This page highlights the design goals and differences between XIA Configuration Server v6 and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012 R2 to help you determine which product best meets your business requirements or whether your organisation should use both products to complement each other. Whilst we have endeavoured to ensure the accuracy of this document to report an error or omission please contact info@centrel-solutions.com. XIA Configuration Server XIA Configuration Server is a dedicated network inventory and documentation tool designed for complex network infrastructures providing a single point of reference for an organisation's technical information and reporting. This information can be invaluable in: Providing technical support Due diligence exercises Management reporting Transitions and handover Target Systems Supported The system supports detailed, agentless and automated data collection for the following target systems: Active Directory Group Policy DHCP DNS Microsoft Exchange Hyper-V IIS Linux Microsoft Failover Clusters Network Switches SQL Instances Remote Desktop Session Hosts Unix VMware ESX and vCenter Windows Servers Windows Workstations WINS In addition to the automated agent discovery, the following can be documented manually: Contacts Rooms Racks Locations Password Lists Resources Support provisions Features The system supports the following global features: Web based access Mobile device access Multitenant support Advanced reporting CMDB extensibility Item level security Version Control Change tracking for all item types PDF export for all item types Reporting The system includes over 100 built in reports. Learn more Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012 R2 System Center was originally released in 1994 as Systems Management Server (SMS) and provides an array of endpoint management tools. Though these are used for both client and servers, many of these are focused on client device management including: Software deployment Endpoint Protection (Forefront) Hardware and Software Inventory Operating system deployment Power management Remote control Software updates Hardware and Software Inventory The inventory capability of System Center Configuration Manager is primarily designed around Windows and Unix workstations and servers and includes only basic hardware and software installation information Agents Supported Linux Unix Windows Servers Windows Workstations Agents Not Supported in System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2 Active Directory Group Policy DHCP DNS Microsoft Exchange Hyper-V IIS Microsoft Failover Clusters Network Switches SQL Instances Remote Desktop Session Hosts VMware ESX and vCenter WINS Windows Agent SCCM Limitations The following capabilities are supported in XIA Configuration Server v6 but not in System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2 Windows Update Configuration Schedule Mode Recommended Updates Include Microsoft Updates WSUS settings Client Side Targeting System Proxy Settings Internet Explorer Advanced Security Settings Bare Metal Hypervisor Minimal Server Server Core Local Users Name Full Name Description Enabled SID Login Script Profile Path Home Directory Home Drive Password Expired Password Never Expires User Cannot Change Password Local Groups Name Description SID Members Remote Desktop Settings Enabled Remote Desktop Users Remote Assistance Settings Enabled Allow Remote Control Maximum Ticket Expiry Create invitations for Windows Vista or later Account Lockout Settings Account Lockout Duration Account Lockout Duration Source Lockout Reset Source Reset Account Lockout After Account Lockout Threshold Account Lockout Threshold Source Password Policy Settings Minimum Password Length Maximum Password Age Minimum Password Age Enforce Password History Password must meet complexity requirements Store passwords using reversible encryption Security Options SSL Computer Certificates Hash Version Public Key Serial Number Signature Algorithm Issuer Issuer Name Valid From Expiry Date Valid Subject Subject Name Subject Alternative Names Thumbprint Friendly Name Key Usage Enhanced Key Usages CRL Distribution Points ODBC Drivers Platform Driver Name Driver File Driver ODBC Version Driver File Version File Extensions File Located ODBC Data Sources SPN Mirror Server Mirror Server SPN Authentication Type Database Database Filename Quoted Identifiers ANSI Nulls Language Encrypt Auto Translate Use Regional Settings Type Display Name Name Description Driver Driver Name Platform Scheduled Tasks Application Path Account Name Creator Comment Delete the task if not scheduled to run again Don't start the task if the computer is running on batteries Enabled Stop the task if battery mode begins Last Run Time Maximum Run Time Working Directory Only start the task if the computer is idle Idle Wait Minutes Wait for the computer to become idle Stop the task if the computer ceases to be idle Exit Code Name Parameters Run only if logged on Schedule Status Wake the computer to run this task Scheduled Tasks (v2) Date Author Description Enabled Name Task Path Command Arguments Working Directory Time Triggers Day Triggers Weekly Triggers Monthly Triggers Logon Triggers Boot Triggers Shares (limited) Cache Setting Share Permissions NTFS Permissions Enable Access Based Enumeration Shadow Copy Configuration Enabled Storage Volume Maximum Space Used Space Allocated Space Scheduled Task SNMP Configuration Contact Location Installed Running Allowed Managers Community Name Community Type Trap Destinations Routing Table Route ID Destination Interface Index Mask Metric Gateway Protocol Reports The following shows the list of reports built into SCCM 2012 R2:http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn581998 Summary XIA Configuration is a dedicated inventory and documentation tool providing read-only access to configuration information. It provides a much greater breadth and depth of inventory capabilities including support for Microsoft Exchange, VMware, Active Directory, SQL server and other enterprise systems and is designed to co-exist with System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2 without the need to deploy additional agents to target systems. System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2 provides only limited inventory and audit capabilities though does however provide other functionality such as software deployment, endpoint protection and updates.
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