| Configuration Manager Feature Comparison Matrix Feature | SMS 2003 | SCCM 2007 | ||
| Administrative UI | ||||
| Product Install | Good | Improved, Pre-requisite checking | ||
| Drag-and-Drop | No | Yes | ||
| Multi-select | No | Yes | ||
| Actions Pane | No | Yes | ||
| Preview Pane | No | Yes | ||
| Wizards | Some | Pervasive | ||
| Homepages | No | Yes | ||
| Icons | NT 3.51-style | High Precision | ||
| Folders | Only organizational, no replication | Organizational and Search Folders; replication to child sites | ||
| Operating System Deployment | ||||
| End-to-end deployment | Yes1 | Yes | ||
| Fully automated | No1 | Yes | ||
| Wipe-and-load upgrade | Yes | Yes | ||
| Bare metal deployment w/PXE | Loose integration w/RIS | Built-in integration w/WDS | ||
| Side-by-side | BDD scripts | Yes, w/built-in SMP | ||
| Fully offline deployment | No1 | Yes | ||
| Integrated Vista upgrade planning | No | Yes | ||
| Full server deployment | No | Yes | ||
| Security | Good | Much stronger | ||
| Flexibility/customizability | Good | Excellent | ||
| Vista/Windows Server 2008 compatibility | Good | Excellent2 | ||
| Device driver management | No* | Yes | ||
| Boot Image Management | No* | Yes | ||
| Task Sequencing | Basic | Excellent | ||
| Asset Management | ||||
| Asset Inventory | Good3 | Much Improved | ||
| Integration with Usage Monitoring | No | Yes | ||
| Database Updates | Service Packs | Service Packs, Online Updates | ||
| Security and Configuration Management | ||||
| Desired Configuration Management | No4 | Yes | ||
| Pre-Defined Configuration Packs | No | Yes | ||
| Quarantine Support (NAP integration) | No | Yes | ||
| Manage over Internet | VPN Required | No VPN Needed | ||
| Smartphone/PDA Support | When Cradled | Wireless & Over-the-Air | ||
| Patch & Update Management | Good – Add-on pack | Excellent - Integrated with WSUS 3.0 | ||
| No
| Yes | ||
1 – Capable with the addition of the Business Desktop Solution Accelerator 2 – Windows Server 2008 Support requires System Center Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 or greater. 3- Asset Intelligence was introduced with SMS 2003 Service Pack 3 4- Desired Configuration Monitoring is a Solution Accelerator add-on to SMS 2003
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Thanks,
Paddy
