Operations Manager 2007 R2 180 day eval available for download

Hey All,
Just to let you know that last Thursday, 21st May 2009, Operations Manager 2007 R2 180 day evaluation is available for download from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=93ddf25b-1ef0-4851-81b0-5fb9a2f76181&DisplayLang=en . At the time of writing there is no full version download available from MSDB subscriber downloads.

So what is all the fuss about? Well the new version (which requires new licensing unless you have Server Management Suite Enterprise Licensing with Software Assurance) has the following enhancements:

- Improved stability and performance primarily for the Operations Manager 2007 console.
- Native cross platform monitoring of Unix and Linux.
- Improved notfication configuration.
- Process monitoring.
- Wild card service monitoring.
- Intregrated service level monitoring and reporting.
- The console is now black.
- Power consumption for each computer or for a group of computers with the power consumption management pack.
- Service Level Dashboard v2.0 which integrates with Sharepoint Services or MOSS 2007.

There are many more enhancements and over the next couple of weeks I will be writing a review. Documentation can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/opsmgr/bb498235.aspx . Also some new marketing datasheets - http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/operationsmanager/en/us/datasheets.aspx .

Some screenshots I quickly :-) captured:

Thanks,

Momski

OpsMgr Health Service fails to start after applying new QFE 957123?

This week I am doing an OpsMgr 2007 deployment with ACS including Virtual Machine Manager 2008, SecureVantages packs and hopefully BridgeWays Oracle Pack.

Picture the scene.... the customer, OpsMgr console looking great with me evangelising how good it is, radio on (relaxed atmosphere) kicking out some great 80s music (Prince – Little Red Corvette if you must know) and I am as happy as can be as the mighty Blackburn Rovers have reached the magic 40 points so no relegation worry......I know, I know you all want my job....I would not swop it though for a million dollars*

And then it’s that time – time to import the IIS Management Pack. Well I am sure those of you who read the forums or have gone through the pain of trying to monitor IIS 7 using the new IIS Management Pack are aware of the “colourful” issues presented here – especially with the original release of QFE 957123, Config and SDK service failing to start anyone????? Now this was captured early by the IIS Management Pack team and a new version
released:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=f82ef6b3-a08e-4295-b9e3-fb78a74aefa8&displaylang=en

So I thought no issues – great! Oh OpsMgr how you surprise me! I applied the hotfix to the RMS and guess what the OpsMgr Health Service failed to start – great and presented me with this nice error:

"The OpsMgr Health Service service terminated with service-specific error 3(0x3).

"Customer - “That will be an issue then?” Me – “Yes, don’t worry (%$#)”

So I decided to have a look at http://blogs.technet.com/smsandmom/archive/2008/04/30/opsmgr-2007-healthservice-service-fails-to-start-with-25362-warning.aspx

Sure enough this put me on the right track...so to cut a long story short , to fix:
(1) Open Registry Editor
(2) Navigate toHKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HealthService\Parameters
(3) In the State Directory (REG_SZ) key make that there is an entry to:

"drive"\Program Files\System Center Operations Manager 2007\Health ServiceState

Where drive is your install drive.

I hope that helps people out there!

Thanks,

Momski
http://www.mmsnews.info

* Disclaimer: If you do wish to offer Momski a million dollars then this site does not take any liability in him saying yes as he is not crazy!