News
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R3 Released
Microsoft released its newest product update to System Center Configuration Manager 2007 on Thursday.
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 earlier unveiled this 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, due to unexplained delays, Microsoft pushed its release to this week.
An evaluation version of the software can be downloaded here.