14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011, designed to extend the feature of Configuration Manager to provide management of specialized devices, has just got a new set of capabilities courtesy of the first Service Pack that Microsoft released for it.
The new Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011 Service Pack 1 brings along a variety of enhancements aimed at delivering better scalability, deployment and performance, for the original Device Manager, while also improving its support for additional configurations.
Among what was improved in the new release, we can count the scalability and deployment, along with Device Manager’s functionality. Moreover, the Service Pack leverages performance, and also adds some more flexible collections.
It also brings expanded support for Configuration Manager environments, enabling the deployment of the Device Manager with both ConfigMgr 2007 R2 SP2 and ConfigMgr 2007 SP1.
Device Manager 2011 also allows for installations in environments that sport both ConfigMgr 2007 and ConfigMgr 2003 (although it can only be installed on ConfigMgr 2007).
Other changes in Service Pack 1 include:
Improved Scalability and Deployment: Device Manager 2011 can now be deployed in hierarchies with multiple distributed site servers, as well as in less complex site server hierarchies. Multiple distribution points can now be used to distribute write filter-enabled content, and centralized management and reporting is now supported.
Improved functionality: The expiration period for device imaging deployments has been extended to 6 months, providing enhanced functionality for offline and newly deployed devices.
More flexible collections: Predefined and dynamic collection creation can now be disabled, providing flexibility in the management of device collections. Kiosks now have their own collection, instead of being grouped with other Windows Embedded devices.
Increased performance: Changes in the service pack enable fewer messages to be used throughout the lifecycle of a device imaging request.
Improved documentation: There is now an expanded library on the deployment and use of Device Manager 2011.
The new release arrives with support for operating systems such as Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Vista, and Windows Embedded for Point of Service.
For the new Service Pack 1 to work, the System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and Windows Embedded Device Manger 2011 will also have to be installed.
You can find additional info on the new release, as well as a list of known issues, on Microsoft’s download website. The Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011 Service Pack 1 is available for download from Softpedia as well, via this link.