The System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 Authoring Resource Kit has been updated - The System Center Operations Manager Support Team Blog - Site Home

The latest version includes an updated Authoring Console (version 6.1.7221.49). It now has the capability to create and edit Management Packs for Azure applications (see the Azure Management Pack Guide for details). All other tools and functionality in the resource kit remain unchanged from the previous release. Note that you will need to remove the old version of the Authoring Resource Kit before installing the updated version.

The System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 Resource Kit will install the Authoring console, which aids customers in creating and modifying operations management packs (MPs). Optionally, eight tools designed to help improve the MP authoring experience will also be included: the MP Best Practice Analyzer; MP Spell Checker; Visio MP Diagram Generator; Cookdown Analyzer; All References Addin; MP Diff; Workflow Analyzer; and Workflow Simulator.

Feature Summary
The System Center Operation Manager 2007 Authoring Resource Kit provides the following features to aid in management pack (MP) development and customization:

Authoring Console - Develop MPs within a GUI environment.
Management Pack Best Practice Analyzer (MPBPA)
- MPBPA scans management packs for best practice compliance and provides automated resolution for numerous issues. This tool integrates with the Authoring Console.
Management Pack Spell Checker (MP Spell Checker)
- MP Spell Checker checks spelling in management packs to eliminate errors in display strings.
Management Pack Visio Generator (MP Visio Generator)
- MP Visio Generator allows you to generate a class inheritance and class relationship diagram using Microsoft Office Visio.
Management Pack Diff (MP Diff)
- MP Diff shows the differences between two management packs.
Management Pack Cookdown Analyzer (MP Cookdown Analyzer)
- MP Cookdown Analyzer identifies workflows which may break cookdown. Suggestions are provided for how to fix the performance problems.
All References Add-in
- All References Add-in helps find all management pack elements that reference the specific element chosen. For example, the ability to right click a class and find all rules, monitors, overrides, as well as anything else that targets that class is provided. This tool works on most management pack elements.
Workflow Analyzer
- The Workflow Analyzer provides the ability to statically analyze all types of workflows. It also allows users to trace workflows running on any Health Service.
Workflow Simulator
- The Workflow Simulator provides the ability to test certain types of workflows such as discoveries, rules, and monitors without a Management Server and Management Group. Key functionality includes the ability to test workflows as well as view and validate output prior to signing and importing the MP into a Management Group for additional testing.
Management Packs
- Three management packs which are frequently used as dependencies are provided as part of the tools installation. These MPs are necessary to allow the Authoring Console to open most MPs available online in the System Center Operations Manager MP Catalog. The provided MPs are:
  - Microsoft.SystemCenter.DataWarehouse.Report.Library
  - Microsoft.SystemCenter.InstanceGroup.Library
  - Microsoft.SystemCenter.ServiceDesigner.Library

For all the details including a download link see the following:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=9104af8b-ff87-45a1-81cd-b73e6f6b51f0

J.C. Hornbeck | System Center Knowledge Engineer