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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0 clients could collect hardware and software inventory, receive advertised software, and—where supported—use software metering and Remote Tools. These capabilities depended on client agents, configuration, and the operating system; they were not available uniformly on every SMS 2.0 client.
Microsoft announced SMS 2.0 on February 8, 1999. The features below describe that historical release, not current Windows compatibility or vendor support. Microsoft’s announcement gives the product-level overview, while the SMS 2.0 Service Pack 1 release notes document important client-platform exceptions.
What SMS 2.0 client features did
SMS 2.0 separated endpoint work from broader site and server management. Client agents handled tasks such as collecting inventory or processing software offers. By contrast, Microsoft’s announcement also described server health monitoring and network monitoring and tracing as product-level diagnostics; those should not be mistaken for functions running on every managed client.
| Client capability | Purpose | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware inventory | Collected system hardware and configuration information. | Microsoft described it as CIM-based. The information returned depended on configuration and platform. |
| Software inventory | Collected information about software on a client. | Microsoft described it as discovery-based. Inventory records software information; it does not by itself describe how much a program is used. |
| Software distribution | Delivered advertised software programs to eligible clients. | The Advertised Programs Client Agent had to be enabled and installed, and programs could be subject to conditions or platform compatibility. |
| Software metering | Monitored and controlled real-time software use. | This was distinct from inventory and was not supported on every client platform. |
| Remote Tools | Provided configured remote diagnostic and control functions. | Availability and operation depended on platform, administrator configuration, permissions, and compatibility. |
How inventory worked
Hardware Inventory
The Hardware Inventory Client Agent gathered hardware and configuration details. Microsoft’s 1999 announcement characterized this as CIM-based inventory. The resulting detail was not necessarily identical across systems: the relevant agent had to be installed, and collection configuration and platform affected what was returned. It is therefore more accurate to describe this as configurable hardware inventory than as automatic capture of every attribute on every computer.
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Software Inventory
The Software Inventory Client Agent collected software information. Microsoft called the capability discovery-based. It served a different purpose from metering: an inventory provides information about software present or detected, whereas metering concerns software usage over time. The Administrators Companion’s features overview provides additional historical context for the product’s functions.
How advertised software reached clients
SMS 2.0 distribution involved three related pieces: a package containing software content, a program defining the executable instructions, and an advertisement associating a program with a target and conditions. The advertisement—not merely the existence of a package—was what made a program available to eligible clients.
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- Prepare a package and program. Administrators defined the content and the instructions for running it.
- Advertise the program. The advertisement linked that program to a target, such as users, user groups, TCP/IP network segments, or machines, and could include conditions.
- Enable the client agent. The Advertised Programs Client Agent had to be enabled and installed on the client to receive advertisements. It checked for offers on a schedule rather than acting as an unrestricted, instantaneous installer.
- Run only eligible programs. The agent evaluated offers, and platform mismatches could cause a program to be ignored. The SMS 2.0 Training Kit excerpt also notes a limitation for 16-bit clients: they could not run a dependent program before the advertised program.
These mechanics are described in the Administrators Companion’s client configuration excerpt and the Training Kit’s software distribution overview.
Software metering was about use, not presence
Microsoft presented software metering as a way to monitor and control real-time software usage. It should not be treated as another name for Software Inventory: inventory concerns software information collected from a client, while metering concerns use. Metering was also platform-dependent; SMS 2.0 SP1 specifically excluded Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition clients.
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Remote Tools required configuration and had limits
Remote Tools offered remote control and diagnostic functions, but not universal or unrestricted access to client machines. The Remote Control Client Agent, administrator settings, permitted viewers, client platform, and compatibility all mattered. The SP1 release notes document, among other issues, compatibility problems with particular Windows 95 and Windows 98 video drivers and limitations in the permitted-viewers list. The product announcement’s references to centralized diagnostics and network monitoring describe the broader SMS environment, not proof that every diagnostic capability was a client-agent feature.
Platform support varied in SMS 2.0 SP1
The clearest example of uneven client support in the SP1 notes is Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition using Windows networking. The table reflects the release notes’ documented support for that specific edition and context; it should not be generalized to all Windows NT clients or other SMS releases.
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| Capability on Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition (Windows networking) | SMS 2.0 SP1 status |
|---|---|
| Remote Windows NT client installation | Supported |
| Manual installation | Supported; run change user /install before the relevant SMS-specific functionality. |
| Hardware inventory | Supported |
| Software inventory | Supported |
| Network Monitor | Supported |
| SMS Administrator console | Unsupported |
| Logon discovery | Unsupported |
| Software distribution | Unsupported |
| Remote Tools | Unsupported |
| Software metering | Unsupported |
| SNMP Event to Trap Translator | Unsupported |
The same SP1 notes say MS-DOS 6.22 systems could be discovered as resources but were not supported as SMS 2.0 clients, and Macintosh computers were not directly supported. For DOS 6.22, Macintosh, or OS/2 support, the notes describe maintaining an SMS 1.2 site within the hierarchy. These are historical statements specific to SMS 2.0/SP1, not present-day compatibility guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Historical context
Microsoft announced SMS 2.0 as immediately available on February 8, 1999. Its announcement described centralized planning, deployment, and diagnostics, including inventory, software metering, improved distribution, and management targets such as users, groups, network segments, and machines. That announcement establishes Microsoft’s product positioning and feature descriptions; it does not establish measured cost savings or client outcomes.
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