Intel Community: Intel vPro Expert Center Blog

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IT administrators compete at MMS 2008 in the Intel vPro technology Challenge

Posted by jlvb May 28, 2008

We had the Intel vPro technology Challenge at MMS 2008 - a competition where teams of two competed to fix a troubled PC using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 with PCs with Intel vPro technology. Check out how much fun this Challenge was at MMS 2008 this year:

To see more videos from MMS 2008, go to: http://www.intel.com/go/mms/

0 Comments Permalink Tags: centrino_pro, vpro, challenge, microsoft, system, center, configuration, manager, mms, sccm, sccm_sp1, sms

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What Acronym best describes Intel® vPro Technology? (MMS 08)

Posted by jlvb May 19, 2008

Sometimes within Intel Marketing, we're told that our description of Intel Centrino with vPro technology or Intel Core 2 with vPro technology is a bit lengthy. Therefore, while at MMS 08, we asked Intel customers as well as technical experts from Intel and Microsoft to give us their best, most concise acronym that best describes Intel vPro Technology. Listen to their responses below.

To see more videos from MMS 08, go to http://www.intel.com/go/mms/

0 Comments Permalink Tags: intel, microsoft, vpro, technology, mms, 08, justin_van_buren, acronym, system, center, configuration, manager, sms, management, summit

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"IT Utopia": What does it mean to you? (MMS 08)

Posted by jlvb May 19, 2008

At Intel, we're always looking for feedback on the way IT should be. Therefore, at the recent MMS 2008 Conference, we had Intel customers, partners, and technical experts from Microsoft and Intel tell us their meaning of IT Utopia.

To see more videos from MMS 08, go to http://www.intel.com/go/mms/

0 Comments Permalink Tags: vpro, intel, microsoft, mms, 08, sccm_sp1, sccm, roi

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What does the "v" in Intel vPro technology mean to you?

Posted by jlvb May 19, 2008

When Intel released Intel vPro technology into the marketplace in 2006, the press asked us what the "v" in Intel vPro technology meant. Now that the technology has been in the marketplace for almost two years, we thought that the best answer to the question, "What does the "v" in Intel vPro technology mean to you?" would come from Intel customers, as well as from some of the technical experts from Intel and our partners who deal with our customers on an almost daily basis. See their answers below.

To see more videos from MMS 2008, go here: http://www.intel.com/go/mms/

0 Comments Permalink Tags: mms, vpro, sccm_sp1, sccm, intel, microsoft, vpro, mms, 2008, system, center, configuration, manager, sms, justin_van_buren

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Stump the PRO - you did it..!

Posted by josh.hilliker May 5, 2008

Last week while I was out at MMS (Microsoft Management Summit) in Las Vegas, I was stumped twice by two folks that asked me questions I didn’t have top of mind. I completed my research & here are the answers to those two questions. Great job guys for stumping me, hopefully you will leave me a comment so I can send you a free vPro shirt.

Is WMI service used for AMT?
WMI is not used for AMT. WS-MAN and SOAP call from SCCM out of band service point can check to see if it AMT capable. Example with SCCM: Using the APIs of the heci drive, the SCCM Agent to can determine whether it is provision-able.

Does Intel vPro Technology support IPV6?
vPro systems in 2008 will have the ability to communicate with IPv6 addressing in 2008 in-band and out of band IPv6 support is planned for a future platform release.

More details can be read on the current state at http://softwareblogs.intel.com/2007/07/18/intel-amt-and-the-scoop-on-ipv6-vs-ipv4/ by Gael Holmes

Here’s an Excerpt:
• The ME cannot be assigned an IPV6 address but the host OS can be assigned an IPV6 address (either static or via DHCP).
• The ME does support System Defense filters on the host traffic, whether or not the host communicates IPV4 or IPV6. This means that the System Defense filters must be configured on the ME network (via IPV4) but the filters are able to filter IPV6 traffic that if that is what the host OS is communicating with.
• If the host OS is assigned an IPV6 address, the ME must be statically assigned an IPV4 address. The assumption is that if the ME is configured in DHCP mode, it shares its configuration with the host OS. If the host OS is deployed in an IPV6 environment, it cannot share its configuration with the ME.
• Intel® AMT does not support static IP addresses at all when operating in a Wireless mode, therefore, IPV6 would not be an option at all for Wireless operations.

I'm looking for the next opportunity to get stumped..

0 Comments Permalink Tags: josh_hilliker, vpro_expert_center, mms

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SCCM SP1 - WS MAN Translator & Migration Tool.

Posted by josh.hilliker May 1, 2008

At the MMS booth I was asked this question & was able to sit down with Matt for a minute. Here is the answer to when will you see WS MAN & the Migration Tool for Microsoft Service Center configuration manager SP1

0 Comments Permalink Tags: mms, sccm_sp1, josh_hilliker, vpro_expert_center, matt_royer

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MMS - day 2

Posted by josh.hilliker Apr 30, 2008

After walking around the booths yesterday the trend was clear - Integration Matters, make it easier. I couldn't agree more. Integration is where the value is driven from, understanding, planning & leveraging the right HW/SW solution is the key.

Day 2 kicks off - Brad Anderson - The changing desktop landscape. Discussing Dynamic IT, w/ the focus moving towards User -Focused. Even here the message keeps ringing "INTEGRATE".

Brad started the discussion around vPro - also that SCCM SP1 - May, R2 release candidate in July. He discussed "Comprehensive Management" that focuses in 4 vectors: physical, virtual, User setting/data & Hardware.

Now onto Dave Randall - configuration with vPro. with SCCm SP1 there are 15 OOB mgmt features they are supporting (I will get that list). He then took a bank of PC's in the comms area & shut them down.. Would you really do that in your enterpise - probably not, but if you lost control of the box this is available.

Dave is showing all the key features of OOB - i.e. SOL into the bios, also discussing the use of IDE-R (IDE redirect).

cheers.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: mms, brad_anderson, josh, _hilliker, vpro, vpro_expert_center, dave_randall

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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.

1 Comments Permalink Tags: mms, josh_hilliker, sccm_sp1

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MMS - Let it begin

Posted by josh.hilliker Apr 28, 2008

Just arrived onsite & was able to check out the booth, talk w/ my fellow Intel folks. The booth looks great, tons of information & pro's onsite.

I'm working on the video of the booth, however have to get back on the floor shortly.. here's a good pix.. off the monitor in the booth.. more to come shortly..

Video of the booth.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: mms, josh_hilliker, vpro_expert_center, vpro

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On the way to MMS.... T-2.5 hrs..

Posted by josh.hilliker Apr 28, 2008

Let the Journey begin.. On my way to MMS (las vegas). Hopefully to make it to the show floor in a few hours and start to scope out the Intel booth. I am looking forward to talking with IT shops that are using vPro & the folks that are about to take on their journey. If you are also interested to learn more make sure you stop by the booth.

As soon as I arrive I’ll shoot a quick video of the booth & post on the Expert Center.. .

0 Comments Permalink Tags: mms, josh_hilliker, vpro_expert_center, vpro

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On the road to Microsoft Management Summit - Las Vegas

Posted by josh.hilliker Apr 21, 2008

I am looking forward to joining my fellow vPro experts out at MMS in Las Vegas in a week. Here's a quick video we shot while Frank was driving. If your headed out to Vegas let us know..

Josh H

2 Comments Permalink Tags: josh_hilliker, vpro_expert_center, sccm_sp1, mms

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Need information about upcoming events?

Posted by Kelsey_Witherow Mar 25, 2008

Meet the Experts and Learn More About vPro at these Events!

Check out the new events page here: Learn the Latest and Greatest on vPro(tm) at these Events!

I put up a new page last week on the vPro Expert Center to inform the community about places where they can meet the experts and get more information on vPro. You can get an overview of the event including location, dates, classes offered, and even links for registration to attend. So far I've got the following five events & more will be coming soon: