This document provides a 3-step guide to deploying System Center Advisor, a cloud service that assesses server configurations and avoids problems. Step 1 is to plan the deployment by selecting an internet-connected gateway server. Step 2 explains how to install the gateway software on selected servers by downloading setup files and a registration certificate. Step 3 will cover installing agent software on additional servers to monitor and report data to the gateway. The goal is to collect and analyze server information to proactively fix issues and improve system health.

1. Lean startup and … Microsoft?

4. 100%
90%
80% Good
70%
Fixed Alerts %
60% Fixable Alerts %
50% Visible Alerts %
Entities %
40% Agent %
Gateway %
30%
Cert %
20% Registration %
10%
0%
Bad

5. Advisor Deployment Guide
Welcome to System Center Advisor
Follow this guide to deploy Advisor on your network
System Center Advisor is a cloud service that enables you to assess your server
configuration and proactively avoid problems.
Begin deployment

6. Advisor Deployment Guide
Step 1. Plan for the deployment
Select at least one Internet connected server to be the gateway
Identify additional servers for installing agents
Gateway
Advisor Service A gateway is an Internet connected server
in your network than can upload data
collected from agents to System Center
Advisor.
User Gateway + Agent
Gateway
Agent An agent collects information from a server
Private network Private network in your network and sends that information
to a gateway.
* You can install both a gateway and an agent on the
same computer.
Agents Agents
System Center Advisor architecture diagram
Advisor system requirements Multiple server deployment guide Next

7. Advisor Deployment Guide Advisor Service
Step 2. Install Gateways Gateway +
Gateway
Agent
Use the following steps to install a gateway on your selected servers:
Agents Agents
1. Download Advisor Setup
This is a common setup program for installing a gateway and an agent. Download setup
2. Download your registration certificate
This certificate is used by the Setup. It helps the gateway identify your Advisor
Download certificate
account. Make sure it is only accessible by your Advisor administrators.
Downloads not working?
3. Copy both files to your target server
The Setup can only run from a local drive/directory on your target server.
4. Run the Advisor Setup on your target server
Follow the instructions in the Setup wizard.
If you want your gateway If you don’t want your
server to be analyzed by gateway server to be
Advisor, choose both analyzed by Advisor, choose
"Gateway" and "Agent" on only "Gateway" on the
the Installation Options page. Installation Options Page.
(Recommended)
Back Next

8. 100%
90%
80%
70%
Fixed Alerts %
60% Fixable Alerts %
Visible Alerts %
50%
Entities %
40% Agent %
Gateway %
30%
Cert %
20%
10%
Really Registrations
Bad
0%
Jun-11
Jan-11
Apr-11
Jan-12
Dec-10
Feb-11
Mar-11
Aug-11
Sep-11
Dec-11
Feb-12
May-11
Nov-10
Jul-11
Oct-11
Nov-11

9. Lessons Learned
• MVP is not the final product
• BML is a loop
• Hidden assumptions need to be exposed
– Talk to others to understand your hidden
assumptions

10. Thank you
• Tim Ng (timng@microsoft.com)
• Mark Gilbert (markgil@microsoft.com)