Microsoft Operations Manager Executive Chat (March 9, 2005)

Published: March 11, 2005

Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity

Introduction

Anne_MSFT (Moderator):
Welcome to today’s chat with Kirill Tatarinov, vice president of the Microsoft Windows Enterprise Management Division, to discuss Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM). We are pleased to welcome our experts for today. I will have them introduce themselves now.

Kirill (Expert):
Hi. I am Kirill Tatarinov. I am in charge of Systems Management here at Microsoft. I am truly excited to be a part of this web-cast. I am looking forward to interacting with you all in the next hour so. I am particularly intersted in your feedback on MOM 2005 as we are in the final phases of planning our next release.

Kelly (Expert):
My name is Kelly Altom, I am the Group Program Manager for the MOM team.

Richard (Expert):
Hi, I'm Richard Ault, a Program Manager on the MOM team

Nikhil Patel (Expert):
My Name is Nikhil Patel i am an Software Design Engineer in Test on MOM Team

Veronica (Expert):
I am Veronica Olocco a Product Manager in the MOM Marketing Team.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Hello everyone!!! My name is Baelson Duque. Used to be in Ops and am a I'm a Progam Manager on the MOM team

BillM (Expert):
I am a Software Design Engineer in Test

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Hi, I am a Program Manager for the MOM team. My current role is Community PM for MOM. I have been on the MOM team for 2 years and have been in the IT industry for 14 years.

Anne_MSFT (Moderator):
We will try to answer as many questions as we can today. We will post a transcript of the upper window within a few days at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/chats/trans/default.mspx. Let’s begin the chat!

Start of Chat

Kelly (Expert):
Q: When will we see a Web Console that is use full? I mean it was much better in MOM2000.
A: we are investigating a full featured web console for MOMv3 as of today a final decision has not been made. there will be a web console but how extensive it will be has not been decided

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Will there be a guide or wizard to create the diffrent agent action account, with the right controll?
A: yes there will be

Kirill (Expert):
Q: will there ever bee a MOM Agent for Unix/Linux/*nix
A: There are several ones available from MS partners. You can go to microsoft.com/management to get the full list of partners who provide MOM extensions to *nix

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: Hi all. First Question: will there a MOM Management Pack for " R2" Features such as Services for Unix (SFU) ?
A: Not yet, we have a few MVP's like John Hann that used to have SMS only blogs but now do MOM as well. I have blog at blogs.msdn.com/baelsond, but this is being move to a new home under TechNet.

Veronica (Expert):
Q: I am a huge fan of the MS Press Administrator's Companion series. We did not see a AC for MOM 2000, will we see one for MOM 2005?
A: We will have a MOM 2005 MS Press book coming out early next year

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Why aren't MS introducing more framework for heterogenous environments rather than pushing to ISV's, there are other competitive tools in this space...
A: We are focused on our strength first. We follow principles of "Designed for Operations" to mak sure our platform id th best managed. We invest in interoperability to make sure MOM can be used as an enterprise console.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: second one - regarding unix again - will there be a management pack for monitoring *nix servers ? and citrix servers (the package supplied by citrix only works on XPE 1.0)
A: We plan to have MP's to cover the technologies in R2, but currently we won't an MP for SFU by the time R2 ships. We do have partners to monitor *nix servers. Check http://www.microsoft.com/mom/managementpacks. We have a few partners that do this.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Will MOM have a single console in the next few years, or will it be after longhorn?
A: we are investigating a single console, that is the direction we are planning on going but for MOMv3 it is not closed yet

Kelly (Expert):
Q: I mean to ask will MOM and SMS have a single console...
A: that is not part of our plan right now

Veronica (Expert):
Q: Are there any plans for MOM / Management exams for MCSE ?
A: The MOM 2005 MOC course is coming out next month (April)

Veronica (Expert):
Q: The MOM 2005 Press Book you mention, do you mean that it will only be out early in 2006?
A: Yes, that is correct

Veronica (Expert):
Q: What Licensing changes will apply to those who only require the MOM side of SC rather than both products
A: No licensing changes are planned in the near future

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Why is there not an integration with Active Directory when you assign users or groups to a console scope? that will prevent from spell errors etc.
A: we will have this in MOMv3

Veronica (Expert):
Q: Veronic
A: The MOM MOC coruse is out? actuelly i have attended to this one, i finish it today.
A: No, the MOM course will be out next month

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: Is there a best practices guide to help limit the degree of alerts generated? Our 7x24 operations center has the red/yellow light but gets far too many alerts to dispatch on each one.
A: There is a Solution Accelerator that you can get under the /mom/reskit page that will help with tuning.

Kirill (Expert):
Q: How does system manager overlap with core Windows management tools (e.g. app deployment, patching ..etc)
A: Our management products are being built taking advantage of Windows infrastructure for management. MOM takes advantage of WMI, etc. MOMv3 will take advantage of WS-Management, etc. We are investing in moving SMS to use deplyment infrastructure in Windows (Update Services, etc.)

Veronica (Expert):
Q: re Course - What about Exams ?
A: There will be an exam as part of the MOM MOC course

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Roughly when will MOM v3 be released?
A: Second half 0f 2006

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Is the MOM team investigating adding better support for monitoring transactions end-to-end
A: yes we are investigating

Kelly (Expert):
Q: I am new to MOM and I am wondering which conferences/seminars might be the best options for me to attend to get a deep dive on best practices, features, troubleshooting, etc? For example, would I want to consider the Microsoft Management Summit, EdTech...
A: MMS is the best conference to go to, a lot of training and best practices. las vegas in april

Kirill (Expert):
Q: can you provide any guidance as to when system center will ship?
A: System Center Reporting Manager 2005 will ship late summer / early fall. It will offer integration for MOM, SMS and AD data.

Veronica (Expert):
Q: Are there any more plans for more regular webminars and more MOM labs at the Technet Virtual Labs?
A: Yes, we are working creating more online training options for MOM 2005

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: I would like to se a wizard based process for the AD MP to create a Agent Account Account that has the correct permissions?, like the wizard we have for Exchange MP to Configure settings. Sure what you need is in AD MP Guide.
A: We understand the pain that you are pointing out here. We are doing our best to do more in this area for more of our MP's to configure permissions post setup of the MP.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: MOM 2005 setup... especially with the MBSA module... will MOM 200x or SpX help with setup, doing the FTP setup for my junior admins seems to be something they all forget to do...
A: This is a general need from a lot of the MP's that require some post setup configuration (e.g. Exchange you need to create a test mail box to get 100% end to end monitoring). MBSA is not different we tried to make it as easy as possible by giving step by step instructions in the MP Guide. We are trying to make this better though and if you have specific pains around configuration of an MP, please feel free to provide feedback here: ; this will ensure that it gets tracked by our team as bug / request.

Richard (Expert):
Q: When will we get better development tools for 2005 to build state role objects?
A: We hve nothing planned until the next major release of MOM.

Veronica (Expert):
Q: Where can additional information on MOM 2005 be found?
A: yes, you can go to www.microsoft.com/mom, click on the MOM for Beginners icon

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Will the evolving Windows Update provide MOM updates?
A: In May-June of this year we will be launching Microsoft Update -- a superset of Windows Update that will offer updates to all of our products over time starting with Exchange, Office, SQL. MOM updates will appear on MU with MOMv3

Richard (Expert):
Q: will we see better MP tool creation or features added to Visual Studio?
A: We are not planning anything until the next major release of MOM

Kirill (Expert):
Q: What is the scale of the deployment of MOM 2005 at Microsoft?
A: over 7000 severs

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: Do any of the employees on the MOM Team operate a blog?
A: The new TechNet Blogs will go live 3/31/2005, and my blog will be there.

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: Re - learning resources for MOM: What do you recommend for learning how to use MOM using freely available online resources or books?
A: Good question. We have setup a page on ms.com/mom to help in this area. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/Mom/techinfo/training/getstarted.mspx to gain access to a majority of the free training resources that we are offering. The MOM 2005 Technical Walkthoughs was my baby. I would really enjoy it if you download it and go through this training. :)

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: MOM 2005 to SNMP traps (like from MOM 2005 to SMARTS). Is there any easy way to send traps from MOM to SMARTS on a larger basis than by individual alerts?
A: 1. Set all your EPR / PPR (Event Processing Rules / Performance Processing Rules) in your PRG (Processing Rule Groups) to generate alert
2. Create a APR (Alert Processing Rule) in the same PRG to process all alerts within that PRG.
3. In that APR, have a response to send an SNMP trap 4. You'll need to create an APR per Rule Group

Richard (Expert):
Q: When will we see better Mom Pack development tools specifically exposing ROLE based state objects for custom build applications (e.g. non-MS apps)
A: This is something we are looking at for the next major version of MOM.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: What changes or additons to reports within management packs can be expected - near term -- far term?
A: we will be creating a location for people to upload good reports to share with the community. we will also come out with more reports and best practices for aggregation of reporting data these things will be happening over the next 9 months

Veronica (Expert):
Q: What's about System Center 2005 ? The end of MOM2005, the beginning of MOMv3 ?
A: MOM will keep on existing as a standalone product for the foreseable future (independently of System Center)

Kirill (Expert):
Q: What's about System Center 2005 ? The end of MOM2005, the beginning of MOMv3 ?
A: We view System Center is our overarching future management brand for future products. For example, System Center REporting Manager 2005 will ship later this year. MOM 2005 will stay as independent product. MOMv3 will add great scenarios / features to it. MOM investments will be preserved.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Localization: The german MOM version is translated badly/worse/unusable - e.g. some items in the webconsole are not fully displayed and there is a messup in help vs. operator console. will this be fixed in a service pack ?
A: please go to the community page for MOM on microsoft.com and select send feedback to the MOM team, we will see the request and figure out what to do

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Question for Kirill: on the systems management roadmap, which quadrants of the operations framework will MOM/Systems Center cover in the near future (and far future)?
A: Far future -- we will cover them all. Far future for me is 24-36 months roadmap. Please, come to MMS 2005 in April. I will be rolling the details of this roadmap in my opening keynote...

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: We find that the MOM virtual labs are always broken, is there any hope of getting that fixed?
A: We had some labs that were removed recently that you may be referring to. There is currently only one lab available currently that is based on RTM MOM 2005. Please post a bug to the MSDN Product Feedback Center. The link is on the ms.com/mom/commuinity page. The link is titled send feedback to the mom product team. http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/ProductFeedback/SearchResults.aspx?text=
&stype=1&fields=1&type=0&witId=0&pId=15&category=0
&os=0&oslang=0&status=0&msstatus=0&resolution=0
&chgdays=&validation=0&votes=&voterating=0&workarounds=False&attachments=False

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Is MOM intended as an alternative to replace frameworks like Unicenter, HP OpenView, or Tivoli? (now or in the future)?
A: Yes!!! Absolutely! We actualy have a few customers who do it now. MOM team has done stellar job with scalability, interop and ease of use. We will be marketing this use of MOM more in the future.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: is there an online area for folks to share AKM's that they have written?
A: we are working on that we will have it available soon

Veronica (Expert):
Q: Whats the Minimal System Requirements of MOM
A: check http://www.microsoft.com/mom/evaluation/sysreqs/default.mspx

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Can we expect any suprise announcements at MMS?
A: Yes. How can we do it without surprises :-) You will see the future. This future is bright.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: What about some security and delgation features to the MPs and Rules? Can be a mess to have many diffent product team members in as MOM Authors?.
A: we are investigating this and versioning of MP's we know this is a problem and are working on the best solution

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: will the platform adopt SNMPv3 or will we need to continue suplementing SNMPv2 with alternative security methods?
A: There are 4 large groups at MS that use MOM:
1. MSIT - Our internal technology group. They have a few case studies on how they use MOM on the TechNet Showcase
2. MSN - They are using MOM today for some of their properties and are continuing to rollout to more properties. They will be giving a talk at TechEd US 2005 in Orlando: Operations Management at Microsoft and MSN - Learn how MOM 2005 is used to support the unique business requirements of MSN, Hotmail, and Passport through proactive monitoring and alerting.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: will the platform adopt SNMPv3 or will we need to continue suplementing SNMPv2 with alternative security methods?
A: Sorry, answered the wrong question there. You will need to supplement SNMPv2 for now. We have had little request to support SNMPv3, but this is your chance to really make your voice heard!!! File a request here http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/ProductFeedback/SearchResults.aspx?text=
&stype=1&fields=1&type=0&witId=0&pId=15&category=0
&os=0&oslang=0&status=0&msstatus=0&resolution=0&chgdays=&validation=0
&votes=&voterating=0&workarounds=False&attachments=False

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Between updates in SMS, SUS, WUS, MOM, Systems Center (all falling at different times), I fail to see a clear vision or happy products that really integrate. Is this meant to confuse or simplify our lives?
A: It meant to simplify. Obviously, we are not fully there... we have been dealing with a lot of legacy and the clean-up we needed to do. That was the reason you saw a number of not particularly well connected technologies in the past. We are getting this fixed. We are much more focused on aligning technoogies and integrating our roadmaps. Good question and good feedback. thanks.

Richard (Expert):
Q: Is WMI the only state objcts that will be exposed to the role / event inspection layer in order to derive health ?
A: You can drive an exisiting state role from any provider. If the provider can generate an alert, you can tie the alert to a role. If it can't, e.g. the timed provider, you can run a script response that generates the appropriate alerts. The key is that the same rule must generate a complete set of health states. That is you can't have one rule set a red state and have a different rule set a green state for the same role.

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: RE: MOM 2005 Setup - Are there any plans to provide MP configuration through installer actions
A: Can you give me some more clarification? Are you asking can you configure MP's during an MP import? What specifically do you want to configure?

Ken (Expert):
Q: Will there be any installer support for MOM MP's?
A: In the next version of MOM we are planning on supporting install and uninstall of management packs. We're also investigating ways to provide notifications of updates to MS provided management packs through standard MS technologies.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Will biztalk ever integrate into the management strategy? they are doing some good work on transaction monitoring
A: we are working with the biz talk team but nothing is final right now

Kirill (Expert):
Q: thanks for the MMS update :) should we bring SPF 10, 50 or 100 to offset the brightness of the future?
A: The future is bright and safe... No SPF needed :-)

Kelly (Expert):
Q: What date will the MP subscription like service be available to control versioning?
A: this is one thing we are investigating for MOMv3

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Will Microsoft build support for heterogeneous monitoring in MOM, i.e. without having to go to 3rd parties?
A: Our current plan to continue to rely on partners for hetero monitoring.

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: Why don't you supply configuration information with the managament packs?
A: The configuration information should be available in the MP Configuration guides. We have specific guides for a majority of our top MP's that we released.

Ken (Expert):
Q: Can we rename the database from OnePoint to some thing else in next relase?
A: We are planning on supporting this in the next version of MOM

Veronica (Expert):
Q: Will MOM 2005 be fully supported via Systems Center or will we have to wait until MOMv3?
A: MOM 2005 will be supported via System Center Reporting

Ken (Expert):
Q: Is there any plans to integrate MOM Operator Console with MOM Administrator Console? Such if i get an alert, and check the rule the alert is based one. i want to click there and then have it luchaed for configuration in MOM Administrator for exampel.
A: We understand the need for this type of console integration and are looking at ways to make this easier in the next version of MOM.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: If we are currently building the MOM 2005 deployment - do we need to make any adjustments for System center 2005 to integrate? Is system center currently available?
A: you will not have to do anything different for your mom 2k5 deployment. SC will be available later this year

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: How many internal groups are using MOM 2005 at Microsoft?
A: There are 5 large groups at MS that use MOM:
1. MSIT - Our internal technology group. They have a few case studies on how they use MOM on the TechNet Showcase
2. MSN - They are using MOM today for some of their properties and are continuing to rollout to more properties. They will be giving a talk at TechEd US 2005 in Orlando: Operations Management at Microsoft and MSN - Learn how MOM 2005 is used to support the unique business requirements of MSN, Hotmail, and Passport through proactive monitoring and alerting.
3. MGS - Microsoft Game Studios Operations. They monitor the servers for all the online titles except Xbox Live (e.g. Flight Sim, Age of Mythology, etc...)
4. Xbox Live - You should know what this is
5. MSCOM - Microsoft.com Ops Team (http://blogs.msdn.com/mscomts) use MOM as well.
These groups break down into properties or BUITs (Business Units) like zone.msn.com, autos.msn.com, SAP, etc... These BUITs use MOM as well.

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Are there any plans to move MOM into monitoring java based apps in the near future?
A: This is something we would our partners to deliver. We have good partnership with Amberpoint and a few others. It's not available now, though. Good questions. WE will follow up with partners. Thanks.

Vlad_MSFT (Expert):
Q: Any news with what Citrix are up to with a MP from MOM 2005?
A: see http://www.citrix.com/site/NE/news/news.asp?newsID=14607 Citrix is working on a MOM 2005 MP now but their MOM 2000 MP works on mom 2005.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: Thanks Baelson, i was pulling my hair with the thought of making 30k individual trap rules.
A: I feel your pain... back in ops, I used to:
1. TS into MOM server
2. Run a JScript that did a bunch of SendKeys()
3. Used the accessibility keyboard shortcuts to configure multiple rules (e.g. ALT+C, etc..., {DOWN}, etc...)
I know it's hacky, but hey, when your in Ops you do what you have to do.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Will there be a integration between MOM and NetIQ ?
A: this summer netiq will have a MCF based connector available that is the extent of the integration

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Companies like Mercury and BMC are touting monitoring solutions that link infrastructure with the business with BSM, BTO, and various other TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms). Will MOM follow suit?
A: MOM can be used in this scenario today. In fact, we demonstrated an integration of MOM with BuzTalk that addresses BSM scenario in a very succinct way. So, yes, we will provide a business to IT linkage in MOM.

Veronica (Expert):
Q: Is there a timeframe of the RTM of MOF ?
A: Not sure if this is what you are looking for http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/overview/benefits/manageability/assess.mspx

Vlad_MSFT (Expert):
Q: what is desperately needed are management packs for antivirus/antispyware solutions - is there anyone planed for MS Spyware ? Are you in contact to 3rd party vendors as TrendMicro (OfficeScan Corporate), CheckPoint or Symantec ?
A: great question. We are working with these partners on getting MOM management packs from them. You should ask TrendMicro (OfficeScan Corporate), CheckPoint and Symantec for MPs directly as this helps when we ask them to build MPs as well. Keep an eye on our Catalog to see these MPs as they become available. http://www.microsoft.com/management/mma/catalog.aspx

Kelly (Expert):
Q: re end to end transactions - Good Q - got me thinking - same Q for performance of an N Tier app to try and chase down bottleneck. Any Plans in this area ?
A: also under investigation

Kirill (Expert):
Q: what is desperately needed are management packs for antivirus/antispyware solutions - is there anyone planed for MS Spyware ? Are you in contact to 3rd party vendors as TrendMicro (OfficeScan Corporate), CheckPoint or Symantec ?
A: Good feedback. Thanks. As we integrate / rollout our AV/AS solutions in the enterprise, we will be making MPs available. We are in contact with third parties. We are encouraging them to deliver MPs. This is one area where you could actualy help us by pushing them to write an MP.

Vlad_MSFT (Expert):
Q: Do you know what Citirx are up to with their MP
A: see http://www.citrix.com/site/NE/news/news.asp?newsID=14607 Citrix is working on a MOM 2005 MP now but their MOM 2000 MP works on mom 2005.

Veronica (Expert):
Q: I am not sure if this is the right place, but someone referred me here. I am looking for an Expert/Trainer to do professional video based training course on certain products. Do you know where I could look or do you know anyone that could be interested?
A: Please email mommktg@microsoft.com

Ken (Expert):
Q: Is there any new UI Features?
A: We will definitely have new UI features in the next version of MOM. We're looking at greatly improving performance charting, topology displays, and state views. The usual things are also on the list like increasing performance and ease of use.

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Any plans for WS-Manament in MOM 2005?
A: MOMv3

Richard (Expert):
Q: The Admin console and the Operator console are both great within MOM 2005, although I thought the redesign of the web console was not as significant...are there any plans to revamp the revamped web console?
A: We are looking at this for the next major release of MOM. In the meantime, the existing web console is built on the SDK and the source is public so you can roll your own if you're so inclined. Note there is no guarentee that next release SDK will be fully backwards compatible, however we will try to preserve your MOM 2005 SDK investments as much as we can.

Veronica (Expert):
Q: Will the licensing model for Existing MOM shops change with the intro of SC?
A: For existing MOM customers covered by software assurance they are entitled to get SC at no charge

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: Is the WMSDE provided in "R2" for Sharepoint Services v2.0 compatible for a MOM installation or is SQL Server required - are other dbms such as oracle, postgresql or mysql supported ?
A: Other DBMS' besides SQL is not supported. You can install into any instance of SQL or MSDE, but you will run into contention issues depending on MOM and WSS load

Travis_MS (Expert):
Q: Is there any guides or wizard to delegate controlls and access that agent action acount need in diffrent MP?
A: Each of the MPs produced by Microsoft comes with a Management Pack guide. These guides describe what permissions need to be granted to the agent action account for a minimum privelege configuration. The default - Local System - will work in almost all cases.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Will the MOM team continue to improve the quality of the mom packs with app/componentteams at Microsoft so they don't encounter impacting rules that are triggered from events that are relative to each team but have unique meaning to both?
A: we are investigating abilities that will allow faster updating of MPs in MOMv3, the updates will be based on feedback from users. the refinement of MPs will happen faster

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: Why don't you provide configuration information with the management packs?
A: You can get the configuration information for a majority of the MP's in the MP configuration guides available in the ms.com/mom/documentation

Vlad_MSFT (Expert):
Q: Is there a management Pack for REMEDY??
A: I haven't seen a MP for Remedy but there are some partners that provide a connector such that alerts from MOM are sent to Remedy and kept in sync. see -Opalis www.opalis.com
-Skywire software http://www.skywiresoftware.com/Pages/Products.aspx?s=integrator_iwaveintegrator_adapters&c=3&p=36&ws=56
-Engyro www.engyro.com
-BMC is planning on building one through a partner of theirs called Seamless. www.seamlessti.com

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Will MOM 3.0 take advantage of WDI ?
A: Yes, in LH MP

Travis_MS (Expert):
Q: what about the ability to delegate a higher priviliged task to a lesser privilged user?
A: To clarify - are you asking if a user in the MOM User security group can be delegated permission to execute tasks on agents? If this is the question you are asking, the answer is that we are working on task permission delegation for the next version of MOM. Only MOM Authors and MOM Administrators can run tasks on agents or management servers in MOM 2005.

RAMANA_WEMD (Expert):
Q: Not a recommended scenario. But supported as i understand, While running the mgmt server on a domain controller, you have to be within the MOM Administrators group to access the Web Console, Is this a know bug? 8-)
A: Yep this is a known bug. Need to grant NETWORK_SERVICE rights to run the Web Console on a W2K3 Domain Controller

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: when installing the MOM reporting - is it a best practice to install it on a seperate database than OnePoint? or not
A: This is a good question. The answer to the question is "it depends". ;) If you have a small installation with not a lot of data coming in, you could most likely get away with having the reporting db installed onto the same instance of SQL Server as the Onepoint db. If you want the best performance, our recomendation, would be to install it to a seperate machine and SQL Server instance. The Sizing white paper should cover a little bit on this topic.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: will biztalk ever integrate into the monitoring strategy? They do a good job (as did app center) at monitoring application transactions
A: we are working with biztalk and we are investigating seperatly transaction monitoring for a future release

Kirill (Expert):
Q: What is the story on instrumentation? There are various technologies out there for app builders to use could we get more details on managed (EIF) and unmanaged (ETW) preferred choices
A: The instrumentation story gets clean in Longhorn. The new eventing infrastructure will integrate ETW and EIF scenarios. MOMv3 will use it.

Ken (Expert):
Q: I may have missed the answer but when is the general timeframefor v3 of MOM ?
A: We are targeting the release for the second half of 2006.

Travis_MS (Expert):
Q: MOM 2000 to 2005 was essentially a forklift upgrade, should we expect the same with version 3?
A: The upgrade process is still under discussion for MOM 2005 --> MOM v3. We will release details of our plans as soon as we can so people can have time to prepare for the upgrades.

Vlad_MSFT (Expert):
Q: Anyone knows how "trap" events from IBM Director? I've seen some AKM files but nothing "intercepts" Director events. I'm asking this since we're a mixed env. and various "element" in my org are looking to "phase" some alerting features from MOM to Director
A: We are working with the IBM director team directly on a MP to surface IBM director events and data into MOM. I believe the IBM director information can be surfaced through SNMP traps which you could use MOM to consume with your own MP and the WMI SNMP provider.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: Re: MOM 2005 Setup - I'd like to be able to Import a MP and then configure tasks, rules etc. during third party product installation
A: There is no way to programmatically configure tasks etc... after MP import. Can you provide more detail on your scenario? It seems like you (ISV?) want to create an MP, and when they install your product and have MOM, have the user import your MP and your setup configures your MP? Is that what you are asking for?

Vlad_MSFT (Expert):
Q: System center 2005, Agents for Non MS Operating Systems, whats the Availability going to be ?
A: we are working with our partners on providing support for non-ms operating systems to both MOM and SMS. It isn't possible to directly integrate non-windows server data directly into System center 2005 (it should be integrated with SMS and MOM which will then by definition be in system center 2005).

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Will there be a better support case handling in the future?
A: Yes. We have addded support staff and increased their expertise. I am sorry you had bad experience. It will improve. I am focused on it.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Another question in regards to MPs. - we recently began implementation of HEAT (Helpdesk package) - is there a direct integration between MOM-Heat? (that you know of)
A: Non that we know of at this time. the way they would integrate is through a connector using the mom connector framework, you should ask HEAT if they will create a connector

Travis_MS (Expert):
Q: Are there any migration tools from AppManager to MOM?
A: Sorry, there are no specific tools for this migration.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: When is the next update of the resource pack coming? I thought it was meant to be Jan?
A: We have a tool in the ResKit (http://www.microsoft.com/mom/reskit) that will help configure the Agent Action Account to a low privledge account. It will provide the account you choose teh minimal rights for the agent to do some monitoring (e.g. access to event logs and perf counters).
Each MP though may require more access (e.g. some will need access to some WMI namespace, etc...), where as some MP's (e.g. MBSA) that require admin rights to run. Each MP guide (http://www.microsoft.com/mom/techinfo/productdoc/default.mspx) has details on what privledges the account requires.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: Will there be a wizard/guide to create acount with right controll for the agent action account?
A: We have a tool in the ResKit (http://www.microsoft.com/mom/reskit) that will help configure the Agent Action Account to a low privledge account. It will provide the account you choose teh minimal rights for the agent to do some monitoring (e.g. access to event logs and perf counters).
Each MP though may require more access (e.g. some will need access to some WMI namespace, etc...), where as some MP's (e.g. MBSA) that require admin rights to run. Each MP guide (http://www.microsoft.com/mom/techinfo/productdoc/default.mspx) has details on what privledges the account requires.

Kelly (Expert):
Q: Also not sure re answer on when approx the subscription service for MP Version control is more accurately due to be released as this wil be a real benefit?
A: this will be in the MOMv3 time frame, it requires product changes, second half 06

Vlad_MSFT (Expert):
Q: Today you need MOM Management server and Sharepoint Service on the same machine to use MOM web part, will there be any changes on that?
A: yes today this is because the MOM management class library isn't remoteable. We are planning on adding the remoteabilty of the MOM management class library (ie our SDK) in momv3 which will allow these to be installed on different servers.

Kirill (Expert):
Q: Is there any online documetation or statements of direction for how the various applications (SMS, MOM, SUS, etc...) compliment each other? MOF doesn't really seem to provide this.
A: We are working on it. You will see statements of direction at MMS. Current plans include MOM and SMS compliment each other in System Center Reporting Manager. This summer, SMS will move to use the SUS scanner. More to come at MMS

Veronica (Expert):
Q: When will the web services mom pack be available from ms.com?
A: the web-sites and web services mp will be released to microsoft download center tomorrow

Kelly (Expert):
Q: I guess I am asking for improved Mom pack compat
A: we are always looking at ways to refine MP's

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: When is the next update of the resource pack coming? I thought it was meant to be Jan?
A: Sorry, wrong question again, I suck at this ;) . We have it almost ready to go, it's currently under review by the Security Team that approves all release for microsoft and we are under some current backlog. I will supply updates to my blog http://blogs.msdn.com/baelsond (note it's going to be moved, but will redirect)

Kirill (Expert):
Q: I would like to request that the MOM team also create a training website like the ISA Team did with their: http://www.isa2004training.com/. It provides an interactive experience and a good form of training
A: Thanks for the feedback. We will investigate.

Vlad_MSFT (Expert):
Q: Any idea of where I can find some sample scripts discussed at a MS Conf for MOM integration to Touchpaper?
A: not sure what sample scripts you are talking about specfically (or what MS conference) but we have sample MOM rules and scripts in our SDK. available here: Do are you looking to forward MOM alerts to Touchpaper one way or do you want them to keep in sync after? If you want to keep them in sync after you may want to look into our MOM connector framework (MCF) web service also in our SDK.

Travis_MS (Expert):
Q: MP Question: how do we send feedback not on quality of the packs but feature requests for areas of improvement?
A: You can provide feedback and feature requests online at the MSDN Product Feedback Center. These requests are directly put into our bug tracking database and evaluated by our Program Management team. The Feedback Center also allows other commnity members to vote on the importance of a particular bug or feature request. Check it out here: http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/productfeedback/. You can also get to this site through the MOM Community page at http://www.microsoft.com/mom/community/default.mspx

Anne_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: Could you repeat the URL where the transcript of this session will be posted?
A:http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/chats/trans/default.mspx

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: Will federated monitoring a key scenario for MOM v3
A: Can you expound on what you mean by this? We support Tiering today in MOM 2005 so you can forward alerts and discovery data from one MOM Management Group to another. If your question was if MOMv3 can monitor a federated system, the answer is yes :D . But let me qualify some of that. Very soon here, we will be releasing a Web Sites and Services Management Pack that will allow you to monitor Web Sites and Web services. You can use this to monitor a remote web service you depend on (e.g. eBay web service). We are working to improve this in MOMv3
I hope this answer some of your question

Kevin Beares MOM PM (Expert):
Q: q - is there a feedback alias / website we can submit product feedback to the MOM team?
A: Great question! We went live with the MSDN Product Feedback Center in October. This feedback goes directly to the MOM Product Group. I actually am the one who is responsible for doing the initial triage on this feedback. What is awesome about this forum is this is publicly available and is an extension of our community. The link is on ms.com/mom/community. The link is called Send feedback to the MOM product Team. http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/ProductFeedback/SearchResults.aspx?text=
&stype=1&fields=1&type=0&witId=0&pId=15
&category=0&os=0&oslang=0&status=0&msstatus=0&resolution=0
&chgdays=&validation=0&votes=&voterating=0
&workarounds=False&attachments=False You can search on what others users are reporting, vote on their suggestion, rate their suggestion, track threads so that you can be updated when we respond or when others post replies to a thread. You will see direct comments from the product team in response to the thread as well.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: I experiance that MOM2K5 is slow on updating some functions. ex I was uninstalling a childdomain yesterday, and still today MOM2K5 show the childdomain under "connection Objects" in ADMP. Is this a MOM2K5 issue or maby AD issue?
A: Check the scripts that do Service Discovery for AD. They run on a periodic timed basis and it may be that they just have not run yet to get MOM the up to date data. You can also, create your own tasks to run these scripts ad-hoc basis so that when you make the change, you can run this task to get up date AD discovery information

Ken (Expert):
Q: Any idea when improvements for large DB's and performance of Ops console? will be in place? feature packs?
A: At this point we are targeting those type of improvements for the next version of MOM. We are actively investing performance improvements for the console as well as improvements in concurrent connections. We're also looking at grooming and partitioning improvements to help the scalability of the operational database.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Q: thanks baelson -- federated means a few things to me and would exceed this question box but tiered event modeling is just one construction of the idea. Let me try to write something up and get it back to you
A: Gotcha ... you know how to get in touch with me Paul, so let me know

Kirill (Expert):
Q: reporting - when, oh when will you provide a major reporting overhaul? - for example, last year Kirill "demo'ed" a report of a server that is a VM candidate, do you have someting like that today? betaplace)
A: I demoed what will be called System Center Reporting Manager 2005. It will ship late summer / early fall.

BaelsonD_MS (Expert):
Thanx all for coming, keep watch out for my blog that will go live here this week http://blogs.msdn.com/baelsond ... it will redir to the TechNet Blog when that goes live on 3/31

Kirill (Expert):
Thank You everyone for your great questions! Excellent feedback!

Anne_MSFT (Moderator):
Thank you for joining us today to chat with Kirill Tatarinov, vice president of the Microsoft Windows Enterprise Management Division, to discuss Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM). We will post the transcript of the upper window for this chat in a few days at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/chats/trans/default.mspx.
Please join us again on March 22 at 11:30a (Pacific) to chat with Jawad Khaki about Networking in the Longhorn release of Windows.

Thanks, all!