DHCP Guide

This document describes common scenarios for implementing DHCP in relation to PXE boot with particular focus on Configuration Manager. Assumptions and audience Audience must familiar with basic IP networking principles. The background In order for a client to perform a PXE boot, there must be a DHCP service available, this is not required to be a Microsoft DHCP service. Any DHCP server is good. The following diagram shows a typical network setup In this case the client and the server is on the same network, which is the simplest setup you will come across, normally the setup will be more [...]

Troubleshooting: An error occurred when creating the WSUS Signing Certificate (Secunia)

Lately I have been doing some Secunia integrations with System Center 2012 R2: Configuration Manager (SCCM/ConfigMgr 2012). When you are setting up the connector between Secunia CSI and WSUS one of the first things the wizard is asking you to do is to Configure a WSUS Self-Signed Certificate, the WSUS signing certificate is required to create and install local packages. Without it, only packages from Microsoft Update will be installed. How-ever this time I got this error when trying to 'Automatically create and install certificate'  during the Connector Wizard: An error occurred when creating the WSUS Signing Certificate Now this [...]

By |2015-10-20T20:14:46+01:00oktober 20th, 2015|Configuration Manager (SCCM), Security|1 Kommentar

How to: Create custom SQL- based Reports in System Center 2012 R2: Configuration Manager

A customer asked me  for a “how-to” on how to Create reports in SCCM 2012, so why not share with everyone. This post is not intended to show how to write or design queries, but show you have to create  a report based on a SQL query you might already have. Even-though we are skipping how to write SQL Queries for know, this post is still going to be a bit long. Time for that cup of coffee! First some requirements: You need to have an SQL Server instance for SCCM with SQL Reporting Services running You need to have [...]

Upgrade System Center Configuration Manager Console with PowerShell

Since Service Pack 1 was released to SCCM 2012 R2 I have been upgraded several environments. A couple of customers wanted me to create a PowerShell script to uninstall existing ConfigMgr Console and install the new updated version with the latest cumulative updates and hotfixes. If you create a package to distribute it with SCCM make sure you point the Data source to the location of the Client installations files, Script, KB3084586-msp and kb3074857-msp. Installation command for the program will then be: PowerShell.exe -file "script.ps1". Remember to set PowerShell execution policy to "Bypass" under Client Settings. This will not affect [...]

By |2015-09-17T18:14:33+01:00september 17th, 2015|Configuration Manager (SCCM), General info, Powershell, Scripting & Development|Kommentarer lukket til Upgrade System Center Configuration Manager Console with PowerShell

PowerShell to the rescue – Clean up direct collection memberships

We where talking to a customer about how to avoid waiting for Active Directory group synchronization to occur and place a device in the correct collections faster than “until the next synchronization”. The main problem with this setup was caused by the fact that they used a group-in-group membership to identify collection memberships and apparently SCCM 2012 don’t include indirect changes to group membership as delta changes (I have not tested this in details yet). So we came up with the idea to just create a direct membership to place the device in the collections instantly to make sure that [...]

By |2013-03-12T12:31:15+01:00marts 12th, 2013|Configuration Manager (SCCM), Powershell|3 Comments

Child domain objects are not Discovered in SCCM

In most cases people have configured their User, System or Group discovery correctly by adding an LDAP path that SCCM will start discovering from. Could be an OU [LDAP://OU=Computers,DC=Domain,DC=Local] or even the domain root [LDAP://DC=Domain,DC=Local]. “But, but! We are missing several objects and they seem to be residing on one or more of the child domains!” Fear not! SCCM have logs, and logs will always help us when we are in dire need of guidance.. Browse through: adsgdis.log (Group Discovery) adsysdis.log (System Discovery) adusrdis.log (User Discovery) Somewhere in these logs you will find what might be the culprit causing problems. [...]

By |2012-10-12T15:27:22+01:00oktober 12th, 2012|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|2 Comments

Changes in Configuration Manager 2012 RC

Configuraiton Manager Beta 2 has been out a few months by now. Most of you have already seen or performed a testdrive of the beta 2 version. Next public relelase will be the release candidat. Some of the changes you can expect to see is described below. As the product is still in beta, all information in this post is subject to change and NO, I do not know anything about a release date. Setup Improved multi-lingual support, during setup you will be prompted for additional languages you wish to install. Those are languages for the console and also for [...]

By |2011-08-19T17:25:02+01:00august 19th, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|8 Comments

Asset Intelligence 3rd. party software utility

Configuration Manager 2007 and 2012 allows you to import licens information from a CSV file. The data are shown in the License 15A – General License Reconciliation Report. The problem for many is, that it’s often a bit to difficult to create the CSV file in the correct format. Highly inspired by the CM2007 AILW utility we decided to create our own tool and make it work for both Configuration Manager 2007 and the upcoming 2012 version. You can download the utility here. Configuring the utility Once you have downloaded our utility you have to: Copy CT-AILW.exe to C:\Program Files\Coretech\AILW\ [...]

By |2011-08-16T11:19:27+01:00august 16th, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM), General info|44 Comments

Configuration Manager 2012 Prestage content on Distribution Points

Highly inspired by this blog post I started to do me own prestage content testing. Prestaging has long been one of the main reasons (along with bandwidth control) for implementing a secondary site in Configuration Manager 2007. In configuration Manager 2012 both features has now been added to the distribution point. This more or less eliminates the need for a secondary site.    Prestaging is a process that involves the distribution point, the package and a Commandline tool. Open the Distribution Point properties and select Enable this distribution point for prestaged content on the General tab. Now, navigate to the [...]

First look at Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 Beta

FEP 2012 beta has just been released earlier today for public download. I have just installed the product in my Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2 test lab, here are my first notes. The installation requirements are the same as FEP 2010, so I will skip that part. The FEP client First look at the FEP client, tells me it’s still the same. Version is FEP 2010 and the client version number is still 2.0.657.0 Administrator console changes In the Configuration Manager 2012 console, you will changes different workspaces. In the Monitoring workspace you will find the FEP dashboard. In the [...]

By |2011-05-16T18:47:50+01:00maj 16th, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|Kommentarer lukket til First look at Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 Beta

Boundary groups in Configuration Manager 2012

One of the first changes you will notice when deploying client in Configuration Manager 2012, is the need for boundary groups. A boundary group is basically a group of individual boundaries grouped toghether for one or two purposes.  Site assignment, used to control which sites clients are assigned to. Content lookup, used to control which distribution points will used by the client. Boundaries themself do not have any value, they are not associated with neither content lookup nor site assignment. A good example, is using client push without any boundary groups. As you can see in the summary, I have [...]

By |2011-05-06T08:11:43+01:00maj 6th, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|Kommentarer lukket til Boundary groups in Configuration Manager 2012

New Mastering Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2 training

I’m thrilled to announce my new Mastering Configuration Manager 2012 beta 2 training. The two first classes are already scheduled and ready to run. Stockholm, Sweden May 30 – June 1, detailed information and to sign up Long Beach, California, June 6 – June 8, detailed information and to sign up In this class I will walk you thru these topics: Installing and configuring the site hierarchy Migrating from Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Installing and maintaining clients Working with the Application model and User Centric Management Software updates Settings Management SQL Reporting Services Inventory Management Look forward to see you [...]

By |2011-05-04T20:29:05+01:00maj 4th, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|1 Kommentar

The Ultimate ConfigMgr 2012 and MDT 2012 training

Do you want to get a head start to the new Configuration Manager 2012 and MDT 2012 products? If so, join me as I together with one of the best deployment gurus on the planet (Johan Arwidmark, MVP Setup & Deployment) will walk you thru the new and cool features in the upcoming releases. The first classes are already scheduled, sign up and view more detailed information. The training will take you thru: The installation and configuration of a Configuration Manager 2012 hierarchy Migration from Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 The installation of clients The new application model and User Centric [...]

By |2011-05-04T19:50:12+01:00maj 4th, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|1 Kommentar

Updating the package source in Configuration Manager 2007

In my “Migrating from Configuration 2007 to Configuration Manager 2012” session at the System Center User Group meeting in Copenhagen last Friday, I demonstrated a tool to automatically update the package source in Configuration Manager 2007. As promised, this tool is now available for download. The background for the tool As we start migrating from CM2007 to CM2012 one of the requirements is that the package source used for packages must be a UNC. I have seen many site installations where the package source is either a local source on the site server or a UNC pointing to the site [...]

Bring the “Wow factor” into Configuration Manager 2012

Not only is Configuration Manager becoming extremely sexy with all the User Centric Management, new Application model etc. But with the integration of Bing maps we now officially also have the “Wow factor”. In my lab I have two sites, a CAS and a Primary site. The CAS is placed in Copenhagen, Denmark and the primary is placed in Bruxessels, Belgium. In the Configuration Manager 2012 console, open the Monitoring workspace and select Site Hierarchy. Use the Ribbon (Luke) and select Settings on the Home tab. Select Site Location and type the City names, click OK when done. Click Geographical [...]

By |2011-05-03T19:35:54+01:00maj 3rd, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|2 Comments

Using Collection limitations in Configuration Manager 2012

In my previous post I blogged about migrating collections from ConfigMgr. 2007 to ConfigMgr. 2012. This post will focus on some of the great collection changes you will see in ConfigMgr. 2012. First a quick recap of the new features: There are separate collections for Users and Devices. You can’t mix objects the two objects in the same collection anymore. There are two top collections, All Systems and All Users. Those collections can’t be deleted. All collections must be limited to another collection. Linked collections do not exist any longer. Sub collections do not exist any longer. Collections are part [...]

By |2017-08-22T13:09:52+01:00april 25th, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|4 Comments

Migrating Collections from Configuration Manager 2007 to Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2

One thing that a lot of ConfigMgr. admins has spent hours on, is the collection design in CM2007 (or they should have spent the hours). When designing collections in CM2007 some of the design challenges were: Not being able to create folders. Not being able to easily include or exclude objects from other collections. Configure security on collection to a certain ConfigMgr. admin group. In this post I will walk you thru what happens to some of your collections when you perform a collection migration. Before you start the migration, you need to know about the new collection rules in [...]

By |2011-04-23T13:11:48+01:00april 23rd, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|5 Comments

Perform a scripted installation of Configuration Manager 2012 Beta2

As you might already know, there are a lot of nice changes in Configuration Manager 2012. As part of a site server installation Configuration Manager will generate a file called ConfigMgrAutoSave.ini and store that in the %temp% folder. This file can be used to perform a scripted installation. If you want to perform a scripted installation perform these steps: Navigate to <ConfigMgr Install source\SMSSetup\Bin\X64\ Type setupwpf.exe /script L:\Labfiles\Install\PS1Script\ConfigMgrAutoSave.ini (Notice that setupwpf.exe will not perform basic checking for .Net those components must be present otherwise it will fail. The scripted installation can also be performed by running setup.exe – thanks Johan). [...]

By |2011-04-04T10:37:38+01:00april 4th, 2011|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|3 Comments