When most companies go shopping for Windows systems management software, they rarely think of Microsoft as a supplier of choice. Over the next several years, however, Microsoft wants to become the leading vendor of such tools and has a plan to make its vision a reality.

As I explained in my article two weeks ago, Microsoft recently announced its Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI), a strategy for integrating its Windows management software into a single platform. Under DSI, Windows applications would invoke this platform's management services via the System Definition Model (SDM), an XML-based messaging protocol that Microsoft is developing. In addition, SDM would act as the messaging glue between Microsoft's management tools, allowing them to act in a coordinated manner.

Microsoft's DSI vision goes a long way toward addressing the shortcomings in the company's existing management tools. At present, Microsoft has three major management products. Systems Management Server (SMS) provides software distribution services as well as change/configuration and asset management. Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) handles event monitoring and performance management. Application Center manages the replication and load balancing of Web-based applications across Windows clusters. While these tools are relatively competitive within their product categories, they interoperate poorly with each other and have failed to become market share leaders.

Microsoft is determined to change this state of affairs by integrating these and other tools into a single management platform in which SDM will enable tool interoperability and collaboration. The software giant has given this platform a name--System Center--and plans on shipping its first iteration of the platform in mid-2004.

According to sources within Microsoft, System Center will not be a single "big bang" product announcement. Instead, it will grow incrementally as Microsoft incorporates SDM functionality into each of its individual management tools. The first product to include this functionality will be SMS 2003, a new version of SMS that is currently in beta trials and is scheduled for release in September of this year. With SMS 2003, administrators will gain configuration and asset management capabilities for mobile devices, tighter integration with Active Directory, and improved capabilities to track application usage across networks. Under the covers, however, SMS 2003 will also be designed for integration into System Center.

The first delivery of System Center will be in the form of a suite that will include SMS 2003 and MOM 2004, the next release of MOM that is currently under development in Microsoft labs. Among its enhancements, MOM 2004 will include a new operator console that integrates alert views, topology views, and context-sensitive diagnostics. It will also include a new reporting engine that will allow administrators to more effectively analyze and find patterns in operational events. In addition, MOM 2004 will include more robust add-on management packs for administering other Microsoft server products.

Over time, other Microsoft tools will likely come under the System Center umbrella, including Application Center and management functions currently found in Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server. Future versions of Windows, including Windows Server 2003, will feature increasingly tighter integration with System Center. As a result, System Center will likely become the management tool suite of choice by default among many customers.

Microsoft's Strategy--One Analyst's View

While Microsoft's overall DSI strategy is a sound one that should be quite successful, that success won't take place overnight. Between development delays on Microsoft's part and the "wait and see" attitudes of developers, it will take several years before most software vendors modify their applications to interface with the System Center platform. In the meantime, Windows administrators will benefit from System Center if they install the latest versions of Windows and other Microsoft server software that support SDM interfaces. Older applications will continue to pose management problems for years to come.

During this transition phase, other Windows management tool vendors will continue to compete effectively with Microsoft in various product niches, though their shares of the market will likely dwindle. Among competing vendors, IBM should remain relevant among customers who require management tools that span Windows and IBM operating systems. Two weeks ago, IBM signaled it will compete with Microsoft on Windows workload management when it announced Application Workload Manager for IBM Director. The tool, which was developed by Aurema, competes directly with the Windows System Resource Manager that Microsoft is packaging with Windows Server 2003.

Despite such competition, it is highly likely that Microsoft will capture more than half of the Windows management tool market within two to three years. With DSI, Microsoft has shown that it clearly understands how important systems management is to the long-term success of the Windows platform. When Microsoft determines that a particular product category is crucial to its success, it rarely gives up until it achieves complete domination.

Lee Kroon is a Senior Industry Analyst for Andrews Consulting Group, a firm that helps mid-sized companies manage business transformation through technology. You can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..