Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 005.71
EAN: 9780072124477
ISBN: 0072124474
Label: McGraw-Hill Companies
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Companies
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 640
Publication Date: 2000-02-24
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
Studio: McGraw-Hill Companies

A complete guide to remote installations using SMS installer.
When you run a fleet of Windows workstations (particularly ones that are geographically distributed) and are responsible for maintaining the software on all of them, you need Microsoft System Management Server (SMS) to automate software installations and updates. Rod Trent's Microsoft SMS Installer takes a from-the-trenches view of software management under SMS, explaining precisely how to write SMS scripts for scores of diverse situations. Trent shows how to write scripts that operate efficiently under ideal conditions and deal gracefully with irregularities and problems.

Though many readers will jump right to this book's companion CD-ROM and start digging through its prewritten SMS scripts, the book is primarily useful as a tutorial and reference for people who want to do their own scripting. Trent (an MCSE) shows how to create, edit, and deploy scripts with SMS tools. More importantly, he documents the SMS scripting language in a way that's both intelligible to newcomers and useful to old SMS hands with relatively obscure problems to solve. He explains scores of capabilities--such as configuring ODBC data sources--by documenting each parameter that script coders must set and explaining how each contributes to the big picture. Adequate (but not overwhelming) code listings, with annotation, describe full solutions to a variety of problems. --David Wall

Topics covered: Microsoft System Management Server 2 and its application to networks of Windows NT, 95, and 98 computers. The Installation Expert and Script Editor tools are explained, as are the logical and syntax conventions of SMS scripts themselves.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Woo-hoo!
Comment: This book is awesome! I've dabbled in SMS Installer for a while, but this book forced me to get serious about it. I love the way the book progresses through the product allowing you to go from beginner to pro. The flow of the book is very logical and the organization is right on target. And, the CD full of like 500 scripts has kept my nose to the computer screen for two days!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Finally -- have my copy in my hands!
Comment: I've been waiting and waiting for another print of this book. I was pleasantly surprised to find its back when I was searching through Amazon.com. Other SMS Admins I know have raved about this book for years, and I've never been able to get my hands on a copy, because its always sold out at the local stores. Glad to see that its in another printing. Digging into it the first day, I'm already using the product to distribute my own custom packages.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Just got my copy!
Comment: I can't believe this book is out of print already! This book stands the test of time. I just got my copy (from one of the used booksellers, sadly) and it rocks! For anyone who has not picked this book up yet, HURRY! Using this book, I have already completed two software packages I had given up on.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Rich in information, lacks organization and content
Comment: The first two chapters are reasonably well laid out covering most of the basic functions that are relevant to most Windows-based GUI's with a few extra SMS Installer functions thrown in. Overall, what you'd expect for a Windows-based product.

Chapter three and four deal with the SMS Installer basic options, file names, pathing, how to repackage an application. Most of what you'd need to know to get started. This is where the light reading ends.

Chapter 5 is a monster, and represents over 1/2 of the entire book. It has lots of detail, but I could never understand the logic of how the information was supposed to be presented. Very difficult to consume this level of info non-stop.

The bottom line: A book that is full of information, if you know what you're looking for. Otherwise, it is not a method to learn scripting using SMS Installer. You'd better have some knowledge of VB/VBScript, or a similar programming language if you want to make this book useful.

Not a tutorial. Useful as a reference only. Not readable in a linear fashion. Assumes an advanced level of programming knowledge. No real-world references.

But, as of now, this in the ONLY book on SMS Installer. WROX where are you???

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource for those new to SMS Installer
Comment: This book is a great reference for those new to SMS installer, as well as more seasoned SMS Administrators. It has a very solid "tips" section with code samples...

I attended SMS training (offered by a Microsoft-approved vendor) and found it somewhat lacking where SMS Installer was concerned -it focused more on day to day administration and monitoring and was too basic. This book was MUCH better. I refer to it often.

If you are new to Administration, I would also suggest buying the other McGraw Hill book "Administering SMS" as a companion to this book. Using both, you will be up and running in no time.

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