14 DAY TRIAL // There are a couple of ways you can access evaluation edition of Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007. The fact of the matter is that the Redmond company is sufficiently generous in order to deliver two alternatives designed to streamline the test driving of its next release of Systems Management Server. With support for Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista and Windows XP, System Center Configuration Manager 2007 will enable users to take advantage of the product's advanced management capabilities.
"System Center Configuration Manager 2007 is the next-generation release of Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003. Leverage deep integration with the 2007 Microsoft Office system, the Windows Vista operating system, Windows Server 2008, and Exchange Server 2007 to promote your systems-management solutions. And generate new sales revenue by extending of one of the most secure, well-managed, and cost-effective platforms in the industry," Microsoft revealed in the product's description.
First off a trial version of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 is available for download. The evaluation edition is good for a whole 120-days, which is more than enough to assess the new deployment capabilities, task automation and compliance handling. On top of the free trial, Microsoft is also offering a Virtual Hard Disk image pre-configured and optimized for either Virtual PC 2007 or Virtual Server 2005 R2. In addition, the RTM version of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 is also available, but only accessible to Microsoft customers that have a Volume Licensing agreement with the Redmond company.
"Manage the full deployment and update lifecycle with streamlined, policy-based automation; with enhanced insight into, and control over, assets and systems compliance; and with optimization for Windows-particularly Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista-and extensibility to customized administration experiences and third-party applications," Microsoft added.
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 can be downloaded from here.