MMS 2013 Content Survey

Don't be the person that says,"MMS wasn't exactly what I wanted, I wish they had more of XYZ."  Now here is your change.  Until Nov 26th you can influence what the conference will focus on and what will be highlighted.

 

 

 

The MMS 2013 Content Survey is Now Open

Planning for the Microsoft Management Summit (MMS 2013) is underway and we’d like to hear from you!

The success of MMS is based on aligning the conference to your training goals and objectives. By completing the MMS 2013 Content Survey, you have the opportunity to help shape the event’s approach and training content.

If you are considering attending MMS 2013, please take a few moments to complete the MMS 2013 Content Survey. Your answers will be kept confidential, and are used only as part of a statistical analysis to help allocate session and lab slots where they are most needed.

When the survey closes on Monday, November 26th, two entries will be randomly selected to receive a prize. If you would like to be entered into the drawing, simply enter your email address where indicated on the survey. Supplied email addresses will only be used for winner notification and will not be stored or used in any other way.

Thanks in advance for helping us make MMS 2013 your IT event of the year!
The MMS 2013 Event Team

Microsoft System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection Cookbook

Are you working towards implementing Configuraiton Manager 2012 and Endpoint Protection 2012?  Now there is nice simple cookbook to step you through the process of setting it up and configuring it. 

Microsoft System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection Cookbook

By Andrew Plue and PACKT Publishing. 
http://www.packtpub.com/

Andrew Plue is a Senior Consultant in the Secure Infrastructure Management group at Certified Security Solutions (CSS). He is veteran of the United States Army, and served as a paratrooper with the 1/508th Airborne Combat Team. He has 18 years of experience in information security, with a focus on vulnerability detection, and corporate anti-virus solutions. During his tenure at CSS, he has acted as a lead engineer on numerous deployments of the Forefront Suite of anti-malware products, with production deployments of Forefront Client Security as large as 140,000 seats. He has spoken at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference on the topic of Forefront Client Security. In his spare time, he does not do all that much, to be honest.

MMS 2013!!!

MMS 2013 will be in April 8th - 12th in Las Vegas,Nevada!!!!

So looks like it will not be in June and it will not be in New Orleans

ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 Beta

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34607

Configmgr 2012 Sp1 Beta has been released.  There have been many enhancements for Windows 8, Intune, patching and various other changes.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud/archive/2012/09/10/system-center-2012-configuration-manager-sp1-beta-and-windows-intune-update.aspx
Check of the blogs about sp1 changes.  The first initial discussions was at TechEd 2012.  You can find the slides on the web and a listing of the enhancements can be found here:

http://blog.coretech.dk/kea/configmgr-2012-sp1-announced-teched-2012/

Announcing the release of the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SDK

Announcing the release of the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SDK 

From Microsoft:

The Microsoft System Center team is announcing the release and general availability of the Software Development Kit (SDK) for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.  The System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SDK can be downloaded at no cost today at: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29559.

Configuration Manager is a component of System Center 2012 that:

·         Empowers users to be productive from anywhere, on whatever device they choose.

·         Provides a unified infrastructure for client management and protection.

·         Makes it easier and faster to administer client systems and maintain system compliance.

The SDK provides information about how developers and IT administrators can develop solutions that integrate with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.   Features of the SDK include the following:

·         Programming Fundamentals.  Information about developing integrated applications for Configuration Manager.  Provides best practice guidance on using new Configuration Manager features in your applications.

·         “How-To” Examples.  Practical “how-to” examples using C# and Visual Basic Script that can automate day to day tasks or build a foundation for robust solutions.  How-To’s are available for the Administrator Console, Role Based Administration, and many other topics.

·         Application Management.  Information about the new application management capabilities and how to extend application management deployment types, or automate application creation.  Information about legacy software distribution is also covered.

·         Samples and Reference Documentation.   A detailed section covering over 30 topics that include the Configuration Manager WMI classes and APIs.   Several ready-to-compile solution samples are included for the Administrator Console, Software Updates, Operating System Deployment, Application Management and more.

·         Ease of Installation.  The SDK quickly installs in a standard way with no complex configuration required and a complete installer size of less than 100 MB. Developers can get up and running in just a few minutes.   The System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SDK reference documentation is installed as a compiled help (CHM) file.  The System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SDK and the Configuration Manager 2007 SDK can both be installed on the same computer.

·         Complimentary MSDN documentation.  The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) site also hosts the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SDK reference documentation.  Microsoft intends to update the reference documentation as new information is available.  You can monitor the topic at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh948960.aspx

Microsoft intends to provide further updates to the downloadable SDK and the online MSDN reference information at a later date; details will be released when they are available

Hierarchy Simplification and Secondary's

Everyone should look closely at their hierarchy when performing their migrations from 2007 to 2012. 

If you are utilizing Secondary as content distribution and you wish to continue to use the Secondary as such and at the same time maintain the data on the DPs you mush have a new 2012 Secondary setup to take over the role.

DPs attached to the Secondary must be upgraded first.  During the upgrade process the Secondary role and MP role is removed and the server becomes a DP.  For this you must have a 2012 Secondary ready.  During the upgrade process you attach the DPs to the New Secondary.

Planning for Content Deployment During Migration to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg712275.aspx

Now you can continue to use the secondary as content distribution system without the need to redistribute the content.

Configuration Manager PowerShell SDK Website

There is a new website in town.  Fellow ConfigMgr MVP, Kaido Jarvemets, has created a new website to help with SCCM.   

Kaido Jarvemets

http://cm12sdk.net/

This website will build on the PowerShell advantages.  Take a look.  If you have something about powershell send it to him and see if he can post it or talk about it. 

PowerShell is a power tool to be used in place of Vbscript.  We all know it, but it is time to move forward and look at what can be done with PS.

Offline Patching made easy

How do you patch machines (OS updates only) that are off the network without having to download many individual updates.  Microsoft has a solution for you to use as a stand-alone or use and modify for your purposes.

Security updates are available on ISO-9660 DVD5 image files from the Microsoft Download Center

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913086

One month might be as small as 200MB or as large as 3GB.  This is because it contains all the languages the Microsoft has to offier.

It is a fully comprehensive download but it beats downloaing every individual update. 

Distribution Model in ConfiMgr 2012

In the old days days of SMS/SCCM it was difficult to determine where to push a package if you had a large enviroment.  You had to determine who was in the given area and where/when to push packages to the unprotected and the protected DPs.

What is nice about the Distribution Point Groups is that now you can deploy to Distribution points and if you add a DP to the group it will recive all the packages destined for the group.  This wasn't the case in 2007 where it was simply a list and you have to manually select the packages. 

Now you can also create a Collection and deploy a content to a Collection as well.  When you distribute content, you can target a collection and the distribution points that are members of all distribution point groups with an association to the collection to receive the content.

DP groups: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh427335.aspx
  

Why can't I keep my multiple primary's in 2012?

To understand why you need to learn more about the Hierarchy simplification. 
When it was necessary to change the client settings for an area or inventory settings you had to change the SMS_DEF.mof at the primary.

Now with 2012 you can create client settings and special Inventory settings.  Then you assign it to a collection.  Depending on which collection it is in, the machine will recieve a differnet policy or Inventory settings.  To control which one it will recieve you can change the priortiy level of each custom policy settings.

Create user Device Affinity with Powershell

 
Kaido Järvemets, a fellow ConfigMgr MVP, has a cool new powershell script.
With it you can set the User-Device affinty.

http://depsharee.blogspot.com/2012/04/create-user-device-affinity-with.html

This is a necessity with the new ConfigMgr 2012 product where User Affinity is a key aspect and needs to be understood and user.  Check out his blog above.

Console Extensions 2012 XML insites

2007 Console Extension

<ActionDescription Class="Group" DisplayName="Test" MnemonicDisplayName="Test" Description="WMI" SqmDataPoint="53">


<ActionGroups>
<ActionDescription Class="Executable" DisplayName="Uninstall program" MnemonicDisplayName="Mnemonic" Description="Description">

<Executable>
<FilePath>Wmic</FilePath>
<Parameters> /node:##SUB:Name## product where name="Program A" call uninstall /nointeractive </Parameters>
</Executable>

</ActionDescription>

</ActionGroups>
</ActionDescription>

ConfigMgr 2012 SDK Preview

As of: 4/20/2012 The SDK preview for SCCM is now out. Download and start having fun!!! http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=29559

SCCM 2012 Books..

Get your pre-order in for the System Center Configuration Manager Unleashed 2012
http://www.amazon.com/System-Center-Configuration-Manager-Unleashed/dp/0672334372/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335059460&sr=8-1

Get your pre-order in for the Mastering System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-System-Center-Configuration-Manager/dp/1118128982/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335059460&sr=8-2

ConfigMgr Forums 2012

ConfigMgr 2012 forums Ok everyone finally it is here!!! the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager forums. or SCCM 2012 Forums http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/systemcenter2012configurationmanager

MMS 2013

MMS 2013 will be in New Orleans,LA June 2013 Howdy..Welcome to the south...

MVP Track

Under Track in the MMS Session select "MVP Track" Here you will see the Self-pace labs. I think it would be great if we could see the MVP Sessions as well. I am finishing up my lab and putting the final touches on my presentation. Hope it all goes well. See you at MMS 2012!!!

Something new for MMS 2012: MVP Labs

This year like many past MMS experiences, Microsoft is adding new items. This year in particular is very cool in deed. For the first time MVPs are allowed to create Self-paced labs. I am creating a 15 min lab on an introduction to Console Extensions in 2012. This compliments my session on Console Extensions. The labs are listed on the Speakers bio and soon should be listed for the attendees to sign up. The MVPs just need to get everything done and working. My Lab: MV-L306 Creating Console Extensions for ConfigMgr 2012

Packages referenced by a specific task sequence that are Missing

So you have many task sequences but when you setup a DP you need to know if that DP is ready for that Task sequence. There are reports for Packages on a DP, Packages for a Task Sequence but here is a report that will tell you what packages are missing from the DP for the specific task sequence.

The current draw back is that this report doesn't check to makes sure the package is already installed, just deployed so I will update that soon. But here you go. Hope this helps with some deployments.



---------------------
TaskSequenceID = Task Sequence ID
ID = Distribution point ID

-----------------------------------------
SELECT ps.Name AS Name
, ps.SourceVersion
, ps.SourceDate
, ps.SourceSize
, ps.SourceCompressedSize
, ps.PackageID
FROM
(
SELECT DISTINCT v_TaskSequenceReferencesInfo.ReferencePackageID AS PackageID
FROM v_TaskSequenceReferencesInfo
WHERE v_TaskSequenceReferencesInfo.PackageID=@TaskSequenceID
) RefPkgs
JOIN v_PackageStatusRootSummarizer ps ON ps.PackageID = RefPkgs.PackageID
where RefPkgs.PackageID not in (SELECT v_Package.PackageID
FROM v_Package
INNER JOIN v_DistributionPoint ON v_Package.PackageID = v_DistributionPoint.PackageID
WHERE v_DistributionPoint.ServerNALPath LIKE '%' + @ID + '%')
ORDER BY ps.Name