How to Control the Deployment of a Management Pack

Management packs are designed with discovery rules that execute on the Operations Manager agent to discover objects and relationshi= ps by interacting with many different resources and using different query meth= ods. Once it is determined that s= ystem has the objects and relationships that are core to that newly imported management pack, the agent begins monitoring it. The challenge with this design is = that you are not in control of the discovery and monitoring of systems in your environment, Operations Manager is. There may be times where you want to monitor a small subset of the systems supporting the IT service or line of business (LOB) application in order to appropriately test the management pack, or you want to import the management pack into production, but not begin monitoring immediately. The one exception to the rule here,= the Exchange 2007 R2 management pack, demonstrates a new approach being conside= red and evaluated by the product group. This management pack has been configured where it does not automatic= ally discover all the Exchange 2007 server roles in your environment, and requir= es you to enable those distinct discovery rules accordingly. Future management packs rele= ased by Microsoft may follow this approach as a standard going forward.

In an effort to control the pace at which you begin to proactively monitor an IT service or line of LOB applications with a custom= or vendor provided management pack, an approach that you should consider and institute in your environment, is disable the appropriate discovery rule or rules as part of the release preparation phase of your release management process, and enable those same discovery rule or rules against a custom gro= up that will contain an explicit set of systems you want the management pack to monitor against initially in production.&n= bsp; This configuration step should be performed in your Operations Manag= er management group in a QA or development lab and maintained in your custom writeable override management pack that compliments the sealed management p= ack you are preparing to deploy in production.= This represents a release package that will be imported together in = the production management group in support of the pilot phase of the release management process. Keep in m= ind that you will define the custom group in your QA or development Operations Manager management group, but you won’t explicitly add any objects to= it until you import the package into your production Operations Manager manage= ment group.

Take for example the Active Directory management pack.= In order to discover if a Windows = server is functioning as an Active Directory domain controller, the discovery rule= - AD DC Local Discovery (DC Role) runs every one day. Once that agent managed Windows Se= rver 2003 or Windows Server 2008 operating system (as an example) is identified = as a domain controller, the rules and monitors begin proactively running on it.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> In order to prevent the discovery = of all domain controllers and only a select few, it is necessary to carry out the following steps:

1.&n= bsp; Disable the discovery rule – AD DC Loc= al Discovery (DC Role) by setting an override, targeting all objects of class: Windows Domain Controller, and change the parameter Enabled from a value of True to False. Save this over= ride to your custom writeable management pack that maintains all overrides for t= he Active Directory management pack. &nb= sp;

2.&n= bsp; Create a custom group and save this in the s= ame management pack as in Step 1.

3.&n= bsp; Export your custom override management pack = from the QA or development Operations Manager management group.

4.&n= bsp; Import the Windows Server Active Directory a= nd your custom override management pack together simultaneously into your production Operations Manager management group.

5.&n= bsp; Open the custom group you created in Step 2,= and explicitly add a couple of Windows computers that are hosting the Active Directory directory service role.

6.&n= bsp; Enable the discovery rule by setting an override, targeting the custom group, and change the parameter Enabled to a value of True.

Now only the explicitly defined Windows computers that= are a member of your custom group will be discovered and monitored by the rules a= nd monitors in the Active Directory management pack. Once you have completed your pilot= or tuning/configuration exercise, you can then remove all override set on the = AD DC Local Discovery (DC Role), and allow all Windows computers that are functioning as Active Directory domain controllers to be discovered and monitored.

The following section highlights all the specific disc= overy rules for each Microsoft management pack that target the Microsoft Windows Server Computer, and there are exceptions.= Such as if it is a converted management pack, then it targets the System.MOM.BackwardCompability.Computer.Server class, or with the Exchange Server 2007 Native MP, the key discovery rules targets the Exchange 2007 Discovery Helper<= /span> class. This list has been dev= eloped in order to help you quickly identify which discovery rules you should disa= ble before importing the management pack (with the override management pack) in= to production in order to limit which Windows computers are initially monitore= d. This list does not highlight = the discovery rules that allow you to limit the monitoring of a specific compon= ent of the product on the Windows computer, such as targeting a specific databa= se instance on a SQL Server. Alw= ays refer to the management pack deployment guide to determine if there are any caveats or notes with respect to the discovery rules defined.

To troubleshoot discovery issues, such as rejection of discovery data, review the Event Log on the management server or root management server and filter on Event ID 10801 and 33333. This will indicate you are possibly discovering an instance of an object that does not exist in the database.

Discovery Rules for Microsoft Management Packs

Management Pack	Discovery Rule
Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5=	Microsoft Application Virtualization Server Discovery Microsoft.App.Virtualization.Server.45.LightWeig= htServer.Discovery
Microsoft Data Protection Manager 2007	DPM 2007 server discovery
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 (Native)<= /o:p>	Exchange 2007 CAS Role Discovery Exchange 2007 CCR Clustered Mailbox Server Role Discovery Exchange 2007 CCR Node Role Discovery Exchange 2007 Common Component Discovery Exchange 2007 Edge Role Discovery Exchange 2007 ExBPA Component Discovery Exchange 2007 Hub Transport Role Discovery Exchange 2007 Standalone CCR Node Discovery Exchange 2007 UM Role Discovery
Microsoft Message Queuing	Discover MSMQ 2003 Servers Discover MSMQ 2003 Clients
Microsoft Windows Active Directory Server 2000/2003/2008	AD DC Local Discovery (DC Role)
Microsoft Windows Active Directory Server (Cli= ent Monitoring)	AD Client Monitoring Discovery
Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006<= /p>	BizTalk Server Role Discovery BizTalk RFID Service Discovery
Microsoft Windows DHCP 2000/2003/2008 Server	Microsoft.Windows.Server.DHCP.Microsoft_Windows_2000_DHCP_Servers= _Installation.Discovery DHCP 2003 Server Discovery DHCP 2008 Server Discovery
Microsoft Windows Server DFS 2003 (Converted)=	Microsoft.Windows.Server.DFS.Miccrosoft_Windows_= 2003_Servers_With_Distributed_File_System_Service_Installation.Discovery
Microsoft Windows DNS 2000/2003/2008 Server	Microsoft.Windows.Server.DNS.Microsoft_Windows_2000_DNS_Servers_I= nstallation.Discovery DNS 2003 Server Discovery DNS 2008 Server Discovery
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009	Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Computers Group Disco= very
Microsoft Windows Group Policy 2003/2008<= /o:p>	Role Discovery Microsoft.Windows.Server.GroupPolicy.2003.Windows_2003_Servers_In= stalaltion.Discovery
Microsoft ISA Server 2006	Discovery for Microsoft ISA Server 2006 Server R= ole
Microsoft Office Project Server 2007	Microsoft.Office.ProjectServer.2007.Microsoft_Office_Project_Serv= er_2007_Application_Servers_Installation.Discovery
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007<= /o:p>	MOSS 2007 Server Script Discovery Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Applicat= ion Installation Discovery
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Network Load Balancing	Windows Server 2008 NLB cluster discovery Windows Server 2008 NLB cluster discovery (event based)
Microsoft Windows Server Network Load Balanci= ng 2000/2003	Microsoft.Windows.Server.NetworkLoadBalancing.Mi= crosoft_Windows_2000_and_2003_Network_Load_Balancing_Clusters_Instalaltion.= Discovery
Microsoft Windows Client Operating System=	Discover Windows 2000 Operating System Discover Windows 2000 Clients Discover Windows XP Operating System Discover Windows XP Clients Discover Windows Vista Operating System Discover Windows Vista Clients
Microsoft Windows Cluster	Cluster Service Discovery Windows 2003 Cluster Service Discovery Windows 2003 Cluster Discovery Windows 2008 Cluster Service Discovery Windows Server 2008 Cluster Discovery
Microsoft Windows High Performance Computing 2= 008	HPC 2008 Server Discovery HPC 2008 Database Discovery HPC Database Instance Discovery
Microsoft Windows Key Management Services	KeyManagement Service Discovery
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Fax Server<= /o:p>	Fax Service 2008 Role Discovery
Microsoft Windows Server 2000/2003/2008 Print Server	Print Services 2008 Role Discovery Microsoft Windows 2000 Print Servers Installation Discovery Microsoft Windows 2003 Print Servers Installation Discovery Microsoft .Windows.Server.PrintServer.Print_Server_Class.StateAlertDiscovery
Microsoft Windows WINS 2003	Microsoft.Windows.Server.InternetNamingService.Windows_NT_4.0_WIN= S_Servers_Installation.Discovery Microsoft.Windows.Server.InternetNamingService.Windows_2000_and_2= 003_WINS_Servers_Instalaltion.Discovery
Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 R2=	Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Enterprise Edition Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Standard Edition Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Proxy Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Access Edge Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Web Conferencing Edge Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 A V Edge Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Web Conferencing Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Audio Video Conferencing Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Web Components Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Communicator Web Access Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Mediation Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 A V Authentication Service Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Archiving Server Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Monitoring Server Microsoft Office Communications Server Call Detail Recording Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Application Sharing Server Microsoft Office Communications = Server 2007 R2 Conferencing Attendant Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Conferencing Announcement Service Microsoft.OCS.ServerRole.Monitor= ingServer.Discovery
Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager = 2008 Service Pack 1	System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 Discovery Microsoft SystemCenter MobileDeviceManag= er 2008 System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 Discovery=
Microsoft SQL Server 2000/2005/2008	Discover SQL 2000 Database Engin= es (Windows Server) Discover SQL 2005 Analysis Servi= ces (Windows Server) Discover SQL 2005 Database Engin= es (Windows Server) Discover SQL 2005 Integration Services (Windows Server) Discover SQL 2005 Reporting Serv= ices (Windows Server) Discover SQL 2008 Analysis Servi= ces (Windows Server) Discover SQL 2008 Database Engin= es (Windows Server) Discover SQL 2008 Integration Services (Windows Server) Discover SQL 2008 Reporting Serv= ices (Windows Server)
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager = 2007	Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Advanced Clients Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Central Site Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Component Serve= rs based on IIS Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Components base= d on SMS Executive Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Primary Site Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Servers Discove= ry Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Site Database Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Site Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Branch Distribu= tion Point Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Device Manageme= nt Point Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Fallback Status Point Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Management Point Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Providers Disco= very Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 PXE Service Poi= nt Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Reporting Point Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Service Locator Point Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Servers Discove= ry Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 Software Update Point Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 State Migration Point Servers Discovery Microsoft ConfigMgr 2007 System Health Validator Servers Discovery
Microsoft Windows Terminal Services 2000/2003/2008	Microsoft Windows 2000 Terminal Services License Server Role Discovery Windows 2000 Server Terminal Ser= ver Role Application Mode Discovery Windows 2000 Server Terminal Ser= ver Role Remote Admin Mode Discovery Microsoft Windows 2003 Terminal Services License Server Role Discovery Microsoft Windows 2003 Terminal Services Session Directory Role Discovery Microsoft Windows 2003 Terminal Services Session Directory Role Discovery in a cluster environment Windows 2003 Server Terminal Ser= ver Role Application Mode Discovery Windows 2003 Server Terminal Ser= ver Role Remote Admin Mode Discovery Terminal Services 2008 Terminal Server role service Discovery Terminal Services 2008 TS Gateway role service Discovery Terminal Services 2008 TS Licens= ing role service Discovery Terminal Services 2008 TS Session Broker role service Discovery Terminal Services 2008 TS Web Ac= cess role service Discovery
Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2008	Discover TFS Build Server TFS Application Tier Discovery DiscoverTFSWorkItemTrackingWebService Discover TFS WpBuildWebService, VC, Warehouse and General Service Web Service Discover FTS Analysis Service= Discover TFS Databases= Discover TFS Reporting Services Discovery Rule for TFS Database Instance=
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manag= er 2008	Microsoft.SystemCenter.VirtualMa= chineManager.2008.SelfService.DiscoveryRule Microsoft.Virtualization.2008.Vi= rtualizationCandidateComputerDiscoveryRule Microsoft.SystemCenter.VirtualMa= chineManager.2008.SelfServiceSite.DiscoveryRule
Microsoft Windows Deployment Services	Windows Deployment Services 2008 Role Discovery
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Application Ser= ver	Application Server 2008 Server Discovery Role Discovery
Microsoft Windows Server 2000/2003/2008	Discover Windows 2000 Operating System Discover Windows 2000 Servers= Discover Windows 2003 Operating System Discover Windows 2003 Servers= Discover Windows 2008 Servers=
Microsoft Hyper-V	Servers running Hyper-V 2008 Discovery
Microsoft Windows Server Internet Information Serv= ices 2000/2003/2008	Windows Internet Information Services Se= rver Role Discovery Rule IIS 7.0 Server Role Discovery=
Microsoft Windows Server Update Services 3.0<= o:p>	Discover Windows Server Update Services Servers
Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0=	Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Application Installation Discovery WSS 3.0 Server Script Discovery