A new SP1 revision was released earlier this week to address some minor installation issues. There is a detection problem with this new revision that can cause the Service Pack to be installed on computers that already do have SP1 installed. Be sure to check the orignal post from the WSUS product team In Configmgr. the old SP1 version is automatically being expired thus you are forced to download and deploy the new revision.
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 [...]
Much more info can be found here
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 [...]
As the title reveals “Task sequence that installs many updates stops responding on a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 client” this hotfix is a nice one to have installed. The installation is a client hotfix and requires that you deploy the MSP file to the client during the OSD process. The hotfix will also update the client version, which might require you to update the existing client installation scripts. Installing the hotfix on the site server Open a command prompt and start the installation. The installation will prompt to create a new client patch package. Click Yes and start [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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). [...]
There is no Configuration Manager toolkit (yet). As with the previous versions of Configuration Manager and SMS you need a good log reader - unless you go the “Wally style” and use Notepad Configuration Manager 2012 Trace32.exe will ship with the product and can be found on the DVD in the Tools folder. Happy reading and look forward to see brand new friends in CM2012 like
Dear Kent Agerlund, Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2011 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in System Center Configuration Manager technical communities during the past year. And Yes, I know it’s April 1st.
If you like I have a demo environment with no Internet connection then you are also required to download the Configuration Manager 2012 prerequisites file prior to starting the installation. Open a command prompt with administrative permissions Navigate to .\Configuration Manager 2012 Install source\smssetup\bin\X64 Run SetupDL.exe target dir (in my example SetupDL.exe D:\CM2012DL The total download size is 192 mb. and the total number of files is 14 with SQL Express and .Net Framework 4.0 being the largest files.
Here at MMS 2001 day 1, I have had the pleasure of attending two great SCUP 2011 session. From my test drive I have made my personal top list of new and improved features. 1. Performance a. The application has undergone a major improvement when it comes to performance. Where it could take 10-15 minutes to load some of the larger catalogs in SCUP 4.5 the same process today takes less than a minute. 2. New UI a. The admin UI has moved away from the MMC (big applause) and is now built to look like the other [...]
System Center Custom Updates Publisher is a freeware tool from Microsoft that can assist you in authoring and publishing 3rd. party updates to Configuration Manager. To get you started you can download the complete SCUP 4.5 installation and configuration guide In my guide I have references to two files used to deploy the needed certificates. Those are: Certutil.exe and certadm.dll, both files are part of the Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack. If you are attending MMS 2011 don’t forget to stop by one of the SCUP labs, BOF or breakout sessions - BA18 Introduction to System Center Updates [...]
Configuration Manager 2007 R2 offers two options when it comes to reporting. The classical reports and SQL Reporting Services. This post will explain how you assign permissions to both solutions. Classical reports Add the user/group to the local SMS Reporting Users group on the Reporting Point In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to Security and assign the User/Group Read permissions on the Reporting Class. SQL Reporting Services Open the SQL Reporting Services website http://server/reports For SQL Reporting Services 2008 R2, Click Folder Settings. For SQL Reporting Services 2008, Click Properties. Click New Role Assignment Assign the Browser role for all [...]
It’s only a month until this year MMS 2011 kicks off. I personally think it’s an awesome schedule this year, lots of very great speakers, hands on labs and BOF sessions. I have just submitted a BOF session with Jason Lewis. Jason is a program manager for Configuration Manager at Microsoft. The session will focus on System Center Custom Updates Publisher 2011 and version 4.5 The usage of SCUP is increasing and there is huge demand for knowledge on how to use the product correctly. This BOF will give you information about lessons learned from the field including tips and [...]
No, it’s not officially supported yet but that shouldn’t stop us from testing the new Windows 7 service pack 1
The Adobe catalog SCUP is finally ready for download. Learn more and downlaod the catalog(s) from http://blogs.adobe.com/adobereader/2011/02/our-first-scup-catalog-for-acrobat-and-reader-x-is-here.html
Recently I had to prepare a “Configuration Manager Servicedesk kit”. In the kit I added the Configuration Manager console and Client Center. The installation had a few challanges: Creating and specifying Setup.ini during the installation Installing the correct version of Client Center - X64 or X86 – depending on the architecture. To solve the challenge I created a Task Sequence with these steps Use Toolkit package Gather Run Command "%_SMSTSOOO00127%\bin\i386\setup.exe" /Script "%_SMSTSOOO00127%\Setup.ini" (where OOO00127 is the packge id). Make sure you have created a package with the Configmgr. source files and that package is selected in the TS Install software, [...]
A common question in the forums is “How can I see who has this specific update installed”. One easy way to check that is by creating a DCM rule. Create a new DCM Baseline Click Theese software Updates must be present Select the needed updates and click OK Fiinish the wizard and assign the baseline to collection If you want to create a collection based on the non-compliant computers, check this blog post - https://blog.ctglobalservices.com/confmgr07/using-software-distribution-and-desired-configuration-management-to-fix-non-compliant-computers/