System Center Configuration Manager 2007: Managing Unix, Linux and Mac OS X

What?  Are you seeing things?  System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 managing non-Windows machines?  How can that be?  Well folks, the IT world is a complex, heterogeneous place where customers use a variety of platforms in their environment. 

As many of you already know, I've been a proponent of our management product since Systems Management Server 1.0 (yes SMS 1.0!!) for managing Windows desktops and servers and have the scars and the certification exam to prove it J.  Our latest version is System Center Configuration Manager 2007.  If you haven't taken a look at it capabilities yet I think you're missing out.  This is not your daddies SMS (I've always wanted to use that phrase J).  SCCM 2007 has some powerful functionality for managing software and patch distribution as well as a variety of other features that just simplify your job as an administrator in managing the desktops and servers in your environment.  Wouldn't it be great to use that power to manage your non-Windows machines?

"Yeah John that's great, but how do I manage non-Windows systems?

I hear that a lot from customers, "I like the tool but what about my non-Windows machines".  Never fear, SCCM 2007 is extensible and one of our partners, Quest has done exactly that.  With their SCCM 2007 extensions you can manage Unix, Linux and OS X machines and even VMWare ESX servers via SCCM 2007. 

Awesome!  So where can you get some information on this?  Go to Unleashing the Power of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 to non-Windows Systems and check it out!!

I'm certain if you're looking to leverage your System Center Configuration Manager deployment to manage non-Windows machines, this is the answer you've been looking for.

That sounds really cool!!  I'd love to see it in action!!!

Not a problem, Quest have weekly webcasts to give an overview of the capabilities of QMX for System Center Configuration Manager 2007.  Go signup!!!