Microsoft has just released Hotfix KB960804.  This is a hotfix rollup package that addresses issues that involve the Out of Band Management (OOB) feature in Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1). These issues are documented in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles: (Even if you have all or some of the other Hotfixes installed that are included in this rolled up HotFix, it is recommended that you install KB960804 Roll-up Hotfix)

• 954718: You cannot use the Out of Band Management console in Configuration Manager 2007 to connect to computers that use versions of Intel AMT that are earlier than version 3.2.1
• 955114: The SMS_Executive service process may crash when the System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 Hierarchy Manager handles the site control (.ct2) file from child sites that are running the RTM version of Configuration Manager 2007
• 955126: The SMS_Executive service process (Smsexec.exe) in System Center Configuration Manager 2007 may crash if you have Intel AMT-related software installed
• 955355:  A distinguished name that contains more than 100 characters and that is discovered from Active Directory for an AMT host causes the SMS_EXECUTIVE service to crash in System Center Configuration Manager 2007
• 956337: System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 is unable to remove AMT user ACLs during the provisioning process for AMT 2.x computers
• 957183: You cannot add a group as an AMT user account in Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 if the group name has more than 20 characters
• 957469: The Out of Band Power control function does not work for clients that have the Intel AMT 4 or Intel AMT 5 chipset in System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1
• 959700: The Out of Band Management console in Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 cannot connect to AMT-enabled computers
• 960741: The SMS_Executive service process crashes on a Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 site server when you use Intel WS-MAN Translator to provision computers that are equipped with AMT 3.2.1 chipsets
• 961328: System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1-based systems cannot provision AMT 2.2/2.6 clients in PKI mode and AMT 2.1/2.5 clients in PSK mode

--Matt Royer

Microsoft has just released two additional hotfixes that address issues with System Center Configuration Manager SP1 and vPro/AMT Out of Band Management. Please reference the following WIKI for a comprehensive list of required software bundles and hotfixes for SCCM SP1 and vPro/AMT Out of Band Management: http://communities.intel.com/openport/docs/DOC-1897

System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (KB955355):

• Description: A distinguished name that contains more than 100 characters and that is discovered from Active Directory for an AMT host causes the SMS_EXECUTIVE service to crash in System Center Configuration Manager 2007

• URL: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955355

System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (KB956337):

• Description: System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 is unable to remove AMT user ACLs during the provisioning process for AMT 2.x computers

• URL: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/956337

--Matt Royer

As noted in a previous blog, SCCM SP1 only natively supports vPro firmware version 3.2.1 and higher. For legacy (less than 3.2.1) vPro clients to be supported, SCCM SP1 depends on the WS-MAN Translator.

There has been an issue identified within SCCM SP1 (RTW version) Out of Band Console that does not route AMT management communication through the WS-MAN Translator for legacy systems. Microsoft is aware of the issue and will be releasing a SCCM SP1 HotFix (targeted for July’2008) to address the problem.

Provisioning and collection based (power control / WOL via AMT) are not impacted by this issues; vPro firmware version 3.2.1 and above are also not impacted.

Matt Royer