March 2010 - Posts

• Searching ConfigMgr help just got a bit easier

  It's a beta so don't expect miracles ... http://blogs.technet.com/configmgrteam/archive/2010/03/24/configuration-manager-internet-search.aspx Interested in an easier way to search for Configuration Manager content? Take a look at the beta Configuration Manager cloud search site at http://cloudsearch.cloudapp.net/. It allows you to simultaneously search for Configuration Manager content across several data sources including: TechNet MSDN Script Gallery KB Articles Blogs Download Center Videos & Media WebCasts Twitter This is a beta release and we're interested in your feedback on the following: How useful you think the service is The accuracy of the search results User experience Suggestions for social networking functionality Suggestions for customization Bugs There's a feedback link on the site. We'd love to hear from you. --Chris Rees This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights I like the tabs ... tap in Management Point then click on Scripts ... clever :> Posted Mar 26 2010, 11:06 AM by Robs Blog - MVP

• MMS 2010 - Kim Oppalfens - Birds of a Feather session on WMI

  Kim Oppalfens is hoping to get enough votes to put on an ultra-slick, seriously hardcore WMI session at MMS 2010. He's still trying to get enough votes to raise this up so that it can take place. I had an opportunity to talk to Kim about this session last week, and as a seasoned ConfigMgr admin it got me SERIOUSLY excited. We're not talking about the typical "how to fix WMI" here, no, this is more "How to make WMI jump through hoops you didn't even know existed". He's making WMI do serious MAGIC, and this is a session that shouldn't be missed if his slot is accepted. Read more on his blog here: http://scug.be/blogs/sccm/archive/2010/03/24/wmi-for-the-sccm-admin-techdays-belgium-2010-mms-2010-birds-of-a-feather-session.aspx A short clip from his blog posting to wet your appetite: If you want to see this session go through then vote for this session by performing the following procedure: · Log into CommNet (http://www.mms-2010.com) · Click on “BOF Survey” in the left Nav · In the “Commonly Requested Topics” dropdown select “WMI for the ConfigMgr Admin” · Press “Submit” Some of the fancy things I’ll demonstrate: · Have suppress notification enabled when creating virtual applications · Have the program of an advertisement disabled at advertisement creation if it is targetting a collection with more than X number of members to prevent Mass-deployments (Unless the program is in the mass deployment category or the advertisement has no mandatory schedule) Some of the fancy things I’ll explain how to do · Have any created program limited to predefined target platforms · Eliminate the need for a Big Red Stop Button (BRSB) (copyright Shaun Cassells) http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/scassells/archive/2008/05/14/how-to-stop-an-errant-advertisement-in-sms-2003-sccm-2007.aspx And that’s just the plain easy stuff J. If this has you intrigued, than be sure to vote, and yours truly will come to the party (I have some way more fancy tricks up my sleeve, and believe me by the end of this session you’ll think the M in WMI stands for Magic). This is dark magic in ConfigMgr, Kim said he'll be wearing his magician cloak and a long pointy hat to set the scene as he pushes WMI to the limit! Posted Mar 25 2010, 06:50 AM by Robs Blog - MVP Filed under: WMI, MMS2010, Kim Oppalfens

• MMS UK 2010 – Best of MMS – 18th of May 2010

  Cannot make MMS 2010 in Vegas this year? Will this make it easier for you? MMS UK 2010 – The best of MMS Event Overview Best of MMS UK 2010 will provide the best possible opportunity to learn about the latest IT Management products, solutions and technologies from Microsoft and how to apply them in your organisation. With a number of significant management product releases and announcements planned from Microsoft in the coming year, including some early Beta releases, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss!   This 1-day event will provide you with an understanding of the latest technical updates on Desktop, Datacenter and Cloud management features and solutions from Microsoft. The event will share more expert knowledge and information than ever, covering current System Center products as well as Windows platform management solutions for virtualization of servers, desktops and applications. Please mark your calendar for Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) UK 2010 on Tuesday 18 May 2010 in London.   Join us and interact live with Microsoft, key partnerships and early adopter customers in this informative event near you. (Twitter – #mmsuk2010)  There are going to be some good sessions running at this all-day event: Session 1 (Keynote): Virtualization 360: Microsoft Virtualization Strategy, Products, and Management Solutions for the New Economy Session 2: Configuration Manager v.Next: Overview Session 3: What's New Since the Release of Operations Manager 2007 R2 Session 4(A): Opalis IT Process Automation: Introduction & Technical Overview Session 4(B): Introduction to Systems Management in Midsized Organizations with System Center Essentials 2010 Session 5: Technical Introduction to Data Protection Manager 2010 Session 6: Service Manager Integration with System Center   Pretty much something there for anyone in the System Center space, and a great chance for you all to mingle with the System Center folk. Click here to check out the full details for this event and book a place, includes directions to the venue. Check out Stuarts blog here which carries a good write up on what this is all about Looks like I might be on the Ask the Expert panel, see you there! Posted Mar 22 2010, 02:35 PM by Robs Blog - MVP

• Ghost systems - DistMgr errors

  I've been seeing a few DP's reporting failure to process one or more packages. Go to the DistMgr log and you can see it is refering to an invalid system name. Why? Well, some environments might have reused sitecode but change the server name. These systems predate me. What is odd is a system from 5 years ago (yes that long ago) appeared in a distmgr log file this week, anyway to solve this check out this great posting on the ConfigMgr support teams blog which does a great job on pointing out the steps needed to clean this up: Packages may try to access a Distribution Point that was removed If you take a look at all the calls we get here in the SMS/ConfigMgr support group, this one would have to rank right up there in popularity.  What happens here is the Distribution Point (DP) share, or the DP itself, is removed but you still have packages pointing to the missing resource.  Usually you'll know this is what happened because the distmgr.log shows something like the following: Cannot establish connection to ["Display=\\<server>\<share>\"]MSWNET:["SMS_SITE=<site>"]\\<server>\<share>\ SMS_DISTRIBUTION_M ANAGER 17672 (0x4508) Error occurred. SMS_DISTRIBUTION_MANAGER 17672 (0x4508) Read more here: http://blogs.technet.com/configurationmgr/archive/2009/02/25/packages-may-try-to-access-a-distribution-point-that-was-removed.aspx Posted Mar 17 2010, 12:06 PM by Robs Blog - MVP Filed under: ConfigMgr 2007, Distribution Manager

• Shatner is back in space!

  Well not quite, but check out his new social networking project MyOuterSpace Welcome Citizens of the Myouterspace United Planets. The Counsel is now interviewing Industry Credited Producers for Starship Captain Positions. Starship Captains’ and Officers’ responsibilities will be creating an original entertainment project, whether it be a live action film, animation, or stage production; and recruiting talent from the various Planets to become Starship Crew Members, who will be working alongside the Captain on his/her project. More at MyOuterSpace Posted Mar 12 2010, 05:42 AM by Robs Blog - MVP Filed under: Williams Shatner, MyOuterSpace

• Ask the Expert\Access to expertise at MMS 2010 for ConfigMgr v.Next

  Going to MMS? Well, when you've done the ConfigMgr v.Next labs you'll be full of questions, so check out what Jeff Wettlaufer blogged recently for an opportunity to get the right answers: MMS Panel Session: Ask the experts, use our hashtag  Hi everyone, recently we blogged about our upcoming event series, and one of the flagship events we want to make sure you have on your calendar is the Microsoft Management Summit, in Las Vegas the week of April 19th.  This annual event is the premier show for deep technical information and training on the latest IT Management solutions from Microsoft, Partners, and Industry Experts.   Before March 24th, there is an Early bird discount. One of the biggest reasons people attend MMS is access to expertise.  Both Microsoft product teams and industry experts are there in a social atmosphere to talk to you, answer your questions, or share a beverage.  It’s an awesome experience.  As 1 example of the access you get we are running a Panel session of the Configuration Manager engineering leadership.  Leading up to the session, we want to hear your questions to ask the panel.  You can email or use the twitter hashtag #MMSEA01.  We will collect these questions and get them answered by our experts during the time.  Here is the session information.    Configuration Manager v.Next - Ask the Panel of Experts Thursday, April 22 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM, Veronese 2404-2506 OK - so, you've attended all the breakouts on ConfigMgr v.Next and completed all the hands-labs. Now you know the "what" of ConfigMgr v.Next. How about getting a chance to learn the "how" and "why" of ConfigMgr? We've assembled a panel of engineering leadership from the ConfigMgr team, along with a few key MVP's, to really answer your questions about the "how's" and "why's" of ConfigMgr. To help tee it up we are using some social avenues to hear from you. Either email a question to the session moderator (jeffwe@microsoft.com) or simply tweet a question using the hashtag #MMSEA01. Even if you don't have a question - come join us to hear these so-called "experts" answer the tough questions and provide insights into the product and strategies for ConfigMgr. We hope you can attend, we want to meet you Posted Mar 11 2010, 01:14 PM by Robs Blog - MVP Filed under: 2010, Jeff Wettlaufer, Ask the Experts, MMS, Access to expertise

• MVP Summit 2010 - Group picture

  Great picture of the MVP's and Microsofties at the MVP Summit 2010!  Makes me smile seeing these folk again, such extremes from shy retiring to very outspoken, great! I'm on the right hand side (Wally Mead, Wei King and then Me!) Posted Mar 11 2010, 07:23 AM by Robs Blog - MVP Filed under: 2010, MVP Summit, Group Photo

• Snowboarding!

  Some of you that know me will know I have some interesting hobbies ... Scuba diving and Snowboarding! Had a chance to take some quality time off a little while after the MVP summit took place, so headed to the French Alps, Chamonix, and enjoyed 3 full days of snowboarding on the glorious white stuff! This year my skills came together, feel a lot more solid on that board and able to keep up most of the time. Didn't go as far as trying 360's, 1080's or forward\backward flips while whooping mid-air, but got a real rush from nosing down the slopes at terminal velocity (well not quite!). A friend had to take time off from the pistes and as a result had a head-cam sitting around not being used, so I attached it on to the helmet with a not-too-clever bungie type strap and took to the slopes. Here's what I recorded, taken from hours of footage, most of which was pointing at the sky, my board or generally bouncing around too much to make for good video (lesson learnt for next time!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07bPPF_fFVM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUSW54mKwwM I plan on going back soon, maybe beginning of April and want to get a good head-cam and solidly attach it to the helmet for some proper HERO (my fiance thinks I'm a HERO, she's right!) action! Posted Mar 11 2010, 07:08 AM by Robs Blog - MVP Filed under: Snowboarding, head-cam, La Prarion, Chamonix

• MVP Summit 2010

  I was privileged enough to be invited in Feb 2010 to the MVP Summit based in Redmond, the Microsoft HQ itself. Wow what a week. The time was spent sitting in front of the product team covering feature after feature with seriously deep drill-downs and hands-on with the product itself in the lab. Priceless. Yes, I've been there, used the new console, toyed with the new features and boy, have we got some serious thinking to do. Simplification of the hierarchy, application\user targetting, and a host of new ways of doing things. Epic stuff. Really looking forward to ConfigMgr v. Next releasing. This was the most defining experience I've had in IT. To chat and interact with the guys and gals that make the ConfigMgr product, to use the product before anyone (even TAPs) else gives me a huge insight in to where we are going. Unfortunately I cannot say much about it at all, at least not until MMS 2010 timeframe when you'll get some hands-on if you are attending. Talking of MMS, if you are going and dig ConfigMgr then you are going to get HUGE exposure to the new features. I and 20+ other MVP's sat through those lab demo's and can assure you that you'll be seeing the new console and a stack of the key features that will change the way we do things. This kind of time in front of the product this early on is invaluable for getting a feel for what it has become, and where it is going. If you're not going to MMS 2010, why not? Get booked now! Get some hands on, it'll definitely give you a head-start in planning your infrastructure upgrade. http://www.mms-2010.com/public/home.aspx Attending the MVP Summit helped strengthen my links with Microsoft, my knowledge of the product, introduced me to some really nice people outside of the ConfigMgr product group and finally I got to meet the most active (and able to attend) MVP's so can put face, name and voice together finally :-) Posted Mar 11 2010, 06:03 AM by Robs Blog - MVP Filed under: MVP, 2010, Summit

• I'm back!

  What a break! Back in the saddle now, and eager to crack out some blog postings and arrange more WMUG meetings. Stay tuned!   Posted Mar 11 2010, 06:02 AM by Robs Blog - MVP