Volume One
What's new this round -
Activation Tools: SCS RCT Wizard
Management Tools: Remote Power Control Utility
Testing Tools: BVT
Current Projects: SMB Provisioning Utility
Thank you for taking the time to review our blog. We are a team of software engineers who take pride in making technology easier for others to use. We are busy working on creating tools to help in activation (use) of Intel® vPro(tm) technology. So far in 2008, we have released 7 publicly available tools and a few others special pieces of code for folks working on yet to be released Intel technologies. This being our first "all tool" blog, We've included short descriptions of our current releases as well as a couple nuggets on projects that are currently under investigation. Please plan on coming back every couple of weeks for updates on our projects. We relish suggestions from you on what you would like us to look at in our future development of the right tools to make this the great technology we know it to be.
Activation Tools:
SCS RCT Wizard
RCT.exe is a command line utility that comes with Intel® AMT Setup and Configuration Services (SCS) distributions. This tool wraps a graphical user interface and troubleshooting guide around RCT.exe making it a little easier to use.
USB Key Provisioning Utility
A tool focused on simplifying one-touch provisioning using a USB thumb drive to distribute management credentials through an Advanced mode**.
SCS Setup Wizard
A tool designed to automate the installation of the Intel® Setup and Configuration Service (SCS) along with the third party pre-requisite components automatically. SCS Setup Wizard Performs the following functions -
Install/configure MS SQL Server 2005 Express* Edition and MS SQL Server Management Studio Express
Install/configure Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0
Install/configure MS Certificate Authority*
Install/configure Active Directory Services
Install certificate for IIS
Install certificate for Intel AMT Client
Install/configure Intel SCS service
Management Tools:
Remote Power Control Utility
Simple command line utility that allows administrators managing Intel® AMT computers to power systems down without a management console application.
Unprovision Utility
The Intel® vPro&trade technology "mulligan." Allows administrators to remotely unprovision systems that have become unresponsive to other commands or where incorrectly provisioned.
Intel® AMT Reflector
A tool which offers a unique implementation allowing an Intel® AMT client to access/manage some Intel® AMT functionality locally via the OS without entering the management engine directly (usually via BIOS).
Testing Tools:
Brand Verification Tools (BVT)
This is the tool Intel's customers use to get Intel brand assets such as the Intel® vPro&trade technology sticker. The tool verifies the configuration meets the brand requirements. This tool is only available to registered users. Learn more about Intel's brand programs at http://www.intel.com/GO/brandadvantage/.
Intel® AMT Reflector
A tool which offers a unique implementation allowing an Intel® AMT client to access/manage some Intel® AMT functionality locally via the OS without entering the management engine directly (usually via BIOS).
Packet Decoder
The Intel® AMT Packet Decoder is a debug / test tool for capturing and decoding Intel® AMT commands that are sent between, an Intel AMT management console and an Intel AMT platform. Requires small business (basic mode) and non-TLS enables Standard or Advanced** Intel® AMT provisioned clients.
Current Projects (see note 2):
SMB Provisioning Utility
Many of our customers have expressed a desire to be able to activate their Intel® vPro&trade technology systems remotely. While this is possible for customers who choose to use the standard and advanced provisioning modes(see note 1), it has not been generally accomplished in the basic** mode. Our team is currently researching what is required to create a SW tool that can do this.
RCFG Certificate Research
The team is currently researching the requirements to build tools that can simplify the security certificates required to manage Standard and Advanced mode** provisioned computers on your network. Stay tuned for more information as the team solidifies its plans in this area.
More Information on the Intel® vPro Expert Center:
Intel® vPro & Centrino with vPro on the vPro Expert Center
A complete list of software tools targeted for use in evaluating and using your Intel® vPro technology. This list includes the tools listed here as well as other developed elsewhere.
Note 1: Provisioning definitions are changed! Basic was previously called SMB mode. Standard and Advanced were referred to as Enterprise mode. See Michele's http://communities.intel.com/openport/docs/DOC-1684 on the vPro Expert Center for explanation.
Note 2 Intel reserves the right to change plans, features and schedule at any time and without prior notice.
