I am just getting started with OpenManage and I could really use some feedback on the different management protocols. I have looked all over this site, the OpenManage docs, as well as the Web, but I cannot find a clear explanation of what I gain, or how I can benefit from using the Common Information Model (CIM). Does CIM offer greater remote management functionality, better inventory, etc., etc., or does it just duplicate SNMP information?

Does enabling CIM provide enough positives to make it worthwhile? I am only concerned with the management of approx. 30 Dell PowerEdge servers all running Windows 2000.

As a side note... I'd like to know if other users of the Dell Premier Support site find their knowledge base extremely frustrating to use (I do) specifically because of the inability to find truly relevant documentation, or simply not enough documentation of support solutions...

Thanks,

David Beck