Intel Open Port: Intel vPro Expert Center Blog : 2008 : April : 29

3

First ECO Certified Computer - Interesting Article

Posted by josh.hilliker Apr 29, 2008

Sharing with the community a recent thread I just picked up.

http://abunchofgreens.blogspot.com/2008/04/first-eco-certified-computer-lenovos.html

Eco is the first ThinkCentre computer made with recycled, post-consumer plastics and is EPEAT Gold and Energy Star ® 4.0 rated. The system comes with Intel vPro technology, Core 2 Duo E6550 / E8200 / E8400 Processor, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 160GB HDD, Dual Layer DVD Burner, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, and Windows Vista Business

3 Comments Permalink Tags: green, power, josh_hilliker

0

New USB provisioning article published in wiki!

Posted by michelegartner Apr 29, 2008

Here's an interesting one on USB provisioning -- just published in Known Issues, Best Practices, and Workarounds:

What is the maximum number of PID/PPS pairs that can be used during USB provisioning?

0 Comments Permalink Tags: troubleshoot, vpro, usb

1

Looking to buy some vPro?

Posted by michelegartner Apr 29, 2008

A user asked us why we didn't have information about buying vPro PCs on the Expert Center. Well, here it is! I am compiling a list of the different manufacturers and their vPro landing pages. It will continue to grow as I find more information.

Find it here: Where can I buy vPro PCs?

You'll find more detailed information about specific model numbers in this document: Order an activation-ready PC

As always, let me know if you need additional information. I'm growing these documents, so check back!

1 Comments Permalink Tags: vpro, centrino_pro, activation

3

Does MS System Center Operations Manager and Essentials allow you to manage vPro Clients?

Posted by miroyer Apr 29, 2008

Much of the recent news around Microsoft System Center has been focus on the upcoming release of Microsoft System Configuration Manager SP1. However, did you know that MS System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) and System Center Essentials (SCE) also have support for vPro Client management through the use of the Intel Client Manageability Pack for SCOM & SCE?

First a little background...

What is MS System Center Operations Manager? SCOM is the third generation of Microsoft's monitoring solution. Operations Manager provides an easy-to-use monitoring environment that monitors thousands of servers, applications, and clients to provide a comprehensive view of the health of an organization's IT environment.

What is MS System Center Essentials? Microsoft System Center Essentials 2007 is a new management solution in the System Center family of IT systems management products. Essentials is specifically designed for IT professionals working in midsize businesses who often face IT challenges similar to those of larger enterprises - troubleshooting end user problems, automating management tasks, managing multiple systems, and diagnosing and resolving IT problems.

So where does the Intel Client Management Pack for SCOM and SCE fit in?

The Intel Client Management Pack for Microsoft System Center Operations Manager and System Center Essentials enables the users of these applications to take advantage of the advanced, hardware-based system management capabilities of vPro. These capabilities will help reduce the cost of discovering, managing and securing desktop and mobile PCs in the enterprise and thereby improving compliance with corporate policies. Information Technology support staff can now rapidly and remotely communicate with, power up, reboot, control, inventory assets, and remediate vPro capable clients even if the PC is powered off or the operating system is not functioning.

For more information and download of the Intel Client Manageability Pack for SCOM and SCE, please visit: http://softwarecommunity.intel.com/articles/eng/3681.htm

Matt Royer

3 Comments Permalink Tags: scom, sce, vpro, amt

1

TOP 5 questions from the MMS booth - Day 1

Posted by josh.hilliker Apr 29, 2008

Top 5 questions from the vPEc booth
#1. How do you get started
http://communities.intel.com/openport/blogs/proexpert/2008/02/09/high-level-guide-to-installing-sccm-sp1-beta or
http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-1499

#2. What about legacy support
http://communities.intel.com/openport/blogs/proexpert/2008/04/16/sccm-sp1-38-wsman-translator-how-vpro-firmware-versions-less-than-321-are-supported

#3. What are the top features that I capture about
Top features are in band client agent provisioning and integration of power control in collection based operation and task sequence support.

#4. Why does SCCM matter for vpro?
Sccm is microsoft's first managiblity software that provides native support for vpro capibility. You are able to have a single software provide you on on complete software solution for you vpro client fleet.

#5. What is the difference between Wake On LAN
http://softwarecommunity.intel.com/articles/eng/1151.htm#2 (abstract from the site)

Q1: Does the Intel® Active Management Technology (Intel® AMT) feature of Intel vPro technology support Wake On LAN* (WOL), Pre-boot eXecution Environment (PXE), and Alert Standard Format* (ASF)?

A1: Yes. A PC with Intel® vPro™ Technology can be managed using legacy tools that utilize WOL, PXE, and ASF when Intel® AMT is turned off , so existing tools that use these protocols can be used. However, Intel® AMT provides higher levels of security & functionality. Intel® AMT provides mutual authentication between client and console along with encrypted communication to guard against unauthorized access to networks and PCs, along with the ability to read hardware and software asset information even from PCs that are turned off or down.

Q2: How is Intel® Active Management Technology (Intel® AMT) feature of Intel® vPro™ technology different from ASF and Wake-On-LAN?

A2: Intel® AMT provides more security and functionality than ASF or Wake-On-LAN. Unlike legacy technologies, the Intel® System Defense feature within Intel ® AMT proactively helps prevent the spread of viruses by blocking transmissions from infected PCs. Intel® AMT also provides authentication and encrypted communication of management traffic so the Intel® AMT features can only be activated by authorized management consoles. Its out-of-band management capabilities include not only the ability to reboot PCs and send alerts, but also allow remote control, remote BIOS updates, and access to event logs and asset information regardless of system state or operating system presence. Alerting is policy based rather than based on preset criteria, allowing additional flexibility in IT processes. And Intel® AMT is designed to ensure management traffic can pass through network routers allowing remote management of a greater portion of your installed base.