E' un po' una cosa da sistemisti... ma la demo in cui SteveB toglieva via i processori ad un server Sun e SCOM (System Center Operation Manager) usando WS-Management rispondeva "colpo su colpo" mi aveva molto impressionato. Ora il supporto arriva nativo anche per XP e 2003 (anche se ero convinto che 2003 li avesse già... o forse era solo la R2... ma... cose da ferristi... 
).
As you may know, Microsoft Vista includes Windows Remote Management (WinRM). WinRM is Microsoft's implementation of the DMTF Standard WS-Management. This allows web services based management of systems, hardware and applications in a cross platform way. Implementations exist for Windows, Unix (yes, Linux of course) as well as embedded in upcoming server and desktop systems. Web Services in your CPU!
Now, we have released an update for Windows XP and Server 2003 which will enable those systems with WS-Management as well.
For more information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/KB936059
Fonte: WS-Management for Windows XP