Using Management Packs in Service Manager 2010

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Applies To: System Center Service Manager 2010 SP1

Management packs are used to extend System Center Service Manager 2010 with the information that you must have to implement all or part of a service management process. You can use management packs to store the custom objects that you create. For example, you can store the objects you create during your testing or evaluation process in a management pack. Then, you can export that management pack to a file and then import the file to another environment, such as a production environment. You can also import the same management pack into multiple environments to ensure configuration consistency across Service Manager deployments, and to increase efficiency.

A management pack is an .xml file that contains classes, workflows, views, forms, reports, and knowledge articles. Items such as groups, queues, tasks, templates, connectors, and list items are stored in a management pack, but items such as incidents, change requests, computers, and other instances of classes are not. There are two types of management packs: sealed management packs and unsealed management packs. A sealed management pack cannot be modified, but an unsealed management pack can be modified.

By default, Service Manager contains several pre-imported sealed management packs that enable core Service Manager features, such as incident management and change management. Also, by default, Service Manager contains the Default Management Pack management pack, in which you can store new items that you create. Additionally, Service Manager contains several pre-imported unsealed management packs that enable optional features. You can delete unsealed management packs, which might result in the loss of some views, rules, or lists. However, the removal of these optional features will not prevent Service Manager from functioning. You should consider exporting a management pack before you delete it. You can import the management pack later if you need to restore the optional features in a management pack that you deleted.

To use a management pack, import it into Service Manager. Typically, the management pack is stored in an .xml file that you can import by using the Service Manager console.

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