| Configuration Manager Feature Comparison Matrix Feature | SMS 2003 | SCCM 2007 |
| Administrative UI |
| Product Install | Good | Improved, Pre-requisite checking |
| Drag-and-Drop | No | Yes |
| Multi-select | No | Yes |
| Actions Pane | No | Yes |
| Preview Pane | No | Yes |
| Wizards | Some | Pervasive |
| Homepages | No | Yes |
| Icons | NT 3.51-style | High Precision |
| Folders | Only organizational, no replication | Organizational and Search Folders; replication to child sites |
| Operating System Deployment |
| End-to-end deployment | Yes1 | Yes |
| Fully automated | No1 | Yes |
| Wipe-and-load upgrade | Yes | Yes |
| Bare metal deployment w/PXE | Loose integration w/RIS | Built-in integration w/WDS |
| Side-by-side | BDD scripts | Yes, w/built-in SMP |
| Fully offline deployment | No1 | Yes |
| Integrated Vista upgrade planning | No | Yes |
| Full server deployment | No | Yes |
| Security | Good | Much stronger |
| Flexibility/customizability | Good | Excellent |
| Vista/Windows Server 2008 compatibility | Good | Excellent2 |
| Device driver management | No* | Yes |
| Boot Image Management | No* | Yes |
| Task Sequencing | Basic | Excellent |
| Asset Management |
| Asset Inventory | Good3 | Much Improved |
| Integration with Usage Monitoring | No | Yes |
| Database Updates | Service Packs | Service Packs, Online Updates |
| Security and Configuration Management |
| Desired Configuration Management | No4 | Yes |
| Pre-Defined Configuration Packs | No | Yes |
| Quarantine Support (NAP integration) | No | Yes |
| Manage over Internet | VPN Required | No VPN Needed |
| Smartphone/PDA Support | When Cradled | Wireless & Over-the-Air |
| Patch & Update Management | Good – Add-on pack | Excellent - Integrated with WSUS 3.0 |
| Secure network storage of user state during Operating System deployment | |
| No | Yes |
1 – Capable with the addition of the Business Desktop Solution Accelerator 2 – Windows Server 2008 Support requires System Center Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 or greater. 3- Asset Intelligence was introduced with SMS 2003 Service Pack 3 4- Desired Configuration Monitoring is a Solution Accelerator add-on to SMS 2003
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Thanks,
Paddy
