A management pack is a definition file (either with an .xml or .mp extension) that contains predefined monitoring settings that enable an agent to monitor a specific service or application in Operations Manager 2007 or Essentials 2007. These predefined settings include discovery information that allows Operations Manager and Essentials to automatically detect and begin monitoring services and applications, and a knowledge base that contains error and troubleshooting information, alerts, and reports to help you correct the problems detected in your environment.  You import a new or updated management pack into Essentials using the Management Pack Import Wizard (found in the Administration space in the Essentials console).

Almost all of the management packs developed for Operations Manager 2007 can also be used in Essentials 2007.  To help you identify these management packs, you can filter the System Center Pack catalog on Essentials:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sce/cc462787.aspx

One management pack that you might want to import into Essentials straight away is the updated Essentials 2007 management pack that resolves an issue that was preventing the Remote Assistance task from running on Windows Vista and Server 2008. You can download this management pack from this location:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=8F74CC26-5E0E-42F1-96CC-7AE064099190&displaylang=en&displaylang=en

This announcement is to alert you that the next version of System Center Essentials Technology Adoption Program (TAP) is now accepting nominations.

Do you want to be part of making the next generation of the System Center Essentials product great?  If you are a responsible for managing the IT assets and services for a midsized business and have a passion for providing feedback, you could be a great candidate for our Technology Adoption Program (TAP).  We view our TAP program as one of the most important investments we make as a product team.  We are very selective in which customers we invite to participate and we intend is to partner very closely with you.  Our goal is to develop a mutually beneficial and long term relationship with you to enable building the next version of the System Center Essentials product that is designed to meet your needs to the best of our abilities.

For more information and to nominate yourself for the TAP please click this link.

Thank you!  The System Center Essentials Team.