Monitoring at Microsoft with Operations Manager

I found an interesting blog with information about how Microsoft have implemented Operations Manager 2007 internally. There is a lot of information on how they have handled hardware design and SQL optimization and redundancy. The info is written by Cory Delamarter, Microsoft. Here is the link to the "Monitoring at Microsoft with Operations Manager" blog.

System Center Operations Manager 2007 Webcasts

Now you can download all of the System Center Operations Manager 2007
Training Videos (in .wmv format) in one file for offline viewing. The file is about 186 MB. Here is the link.

Or maybe you would like to try the new System Center Operations Manager 2007 Virtual Labs. See how Operations Manager 2007 helps you ease operations and improve your planning capabilities.
Introduction: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6949283
Advanced Topics: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6949282

Operations Manager 2007 Design Guide

The documentation for Operations Manager is updated with the Operations Manager 2007 Design Guide.
You find the guide and the other documentation here. The guide is written by Christopher Fox.

He writes on the Operations Manager Product Team Blog:
The Design Guide covers the design process from start to finish, and is intended to be read straight through. The guide starts off with a primer of OpsMgr, giving information on the design process and core OpsMgr components and concepts. At the end of this section the reader will have a foundation for indentifying their business, regulatory, and optimization requirements.

With these in hand, the designer can then map their companies requirements to the components and services to produce an acutal design. In this part of the process, I cover Management Group design and composition, Server Role compatability, Recommended component distribution, component guidlines and best practices and designing audit collection services. With the blueprint completed, your last step is to develop an implementation plan and we give you the steps for this as well.

System Center Operations Manager TechCenter

Microsoft Technet has collected the information around Operations Manager 2007 to System Center Operations Manager TechCenter. You find documentation, downloads, community, training resourcees and knowledgebase here.

System Center Trial Software downloads

Microsoft has collected links to almost all trial versions of System Center products one page. Here you will find Operations Manager, Configuration Manager, Data Protection Manager and so on. You find both time limited released versions and beta versions of the different products. Check it out here

System Center Operations Manager 2007 Product Documentation

I found a Microsoft web page with links and overview description of all the Operations Manager 2007 Product Documentation. You find the page here

Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007

Now on Microsoft Download

Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Management Pack

Brief Description
The Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Management Pack monitors the health and state of Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update 6.0.5000.1 (or higher).
Overview
The Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Management Pack monitors events placed in the application event log. This Management Pack highlights events that might indicate possible service outages or configuration problems, so you can quickly take corrective or preventive actions. This Management Pack also provides the knowledge and expertise you need to leverage System Center Operations Manger 2007 and get an immediate return on your investment. Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update) 6.0.5000.1 (or higher) Feature Bullet Summary: • Monitors whether the application pool account has insufficient permission to add or read users from the Active Directory • Monitors for issues arising from improper configuration of the authentication provider • Monitors backup failures and recycle bin quotas • Monitors for connectivity problems with computers running SQL server • Monitors for issues arising from the deployment and topology of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 • Monitors events related to the health of the tracing infrastructure • Monitors connectivity with the SMTP server • Monitors whether the application pool account has problems writing to disk or a registry key • Monitors connectivity with Windows Rights Management Services servers • Monitors performance counters • Monitors events that are critical to the sound operation of the search service • Monitors Windows service availability • Monitors events associated with the Timer service • Monitors events associated with failures to load event handlers and safe control assembly paths
Management Pack Release History: Initial Release for OpsMgr 2007 6/1/2007 Version 6.0.5000.0

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007

Now on Microsoft Download

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Management Pack

Brief Description
This Management Pack quickly brings any failures or configuration problems to your attention, which increases the availability and performance of Office SharePoint Server 2007. This Management Pack also provides the knowledge and expertise you need to leverage Operations Manager 2007 and get an immediate retu Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update 6.0.5000.1 (or higher).

Overview
This Management Pack quickly brings any failures or configuration problems to your attention, which increases the availability and performance of Office SharePoint Server 2007. This Management Pack also provides the knowledge and expertise you need to leverage Operations Manager 2007 and get an immediate return on your investment.
Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update) 6.0.5000.1 (or higher)

Feature Bullet Summary:
This Management Pack alerts you about the following critical conditions:
• Shared Services Provider (SSP) provisioning failed
• Site Directory scan job failed
• Enabling features failed on some sites
• Administration site for the SSP is missing
• Enabling features on existing sites failed
• The Office SharePoint Server Search service is not running
• The Microsoft Single Sign-On service is not running
• The Office Document Conversions Launcher service is not running
• Failed to connect to parent server farm
• SSP synchronization failed
• The Office Document Conversions Load Balancer service is not running
• Failures in content deployment jobs
• Poor cache performance
• Error during document copy or move operations
• Errors with the Information Rights Management (IRM) features
• Failures in the Document Conversion feature
• Out of Memory exceptions coming from form business logic
• Denial of Service scenarios
• Failures during form processing or while loading business logic assemblies


Management Pack Release History:
Initial Release for OpsMgr 2007 6/1/2007 Version 6.0.5000.0

Print Server 2000/2003 Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007

Now on Microsoft Download

Print Server 2000/2003 Management Pack

Provides Print Server performance and health monitoring on Windows® 2000 and later Operating Systems. Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update 6.0.5000.1 (or higher)

Overview
The Microsoft® Windows® Print Server Management Pack monitors the performance and health of print servers running on Windows® 2000 and later Operating Systems. In addition to monitoring the health of print servers, this Management Pack can also provide insight into the status of shared printers.
By detecting, alerting on, and automatically responding to critical events and performance indicators, this Management Pack helps indicate, correct, and prevent possible operating system service outages.
By using embedded expertise, this Management Pack highlights performance, health, and availability conditions that indicate problems. It helps you identify issues before they become critical, thus providing you with a level of customer responsiveness that increases the overall availability and performance of your Windows Operating Systems. As a result, this Management Pack will reduce the cost of ownership by enabling proactive management and reducing resolution times for the issues identified.
Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update) 6.0.5000.1 (or higher)


Management Pack Release History:
Initial Release for OpsMgr 2007 6/1/2007 Version 6.0.5000.0

FRS Windows Server 2000/2003 Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007

Now on Microsoft Download

FRS Windows Server 2000/2003 Management Pack

Monitors the performance and availability of Windows File Replication Service, ultrasound, and replica sets. Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update 6.0.5000.1 (or higher).

Overview
The Microsoft® Windows File Replication Service Management Pack monitors the performance and availability of Windows File Replication Service, Ultrasound, and Replica Sets. By detecting and providing alerts for critical events and performance indicators, this Management Pack helps you correct and prevent possible service outages. This Management Pack plays an important role in ensuring that Windows File Replication Service, and Replica Sets are available and working correctly.
By using embedded expertise, this Management Pack provides alerts for performance, health, and availability conditions that indicate problems. It helps you identify issues before they become critical, allowing you to maintain a high level of availability and performance for Windows File Replication Service and Replica Sets. As a result, this Management Pack can reduce the cost of ownership by enabling proactive management and reducing resolution times for identified issues.
Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update) 6.0.5000.1 (or higher)

Management Pack Release History:
Initial Release for OpsMgr 2007 6/1/2007 Version 6.0.5000.0

Group Policy 2003 Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007

Now on Microsoft Download

Group Policy 2003 Management Pack

Provides Group Policy health monitoring and knowledge base of useful information to help administrators resolve an issue when Group Policy fails to process. Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update 6.0.5000.1 (or higher).

Overview
The Group Policy Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007 monitors Group Policy infrastructure and in-scope client side extensions. Specifically, it:
Provides Group Policy health monitoring for:
• Group Policy core infrastructure/registry client-side extension
• Scripts client-side extension
• Software installation client-side extension
• Security client-side extension
• Folder redirection client-side extension
• Disk quota

Provides a knowledge base of useful information to help administrators resolve an issue when Group Policy fails to process.

Management Pack Release History:
Initial Release for OpsMgr 2007 6/1/2007 Version 6.0.5000.0

DHCP Management Pack Windows Server 2000/2003 for Operations Manager 2007

Now available on Microsoft Download

DHCP Management Pack Windows Server 2000/2003

Collects events generated by the Microsoft Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Service (DHCP) in Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. Ensures this critical part of your Windows infrastructure is working correctly, and helps prevent costly service outages. Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update 6.0.5000.1 (or higher).
Overview
The Microsoft Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Service Management Pack collects the events the Microsoft Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Service (DHCP) places in the Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 System event logs. This Management Pack highlights events that might indicate possible service outages or configuration problems, so that you can quickly take corrective or preventative actions.
Requires OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update) 6.0.5000.1 (or higher)

Feature Bullet Summary:
For example, this Management Pack alerts you of the following critical conditions:
• Ability to monitor for DHCP service availability (stopped state)
• Ability to monitor for start-up failures that are due to issues found within service initialization data
• Ability to monitor for start-up failures that are due to network or communication issues
• Ability to monitor for unexpected service terminations
• Ability to monitor DHCP scope health
• Ability to detect when unauthorized DHCP servers are on the network
• Ability to detect when DHCP is unable to restore the DHCP database


Management Pack Release History:
Initial Release for OpsMgr 2007 6/1/2007 Version 6.0.5000.0

System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 Beta 2 is available

System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 Beta 2 is available from Microsoft Connect.
DPM 2007 is the upcoming version of Microsoft´s backup/restore solution in the System Center family.

There is a drawing on the Microsoft Connect Site:

Customers, who download Beta 2**, are automatically enrolled in a monthly drawing for an Xbox 360™ system*. During the months of June, July, and August, one lucky winner will be randomly selected from a list of those who downloaded Beta 2 and will be sent an Xbox 360™ system.

Read more about DPM 2007 and the rules for the drawing on Microsoft connect.

Updated Systems Center Operations Manager 2007 Documentation

Updated Ops Mgr 2007 documentation from Microsoft download.

Quick Details
Version: 1
Date Published: 6/4/2007
Language: English
Download Size: 190 KB - 4.3 MB*
*Download size depends on selected download components.

Operations Manager 2007 Active Directory Management Pack Guide

New documentation is available from Microsoft Download.

Operations Manager 2007 Active Directory Management Pack.
Overview
This guide includes an overview, deployment procedures, and monitoring scenarios for the Active Directory Management Packs for Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007.
Quick Details
File Name: OM2007_MP_ActDirMgmt.doc
Version: 1.0
Date Published: 6/1/2007
Language: English
Download Size: 253 KB

Operations Manager 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP Update

Updated Management Pack at Microsoft Download.

OpsMgr 2007 MOM 2005 Backward Compatibility MP.

Overview
Updated MOM 2005 Backwards Compatibility MP (6.0.5000.1) and System Center Internal Library MP (6.0.5000.1).
Update to address fixes and enhancements:
- New Backward Compatibility Threshold monitoring type using in Converted MOM 2005 MPs which exposes Threshold values as overrides.
- Fixes to the Backward Compatibility Cluster discovery to address problem with converted MPs that monitor clustered Applications

Installation: After unpacking of the MSI files import the following MP files:
Folder (default): %ProgramFiles%\System Center Management Packs
- System.Mom.BackwardCompatibility.Library.mp
- Microsoft.SystemCenter.Internal.mp
The MP will replace the existing version of the files

Management Pack Release History:
Initial Release 3/23/2007 Version 6.0.5000.0