Systems Management Server 2.0 SP3 Is Required to Support Windows XP Clients (313353)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
This article was previously published under Q313353

SUMMARY

Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0 Service Pack 3 (SP3) is the minimum requirement for supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional-based computers as clients.

Not all versions of Windows XP are supported, nor do all versions of SMS support Windows XP.

MORE INFORMATION

  • Earlier service packs for SMS 2.0, including Service Pack 2 (SP2), do not support Windows XP Professional as a client.
  • SMS 1.2 does not support Windows XP as a client.
  • No version of SMS supports Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition as a client.
  • 64-bit versions of Windows XP are not currently supported as SMS 2.0 clients in either 32-bit or 64-bit mode.
  • No version of SMS currently supports Microsoft Windows XP Embedded as a client.
  • Additional Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) updates or hotfixes may also be required for Windows XP-based clients.
SMS components that are fully supported with no qualifications include:

Client Installation
Hardware Inventory
Software Inventory
Network Monitor

The following SMS components are supported with some qualifications:
  • Software Distribution - When it is initially installed, SP3 Software Distribution cannot target Windows XP-based client computers. This occurs because Windows XP is not recognized by Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). To add Windows XP to the list of operating systems that SMS uses to target software distribution, install the SP3 hotfix that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    308271 How to Add Windows XP Professional As a Target Platform to SMS 2.0 SP3

  • Remote Tools - This feature is supported on SMS clients that run Windows XP with a new accelerated video driver. This driver is delivered when the client is upgraded to SP3 or when an SP3 client is initially installed. The Remote Tools feature is supported by using the RLE compression method instead of the default LZH compression method.
  • Software Metering - There is limited support for software metering of Windows XP. SMS cannot perform software metering of 16-bit programs on a Windows XP-based client.
For additional information about adding Windows XP Professional as an SMS client, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310614 SMS: The SMS Client Is Not Supported on 64-Bit Versions of Windows XP

For additional information about support for Windows XP, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.Microsoft.com/smsmgmt/techdetails/newsupport.asp

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/14/2005
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB313353
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