XenServer Management Pack for SCOM

Hi!

SCOM platform becomes more and more popular out of the Microsoft universe :) I was very surprised when found in the news that the Management Pack for the Citrix XenServer solution has been released recently!

To be clear - XenServer is and open-source, Linux-based hypervisor and when Hermes Softlab decided to develop monitoring solution using the SCOM platform - it's a sign...sign which means that it's reasonable to build monitoring solutions for non-Microsoft applications and services using the Microsoft SCOM.

Of course they don't cover XenServer itself only - because it's not commercial and definitely can't bring any value to Hermes. They release MPs for XenApp and for XenDesktop solutions which are commercial and provide more interesting capabilities for datacenters.

It looks like that Microsoft was right when released cross-platform extensions for SCOM SP1 and then add it to SCOM R2 as an embedded option. Good decision, MS! :)

Icons sizes for Classes

Hi!

If you want to create your own images for management pack classes you should know image dimensions:
1. 16x16 - this icon is used in the details pane (e.g. in state view) when user choose specific object and in target picker (e.g. user create new monitor, rule... to extend MP capabilities)
2. 80x80 - this icon is used in diagrm view.

Pay attention that image files should be in PNG (or JPG) format - not old-school ICO!

MP to XML

Hi!

It's very often task for me when I discover third-party management packs to convert it from Sealed MP-format to original XML form. After that I can relax, open it in VS and review structure and code to understand how I should work with this management pack (yep...operations guide is just operations guide - not development guide :))
How to do it? Two options:
1. Use MP2XMLDumper tool which export MP from RMS directly to XML format.
2. User PS script from Boris Yanushpolsky which just conevrt MP to XML.

Option one is explained well there, option 2 is explained with some useful comments of SCOM MVP David Allen there. Review, download, convert and enjoy! :)

All-In-One SCOM VPC

Hi!

I've found nice article about deploying all-in-one VPC which includes Windows Server OS, DC Role, SQL Server and SCOM 2007R2. It includes some usefult tunings hints which might be useful!
http://ops-mgr.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!3D3B8489FCAA9B51!2271.entry?wa=wsignin1.0&sa=947412494

This is a blog about manageability

Hi!

This blog is a reflection of my "technical" side of work and personal development. Now I'm focused on software manageability aspects and some other ...-abilityes :) So to start I want to share interesting link to russian blog about Microsoft System Center Service Manager: http://blogs.technet.com/b/scsmru/