imageCTP2 offers customers an opportunity to evaluate both System Center 2012 and Windows Server 2012, both are the enabling technologies for constructing private cloud with hybrid scenarios. There are important updates and enhancements to System Center 2012 components and this post is a quick reference as listed below. Notice that pertinent information of all components is in the technical documentation of the CTP2 release of System Center 2012 SP1. There is also much information in TechNet library.

App Controller

Description

This is an add-on of SCVMM 2012 and a web-based interface configured as a virtual directory in IIS and offers a single pane of glass to manage both public and private clouds. It is a strategic tool to delegate cloud resources management with a self-service role-based security model.

 

CTP2 Specifics

(Get VHD)

  • With Service Provider Foundation API to create and operate Virtual Machines

  • Support for Azure VM; migrate VHDs from VMM to Windows Azure, manage from on-premise System Center

Configuration Manager

Description

It provides a vehicle for managing the change/configuration management of Microsoft platform. It is an integral part of the overall software deployment and patching solution for monitoring hardware and software inventories and remediating computers for compliance settings. Notice information regarding the prerequisites is available for better planning and yes, there is also a survival guide.

 

CTP2 Specifics

  • Support for Windows 8 and ability to deploy Windows 8 Apps

  • Real-time administrative actions for Endpoint Protection

Data Protection Manager (DPM)

Description

DPM is a backup and recovery solution for Microsoft workloads. It provides out-of-the-box protection for Files and Folders, Exchange Server, SQL Server, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, SharePoint, Hyper-V, and client computers. For large-scale deployments, DPM also allows you to monitor your backups through a central console or remotely.

 

CTP2 Specifics

  • Improved backup performance of Hyper-V over CSV 2.0

  • Protection for Hyper-V over remote SMB share

  • Protection for Windows Server 2012 de-duplicated volumes

  • Uninterrupted protection for VM live migration

Endpoint Protection

Description

This is an antimalware and security solution for Microsoft platform.

CTP2 Specifics

 

 

Operation Manager

Description

It is to monitor infrastructure and help ensure predictable performance and availability of target applications, and offers comprehensive monitoring for your datacenter and resources deployed to private and public clouds.

 

CTP2 Specifics

(Get VHD)

  • IIS 8 support

  • Monitoring of WCF, MVC and .NET NT services

  • Azure SDK support

Orchestrator

Description

This component employs a runbook which is an artifact with specifications of hierarchy, dependencies, steps, etc. to orchestrate, integrate, and automate IT processes. It offers enterprise IT a vehicle to capture best practices and delivers services with repeatability, predictability, and consistency.

 

CTP2 Specifics

(Get VHD)

  • Support for Integration Packs, including 3rd party

  • Managing VMM self-service User Roles

  • Aggregating multiple VMM ‘stamps’ (scale units)

  • Integration with App Controller to consume hosted clouds

Service Manager

Description

This integrated platform is with built-in processes for incident and problem resolution, change control, and asset lifecycle management. It facilitates enterprise IT’s adoption of those practices in Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).

 

CTP2 Specifics

(Get VHD)

  • Applying price sheets to VMM clouds

  • Create chargeback reports

  • Pivot by cost center, VMM clouds, Pricesheets

Virtual Machine Manager

Description

SCVMM is a datacenter management solution enabling IT to configure and manage virtualization host, networking, and storage resources in order to create and deploy virtual machines and services to a private cloud.

 

CTP2 Specifics

(Get VHD)

  • Improved support for Network Virtualization, a key delivery of Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V

  • Extend the VMM console with Add-ins

  • Support for Windows Standards-Based Storage Management Service, thin provisioning of logical units and discovery of SAS storage

  • VHD to VHDX conversion and VHDX-based OS image support

In addition, CTP2 also supports Server App-V for applications that create scheduled tasks during packaging and virtual application packages from applications installed remotely on a native server.