A lot has changed since Beta 1 of Configuration Manager 2007. I had a quick look yesterday and some quick things I noticed:
- The user interface has started to be updated. SMS is more frequently being referred to as ConfigMgr.
- After a quick look, boundaries are simplified to just "fast" and "slow and unreliable".
- When defining a boundary, you can browse for an available AD site or even define an IPv6 prefix.
- Software update management used WSUS 3.0 for update synchronisation. The GUI of the role configuration is lifted right from WSUS.
- OS Deployment now uses WDS as a PXE engine. It feature a new role for PXE.
- There is a mixed mode (supporting SMS 2003 in the hierarchy) and mixed mode.
- Mixed mode requires a PKI. It also allows for Internet based clients.
- A management point can be made available to Internet clients.
- The mixed mode PKI requires a lot of work before you even start installing CM 2007. The documentation available for beta 2 is flawed. You need to create 2 new templates and issue certs to your ConfigMgr site role hosts.
- You can jump from native back to mixed mode.
- Beta 2 does not support SMS 2003 R2 upgrades.
- Additional functionality includes desired configuration management.
- There’s no more mention of legacy clients.
I’ll post some more as I come across it. I plan to work through the product ASAP.