Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Does your organization have multiple server loads deployed in production? Would you like to monitor their compliance configuration using Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R3?

As part of a select group of our key customers, we invite you to participate in the Beta review program for the following Configuration Packs designed to work with Configuration Manager 2007 R3:

1. Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 SP1 BPA Configuration Pack
2. Microsoft SQL Server® 2008 R2 BPA Configuration Pack
3. Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007 SP2 BPA Configuration Pack
4. Microsoft Windows Server® 2008 R2 SP1 DHCP Server Role BPA Configuration Pack (supported on Server Core as well)
5. Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Remote Desktop Services Server Role BPA Configuration Pack
6. Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Web Server (IIS) Role BPA Configuration Pack

These new configuration packs are designed to provide organizations with an end-to-end solution to help monitor server workload compliance against the desired state for your organization. By participating in this Beta review program, you have the opportunity to provide timely feedback to help us ensure that these resources meet your needs!

TIMELINE
In order to influence the final version of these configuration packs, we encourage you to provide your constructive feedback during the Beta review period. Feedback will be accepted through November 7, 2011.

FEEDBACK
Attached to the download for this Beta review, please examine the user guides and scenario documents for each configuration pack. If you observe any scenario gaps, functionality issues or code defects, please provide this as feedback to us. We will carefully review your feedback and fix any issues that are critical to success of these configuration packs for your organization.

To submit your feedback, please use the Feedback link in the left pane of the Beta review program page (see the screenshot below) or send us an email message at smcpbeta@microsoft.com.

DISCUSSION GROUP
Our team has established a newsgroup for our Beta customers to facilitate additional discussion and provide you with a means to ask questions to the product team. To access the discussion group, click the Discussions link in the left pane of the Beta review program page.

HOW TO DOWLOAD THE BETA REVIEW PROGRAM
Follow these steps in sequence, OR THE DOWNLOAD WON’T WORK.

1. Sign in with your Windows Live® ID and access theProgram Home Page (https://connect.microsoft.com/site715/program6809).
2. Reference the download link for this Beta review program (it will be available through November 7,2011) and clickDownload (http://connect.microsoft.com/site715/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=39357).

We look forward to hearing from you! Thank you for taking the time to review and provide feedback on these Beta materials. Please let us know if you have any questions.