Manage Intel vPro Enabled Desktops and Laptops From the SBS 2011 Essentials Console: Intel Small Business Manageability Add-In

We saw some screenshots of the Intel Small Business Manageability Add-In at yesterday’s Intel Channel Conference here in Edmonton.

The product will give full vPro feature access as per the page linked below.

• Intel® Small Business Manageability Add-in: What is the Intel® Small Business Manageability Add-in?
• Intel Support Page: Intel Small Business Manageability Add-in

We use Intel’s vPro/AMT based desktops and laptops throughout our client’s locations. Once vPro has been set up we can power up the unit, troubleshoot it, and have out-of-band access to the system’s firmware and logs.

The remote VNC feature is not so important for those of us in the SBS world since Remote Assistance access is built right into the SBS Console and setup or RDP access once the machine is up and running.

However, in the end, the extra cost for the out-of-band management that vPro enables for us and our clients is saved when we can work on something remotely just once. vPro is worth it.

• Intel vPro Technology Page

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Intel Desktop Board DQ67EPB3 – First Look

We just received an Executive Series Intel Desktop Board DQ67EP that we will be using to build a small form factor system with.

It will be going into an Antec ISK 300-150 with an Intel Core i5-2400s CPU.

This board packs a lot in to a very small space. Because of this, depending on the case they are mounted in the units can be installed or mounted virtually anywhere a system with good power is required.

One of the interesting new features on this board is the following:

There is a black Mini PCI-e slot just to the left of the power connector. The two screws are installed in a pair of standoffs to allow for the install of a Mini PCI-e card.

When we have a look at the Tested Components for DQ67EP list we see the following:

We have the ability to install a wireless LAN card in this slot thus saving the full size PCI-e x16 slot for video or other add-in card. This is a pretty neat little feature.

One of the things to take note of is that the board itself is actually heavy relative to its size.

• Intel Desktop Board DQ67EP Support Page

Once we have the system together, updated the BIOS, installed the OS and drivers we will run a burn-in process. We will then test to see if those USB 3.0 ports and SATA 6Gb/s really do make a difference.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

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