If I could point out only one standout feature of the Server Management Suite, it would be its incredibly comprehensive Web-based reports. It seemed that, if I wanted, I could generate a report about every detail of server operation, and any user with sufficient access rights and a Web browser could access that report. In the short time I had with the software, this was truly an embarrassment of riches. I could have used all the space available here to evaluate just the provided reports.
Altiris provides documentation in the form of PDF files on the distribution media. I strongly suggest that you read through all the supplied documentation so that you can become familiar with the Altiris infrastructure prior to beginning the software installation. The individual components don't require frequent references to the documentation, but getting everything configured to the point at which provisioning is possible requires a thorough understanding of the Altiris software model.
Reasonably Priced Overkill?
Server Management Suite is considerable overkill if all you're looking for is a server deployment tool. However, if you're looking for a reasonably priced enterprise server management suite, this is one product you should definitely take a look at.