The conference started without a keynote so no new program announcements today. For that reason I thought I would start with some facts about the next Config Mgr. SP2.

Config Mgr. SP2

  • Will be released 90 days after Windows 7
  • New Operating System Support
    • Windows 7
    • Windows Server 2008 R2
    • Windows Server 2008 SP2
    • Windows Vista SP2
  • New and improved features
    • Out of band management
      • Intel Active Management Technology Integration – Version 2
      • Wireless Management: Wireless Profile Management (mobile ONLY)
      • End Point Access Control: 802.1x support
      • Persistent Data Storage: Non Volatile Memory or Third Party Data Store (3PDS)
      • Access Monitor: Audit Log
      • Remote Power Management: Power State Configuration
    • Asset Intelligence
      • Open for all not only for SA (Software Assurance) customers
    • USMT 4.0
    • Peer to Peer support for Branch caching.
      • The feature will be build into BITS and will also support Windows 2008 and Vista.
    • Updates for Remote control on 64 bit systems
    • Multi select and delete drivers in OSD

My two first session of the day had focus on configuring and troubleshooting Native mode and Internet Based client management in Config Mgr. First Native mode session with Jason Sandys explained about all the benefits and pre-requisites to configuring native mode. Jason did an excellent job explaining about the basics, notes from the field etc.

Native mode benefits:

  • Internet Based Client Management with these features supported
    • Inventory management
    • Software Distribution
    • Software Updates
    • Desired configuration management
  • Security in general
    • Enables encryption
    • SSL authentication to these site systems DP, SLP, MP and SUP.
    • Encrypts software distribution traffic, inventory data, status messages, metering data and some state messages.
    • Policy signing by both management point and site server.

Second session focused on Internet Client Based Management and PKI in general. Based on customer problems during the last year here is was to look for before you get started.

  1. Why ICBM
    1. To support your “Road Warriors”
    2. To enable Kiosk solution while utilizing the Internet as  backbone
    3. Because you can!
  2. Make sure you have information about
    1. PKI in general
      1. CA
      2. CRL
      3. CRL DP’s
        1. Make sure they are accessible to all
      4. Your site systems and their certificate requirements
    2. The Config Mgr. features you will offer to clients.

After lunch me and a lot of other “techies” was entertain big time by Johan Arwidmark and Andreas Hammarskjöld in the MDT 2008 – Tips & Tricks from the Deployment Masters session. The entire session was focusing on “making the impossible possible” when it comes to Windows deployment.