There are a couple of new management products to talk about this week, one from Microsoft and one that's not.

Microsoft has just released the Microsoft Windows Base Operating System Management Pack that's designed to detect, alert on and automatically respond to critical events and performance indicators for all Microsoft server operating systems from Windows 2000 on. You will need Microsoft Operations Manager  (MOM) 2005, but the add-on Management Pack is a free download.

The Management Pack reports on performance, health and availability conditions that can indicate problems, even identify issues before they become critical, which can provide you with a level of responsiveness that increases the overall availability and performance of your servers.

The other new management product I want to highlight is this week's release of Version 7 of ScriptLogic's Desktop Authority package. I've watched this package grow from its beginnings as a help to the harassed IT specialist in a SOHO environment through its incarnation as the best friend of the SMB help desk, but today it takes its place as an enterprise-strength management package. This release introduces new and improved modules in the areas of:

* Desktop hardware and software inventory.

* Database back end with built-in and custom reporting.

* Role-based administration.

* Power management - allowing administrators to set power saving settings for desktops and laptops and pushing those out using Validation Logic.

* Improved anti-spyware and patch management, both with reporting capabilities.

Desktop Authority's ability to standardize configurations means that users receive a consistent experience regardless of where they log on - any user can log on to any machine and be productive.

While Desktop Authority isn't free, it pays for itself with a very short return on investment by providing:

* Centralized desktop management.

* Maximized control of desktops through Validation Logic.

* Automation of repetitive desktop configuration tasks.

* Protection against known vulnerabilities with patch and spyware management.

* Inventory and reporting capabilities.

* Increased centralized support with remote management

* Standardized user experience yielding lower support calls.