Observations and stuff I find interesting – mostly about System Center
2014-07-14 Leave a comment
This is a nifty new tool. Today on Microsoft Connect Configuration Manager Servicing Extension was released. It’s a useful extension for CM12 which adds a new node to the Administration workspace.
Once you have installed the extension, the new Site Servicing node provides several useful features.
2014-07-04 Leave a comment
I’ve been offline for a while, working with clients on several Configuration Manager 2012 migrations. In the meantime, I came across a great article on the ConfigMgr Dogs blog. They lay out the Configuration Manager 2012 Software Update client-side process pretty much from beginning to end, including log files. Very useful if you are troubleshooting Software Updating.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrdogs/archive/2014/06/30/configmgr-2012-windows-update-client-process.aspx for the complete article.
2013-10-10 Leave a comment
Just noticed this on one of my favourite ConfigMgr blogs (too bad he now has a pop-up every time you visit). Microsoft Press has released an excellent eBook covering everything from Windows Management Instrumentation, OSD Troubleshooting, SSRS, and much more. Head over to Anoop’s blog, where he has download links and more information, or pick it up from the Microsoft Press blog. There’s plenty of great tips and tricks!
2013-02-18 Leave a comment
If you have not already discovered his blog, Anoop Nair is someone you should check out. I have found his blog to be immensely useful. His SCCM 2012 Starter Kit http://anoopcnair.com/2011/08/10/configmgr-sccm-2012-starter-kit-very-useful-links/ is a page full of links to other cool and sometimes hard to find stuff – all CM 2012 related. Spend some time browsing through his blog, it’s well worth your time.
2012-07-31 Leave a comment
Configuration Manager 2012 has only been out for a few months now, but already there are a growing list of issues. Having a problem with ConfigMgr 2012? If you haven’t found this page already, check out this List of Public Microsoft Support Knowledge Base (KB) Articles for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. It is updated regularly.
2012-06-29 Leave a comment
The product group recently announced the release of Service Pack 1 for Configuration Manager 2012. You can find a great synopsis of what changes to expect at http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrdogs/archive/2012/06/14/configmgr-2012-upcoming-enhancements-in-sp1.aspx.
Support for Mac OS X, Linux, UNIX, of course Windows 8 were expected. Some hierarchy management enhancements caught my attention.
2012-06-22 8 Comments
According to MSL Campaign Factory, the two new Configuration Manager courses should start shipping June 29, 2012.
Course 10747a: Administering System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/course.aspx?ID=10747a) – 5 days. What do you need to know to manage and configure Configuration Manager 2012? This is the course you need. This course does not teach you to design and install SCCM hierarchies, it teaches day-to-day Configuration Manager administration skills.
Course 10748a: Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/course.aspx?id=10748ab) – 3 days. What should your Configuration Manager 2012 hierarchy look like? Do you need a CAS? Do you need multiple primary sites or secondary sites? What’s involved in migrating your existing Configuration Manager 2007 hierarchy to 2012? This is the course you need.
Learning partners should be able to order the courseware by the end of this month. You should be able to sign up for the courses today.
I’ll be teaching these courses in Edmonton in July, and will try to provide some feedback here once they are done. From the looks of the two courses they provide great content and sufficient depth to give you a solid start in your Configuration Manager 2012 environment.
2012-06-09 Leave a comment
If you have been playing around with Configuration Manager 2012 you know that it’s definitely not Configuration Manager as you have known it. The new application delivery model revolutionizes software delivery and in so many ways is a giant leap forward from SCCM 2007 packages, programs, and advertisements. User-centric management has finally become a reality. Settlings which previously were configured per site can now be configured per collection greatly simplifying client management. Much of the complexity of Configuration Manager 2007 Software Update management has been removed, leaving update management in 2012 intuitive and simple. And the site hierarchy has been completely redesigned. While beta testing Configuration Manager 2012 and when demonstrating the product to clients l find myself repeating the words “FINALLY” again and again.
Will you need a Central Administration Site? Since you can now configure bandwidth settings, throttling settings, and schedule content distribution between the site server and distribution point, does your ConfigMgr 2007 hierarchy still make sense in 2012? Since there is no direct upgrade to Configuration Manager 2012, only migration, how will your migration plan look? Sounds like this is a good time to get some training and guidance to ensure you get it right the first time!
Microsoft Learning is releasing two very good official System Center 2012 Configuration Manager courses;
I think the reality is that many people will eventually need both courses. If you are up for a challenge, I’ll be teaching the 10747 and 10748 courses, combining and condensing the 8 days worth of content into 6 days. The combined course will be running in Edmonton the week of July 9, 2012 at Winding River Solutions (http://www.windingriver.ca). If you would like to register, or have questions get in touch with them.
2012-05-31 Leave a comment
if you have used Client Center for Configuration Manager 2007 you already know what a great utility it is. You can troubleshoot and explore client settings, logs, kick off policy updates and trigger most client agent activities from a remote system. This new Alpha version of the utility is designed for Configuration Manager 2012. No SCCM administrator should be without it.
You can download it from http://sccmclictr.codeplex.com/
Read the prerequisite before installing. You need WinRM and .Net Framework 4.
2012-03-05 Leave a comment
Release Candidate 2 of Configuration Manager 2012 is currently available, and by the end of April the RTM version should be available. Have you started to plan for Configuration Manager 2012 in your environment? Do you know what has changed and what you should be doing to prepare for the migration? It might be time for some training.
Configuration Manager Team Blog
Yet Another System Center Blog 