version.
R3 comes with new centralized power management tools designed to monitor and manage the power settings of systems running Windows 7, Vista and XP. Enterprise-wide or individual computer power policies can be created, with the aim of saving energy during low PC usage periods.
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R3 also increases the number of supported clients to 300,000 per network. It includes new add-ons that improve Active Directory functionality, according to Microsoft.
For enterprises with Windows Mobile devices, R3 includes licenses for Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager. The current version is System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 Service Pack 1, which supports Windows Mobile 6.1-based devices. Microsoft has said that some Windows Mobile phones will not be upgradable to Windows Phone 7, which Microsoft unveiled last week.
Microsoft is describing R3 as the "foundation" for its Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 product, expected some time this year. Currently, Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 is available as a beta download.
R3, announced in September 2009, was initially planned for the first quarter of this year. However, owing to unexplained delays, Microsoft pushed its release to last week.
An evaluation version of the software can be downloaded here.