Windows Server 2008 and Vista provide a number of new troubleshooting and diagnostics tools to tailor the new diagnostic capabilities built into these platforms (primarily, the Diagnostic Policy Service or DPS). For example, unlike XP and Server 2003, the operating system checks S.M.A.R.T. (Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) hard drives once per hour for potential warning signs; with Group Policy, you can specify whether you want the OS to merely log an event, or also alert the user.
Many of the settings in this category have the name “Configure Scenario Execution Level.” Generally, you have two choices: Detection and Troubleshooting Only, or Detection, Troubleshooting, and Resolution. The latter involves a user notification as well as an event log entry. You can either configure this setting at the overall level, which applies to all the diagnostic and troubleshooting categories, or leave the overall setting “not configured” and make individual settings for each troubleshooting category.
Be aware that most of the troubleshooting and diagnostics settings only have an effect if DPS is actually running on the machine receiving the policy.
See recent blog posts…
Printer Driver Installation Delegation & Hybrid Hard Disk in WS 2008
Power Management – You now have the power to manage power
New Group Policy Settings in WS2008 – A powerful toolset
