Keeping track of the the virtual machines can be a little pain. Here is a query and a report that hopefully will make it a bit easier to keep track of those virtual machines and their corresponding physical hosts. The Query select distinct SMS_R_System.Name, SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.Caption, SMS_G_System_VIRTUAL_MACHINE.PhysicalHostNameFullyQualified from  SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM on SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId inner join SMS_G_System_VIRTUAL_MACHINE on SMS_G_System_VIRTUAL_MACHINE.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId where SMS_G_System_VIRTUAL_MACHINE.PhysicalHostNameFullyQualified is not null  order by SMS_G_System_VIRTUAL_MACHINE.PhysicalHostNameFullyQualified The Report SELECT     TOP (100) PERCENT dbo.v_R_System.Netbios_Name0 AS Name, dbo.v_GS_OPERATING_SYSTEM.Caption0 AS [Operating System],                       dbo.v_GS_VIRTUAL_MACHINE.PhysicalHostNameFullyQualifi0 AS [Physical host] FROM         dbo.v_R_System INNER JOIN                       dbo.v_GS_OPERATING_SYSTEM ON dbo.v_R_System.ResourceID = dbo.v_GS_OPERATING_SYSTEM.ResourceID INNER JOIN [...]

Just spend some time trying to install Silverlight with Config Mgr. I have read the guide from Microsoft Document but couldn’t get it to work. Instead I extracted the package and ran the Install.exe file with /q Extract the package: Open a command prompt Silverlight.2.0.exe /extract:C:\temp Create the Config mgr package: Copy the extracted the files to a network location Create the package like a “normal” config mgr. package Create a program with this command line install.exe /q

One of the most asked question in various newsgroups is: How do I create a query that shows all computers without “something”. To create a query like that you start by creating a query that find the opposite and then a query that finds all computers not part of the first result. Query to all computers with .Net Framework SP1 installed select distinct SMS_R_System.Name from  SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_ADD_REMOVE_PROGRAMS on SMS_G_System_ADD_REMOVE_PROGRAMS.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId where SMS_G_System_ADD_REMOVE_PROGRAMS.DisplayName = "Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1" Query to find all computer without .Net Framework SP1 installed select distinct SMS_R_System.Name from  SMS_R_System where SMS_R_System.Name not in [...]

I just spend a day troubleshooting Software updates errors at a customer site and thought I would share my experiences.  The error codes are all found in the report Last scan state by collection Error code on client Solution 16398 If you search the web you will get many hits on this error. The solution is to apply this WSUS 3.0 SP1 patch http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6AA8A49D-170C-4077-8B9B-61F7BF5A1281&displaylang=en Once the update is applied you can force a scan on the client. Monitor the ScanAgent.log file 1682 This is a classic error. Check the wuahandler.log file and it will report that the local wsus settings [...]

In this post you will find the code for two reports. The first is a simple report that will count the different system types (x86 etc). The second report can be used as a standard hardware inventory report listing the most basic information like operating system, server name etc. Once you have created the two reports they can be linked together using System type as a prompt/variable. Count System types   SELECT     dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.SystemType0, COUNT(dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.SystemType0) AS Total FROM         dbo.v_R_System INNER JOIN                       dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM ON dbo.v_R_System.ResourceID = dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.ResourceID GROUP BY dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.SystemType0 Basic hardware inventory report SELECT DISTINCT                       TOP (100) PERCENT dbo.v_R_System_Valid.ResourceID, [...]

When a client push installation is initiated Config Mgr. generates a CCR - Client Configuration Request file - for each client. To stop the process those files must be manually deleted. As the files are processed they are moved between three different folders. Initially the files are created in the .\inboxes\CCR.box When the CCR is prossed the record will be moved to .\inboxes\CCR.box\inproc Finally all installation request that failed (for some reason) will be stored as the computername in .\inboxes\ccrretry.box

Using Software Update Management in Config Mgr. can be a very powerful way to control the patch management process. In this post I explain the basic components that you need to know about before deploying any updates. Updates List The update list contains all my approved security updates for any given month The update list is used in reports The update list can be used to delegate administrative permissions. I can have one update list for server updates that is controlled by our "server guys" and one Update list containing workstation updates. Deployment Template The template contains a target collection [...]

We are proud to announce that Coretech’s Configuration Manager 2007 Helpdesk course is ready to launch. The course is based on all the wishes and feedback we have received from customers and earlier students. The training will focus on how Configuration Manager can be used by users in the Helpdesk department. We discuss client installation, troubleshooting, software installation, queries and reports, image installation etc.  For more information contact Kent Agerlund, [email protected]. Title: Configuration Manager 2007 Helpdesk training Duration: 2 days Material: PowerPoint presentations and hands-on labs Environment: Microsoft Virtual PC Trainers: Kent Agerlund, Coretech A/S Language: English or Danish Agenda: [...]

One major benefit of using variables in the software application installation process is the ability to work with "software groups". A software group can be defined as a group of computers that share the same software package e.g. all workstations in R&D orHR. This post describes how to install multiple applications using variables on one collection. Start by categorizing all software packages Which ones need to be in the image Which ones are installed on all computers (can be added as singple Install Software steps in the task sequence) Which ones are part of a specific Software group (handled in [...]

When users start Outlook 2007 for the first time they might be presented with this dialog box: To disable the dialog box you need to make a modification to the registry. I normally add the registry entry to the Office Customization Toolkit (OCT) like this: How to disable the setting in registry: Open registry and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Options\General Add a new entry (reg_sz) with the name PONT_STRING Modify the value to "60" Export the registry entry from the File menu How to disable the setting in OCT: Start Office Customization Toolkit OCT by running setup.exe /admin Navigate to Add registry [...]

One of the settings that I am often asked to modify when it comes to Office 2007 deployments is disabling the welcome screen. The welcome screen is displayed the first time a user starts one of the Office programs. The setting can be disabled in registry or in the Office Customization Tool (OCT). How to disable the setting in registry: Open registry and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\General Add a new Dword (32-bit) Value, type ShownOptIn as the name modify the value to 00000001 How to disable the setting in OCT: First download the updated version of the Admin files from - [...]

Useful links: http://www.officeusers.org/ - tips and tricks http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc303401.aspx - 2007 Office Resource Kit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179219.aspx - Language indentifiers http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/desktop/default.aspx - Technet http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX102855291033.aspx - Office Online http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179179.aspx - Office Migration Planning Manager (OMPM) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/desktopdeployment/bb395347.aspx - Office deployment the "MDT way" http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetoffice.aspx?tab=webcasts - Office 2007 deployment webcasts http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetoffice.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=42542 - Various Office 2007 webcasts

Just want to share my little happy moment with someone - Just installed the configuration manager sp1 client on my Windows 7 Ultimate build 7000 - and it's working :-) Inventory is working Software distribution is working Software Update deployment is working Desired Configuration is working - but my system is not compliant according to the company policy :-)

Microsoft will distribute Windows Internet Explorer 8 as a high-priority update through Automatic Updates for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and higher. To avoid this use the Blocker Toolkit. You can download the toolkit from Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=21687628-5806-4ba6-9e4e-8e224ec6dd8c&displaylang=en&tm

In this example I explain how to use the prompt function. I anticipate that you already by now know how to create the report in Configuration Manager and how to start SQL Server Management Studio. This report will list some basic hardware details with a prompt on the Bios Serial number. I am creating the first part of the report in SQL server 2008 Studio Manager, and the prompt in the Config Mgr. console. When you are working with prompts in reports there is a few things you need to know first. To use variables use the @ symbol eg. [...]

Configuration Manager 2007 RTM SQL server 2008 is supported with Config Mgr. 2007. KB article KB955229 - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955229 explains the recommended installation procedure: Apply hotfix Hotfix KB950636 Instal SQL Server 2005 Install SQL server 2005 SP2 (only needed if you are installing the RTM version of Configuration Manager, if you are installing Config Mgr with SP1 then SQL server 2008 is supported) Install SQL server 2005 and Configuration Manager 2007. Upgrade site databases from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008. (only if you installed Config Mgr. 2007 RTM Apply hotfix (955229) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955229 (only if you upgraded from SQL 2005) [...]

I have seen several times, that my WSUS server is suddently gone when the SUP role is installed locally on the Config Mgr site server. I am not yet 100% sure why this is happening but it's related to WSUS trying to repair itself. By investigating the Eventlog you are able to monitor the process as it happens. It seems to be related to backup, however the Config Mgr. backup doesn't touch the WSUS files. Configmgr backup is runing: Event Source: SMS Server Event Category: SMS_SITE_BACKUP Event ID: 5055 Date: 10/11/2008 Time: 00:02:57 Computer: Testsccm Then randomly after backup the [...]