Nice new tool – Windows 7 USB DVD Download tool

Creating a bootable USB disk from which to install Windows has been an option which required a bit of “manual labour” to get it to work. Microsoft now provides a free downloadable tool called the “Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool”. You download and install the tool from Microsoft, obtain the Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 ISO, and use the wizard to create your bootable USB disk. It’s incredibly simple.

http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool

Mainstream support for SMS 2003 drawing to an end

If you are still hanging on to your SMS 2003 implementation, this affects you. As of January 12, SMS 2003 will enter the extended support phase. For a description of what that means, check out the Configuration Management Support Team Blog.

Cool new ConfigMgr documentation tool

Microsoft Systems Managment MVP Kim Oppalfens has announced a cool new tool called SCCMAutoDoc. The tool provides rich documentation of relevant settings in your SCCM configuration. You can find his post, as well as links to download the beta at his blog.

New System Center Service Manager Courseware

“Planning and Deploying Microsoft System Center Service Manager” will be a four day instructor led course intended to provide candidates with the skills needed to plan, implement and support SCSM. Day One of the course introduces key Microsoft Operations Framework methodology, followed by three days on Service Manager and how to integrate SCSM with other System Center solutions. No release date is available for the course yet,  but I would watch for it in early 2010.

Help with app deployment

With so many different applications available, it can be challenging to find assistance when attempting to deploy the application using ConfigMgr or sequence it using App-V. I stumbled across a great website recently that includes user forums and information to assist in deploying a huge range of applications. Check out http://www.appdeploy.com/ and see for yourself.

Microsoft Tech Days Canada 2009

Microsoft Tech Days Canada 2009

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Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Beta Announced!

Recently the Configuration Manager product team announced the release of the public beta for Configuration Manager. More information at http://blogs.technet.com/configmgrteam/archive/2009/06/17/announcement-configuration-manager-2007-service-pack-2-public-beta.aspx.

Welcome to my System Center blog

As an IT technical trainer and consultant, I have spent years working with Microsoft’s Systems Management Server and System Center Configuration Manager. I’ve grown to love the product, and have set up this blog as a place for me to share my random thoughts, discoveries, and ramblings. Please feel free to leave comments.