System Center 2012

System Center 2012 is a comprehensive management platform that helps you to easily and efficiently manage your datacenters, client devices, and hybrid cloud IT environments.  

Explore

What's new
Learn about the new features in System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

System requirements
Find requirements for supported operating systems, Microsoft SQL Server, .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell, and more.

Advisor alerts
Learn how to get System Center Advisor alerts in System Center 2012 SP1 Operations Manager.

Try System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 Cloud and Datacenter
Find out how to download System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 for a 180-day trial.

Try System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1
Find out how to download System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 for a 180-day trial.

Integration guide
The System Center 2012 Integration Guide helps you build automated solutions across System Center components. It provides an overview of each component in its role as a programmable platform to be used for the Microsoft private cloud.

Upgrade paths to System Center 2012
Upgrading to System Center 2012 from an earlier System Center product is possible but the upgrade path is dependent on your current configuration. Use these guidelines for upgrading your System Center products to System Center 2012.

Manage private and public clouds

Create a cloud-based pricing chargeback process
Learn how to apply cloud-based pricing on Virtual Machine Manager fabric to minimize virtual machine oversubscription and underutilization.

Provide uninterrupted protection to virtual machines
Use Data Protection Manger and Virtual Machine Manager to provde better load balancing and adapt more easily to customer needs with live migration of virtual machines.

Cloud resource management
Use Orchestrator and System Center Service Provider Foundation to extend complex management capabilities to your cloud platform.

Migrate on-premise virtual machines to Windows Azure
Use Virtual Machine Manager to copy virtual machines to Windows Azure from your on-premises servers and integrate Windows Azure cloud capacity into your datacenter. Your original virtual machine remains intact on-premises.

Streamline offsite protection of data
Use Data Protection Manager and Windows Azure Online Backup for cloud backup and recovery, including managing the needed infrastructure components and their configuration, monitoring, reporting, and troubleshooting.

Fabric monitoring
Use Operations Manager, Orchestrator, Service Manager, and Virtual Machine Manager to provide the basic configuration and steps necessary to implement fabric monitoring in a private cloud based on Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft System Center 2012.

Integrate Service Management Portal and API with System Center 2012 SP1
Learn how Service Provider Foundation administers tenants, user roles, and resources in Virtual Machine Manager for your Windows Server VM cloud.

Set up an environment for self-service users of networked virtual machines
Use Virtual Machine Manager, Operations Manager, and App Controller to set up an environment where self-service users -- your clients or customers -- can create their own virtual machines and configure networks for those virtual machines.

Manage computers and devices

Manage mobile devices by using the Windows Intune Connector in Configuration Manager
Learn how to manage apps for Windows Phone 8, Windows RT, iOS, and Android devices by using the Windows Intune service and the Configuration Manager console.

Ensure the compliance of devices with Configuration Manager
Configuration Manager helps you streamline operations by monitoring and remediating client settings across mobile, physical, and virtual environments.

Install and manage client devices
Configuration Manager makes it easier and faster to administer client systems, and offers improved visibility and enforcement options for maintaining system compliance.

Create a Linux-based virtual machine template
Create a virtual machine template in Virtual Machine Manager with settings for the virtual machine and for the Linux operating system. Use the template to deploy a virtual machine whose guest operating system is Linux.

Manage the application lifecycle

Deploy, monitor, and manage applications
With Configuration Manager, you can empower users to find and install the software they need to be productive from anywhere, on any device they choose.

Monitor and manage applications
Use Virtual Machine Manager, App Controller, and Operations Manager to monitor and manage on-premise, private cloud, and public cloud applications.

Deep application diagnostics and insight
Use Operations Manager to monitor .NET applications, isolate application performance issues, and get easy-to-use reporting and custom dashboards.

Integrate Operations Manager with the development process (DevOps)
Improve efficiency and communication between development and IT operations teams. New management packs integrate Operations Manager with Team Foundation Server (TFS), Visual Studio, and IntelliTrace.