Rod Trent at myITforum.com

Microsoft Releases Updated SuperFlows for ConfigMgr 2007 – includes myITforum.com as a resource

rodtrent — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:21:25 GMT

Updated Superflows:

P.S. Take special note of the myITforum.com links under the Resources tabs in the new SuperFlows. We have our own special Microsoft “Go” link:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=183010

All Backed Up : Data Protection Manager 2010 Release Candidate – now available

rodtrent — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:59:15 GMT

I could say a lot of fluffy marketing stuff, but the most important thing to say is – COME AND GET IT !

We are very excited to announce that the Release Candidate for DPM 2010 is now available for public download.

Download the Release Candidate for DPM 2010

If you would like to see more about what the RC looks like, please watch our webcast from last month, titled “Get Ready for DPM 2010 RC”.

Update February 9 morning – some of the download servers are still getting the bits, so if you get a link error than too many people in your area are already downloading it, or it is still staging. Please wait a little while and try again.

All Backed Up : Data Protection Manager 2010 Release Candidate – now available

IBM Deployment Pack v1.2 for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 - IBM BladeCenter and System x

rodtrent — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:52:03 GMT

The IBM Deployment Pack for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (SCCM) is used to configure IBM hardware components prior to deploying Windows using Microsoft SCCM. This kit extends Configuration Manager 2007 by providing a convenient integrated user interface that will be familiar to SCCM administrators. The Deployment Pack completes the end-to-end deployment scenario in environments where IBM-specific configuration steps are required including RAID, IMM, RSA2, BMC, and BIOS/UEFI.

Key features include:

IBM-specific drivers, agents, and firmware

Scriptable hardware configuration tools for the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE)

Sample configuration files and scripts, including sample Sysprep and Unatted.txt files

Supported systems:

IBM System x3105 (4347)

IBM System x3200 (4362, 4363)

IBM System x3200 M3 (7327, 7328)

IBM System x3250 (4364)

IBM System x3350 (4192)

IBM System x3400 (7973)

IBM System x3400 M2 (7836, 7837)

IBM System x3500 (7977)

IBM System x3500 M2 (7839)

IBM System x3550 (7978)

IBM System x3550 M2 (7946)

IBM System x3650 (7979)

IBM System x3650 M2 (7947)

IBM System x3755 (8877)

IBM System x3800 (8866)

IBM System x3850 (8864)

IBM System x3850 M2 (7141)

IBM System x3950 (8872, 8878)

IBM BladeCenter HS21 (8853)

IBM BladeCenter HS21 XM (7995)

IBM BladeCenter HS22 (7870)

IBM BladeCenter LS20 (8850)

IBM BladeCenter LS21 (7971)

IBM BladeCenter LS22 (7901)

IBM BladeCenter LS41 (7972)

Supported Microsoft versions:

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP2

IBM Support - IBM Deployment Pack v1.2 for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 - IBM BladeCenter and System x

Download details: Windows PowerShell Quick Reference

rodtrent — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:10:54 GMT

Quick reference guide to commonly-used Windows PowerShell commands. For best results, open the file in Microsoft Word, print the contents to legal-sized paper (8 inches by 14 inches), and fold the resulting printout in half, making a four-page booklet.

Download details: Windows PowerShell Quick Reference

User Driven OSD Deployments with Modena

rodtrent — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:10:01 GMT

Microsoft Code-named “Modena” is one of the project internal names that was founded to deliver a enterprise-ready Configuration Manager 2007 Operating System Center solution for Microsoft itself.

In June 2009, the Modena team at Microsoft reached a milestone by releasing their first semi-formal release to external users. The vision is that they develop tools that not only are used at Microsoft and their external customers but also are delivered to customers to expedite and accelerate their deployments.

User Driven OSD Deployments with Modena - inovativ | Blogs

Asset Management MP for Service Manager 2010

rodtrent — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:35:48 GMT

In a collaborative project we, Patrik Sundqvist and Anders Bengtsson have created an embryo of an Asset Management extension for Service Manager. Our thoughts behind this management pack are to build a version one that we could extend in the future. It is not a feature complete asset management solution for enterprise organizations, but it is a foundation that could give you some ideas what you could do with Service Manager 2010.

Download management pack here and there management pack guide here.

www.contoso.se » Blog Archive » Asset Management MP for Service Manager 2010

Microsoft to RTM System Center Service Manager at MMS 2010?

rodtrent — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:34:26 GMT

Having been a part of the Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) since its inception as the SMS Users Conference in 1999, I feel somewhat qualified to speak to it’s history and trends. This annual event has allowed Microsoft and the partner ISV community to showcase their wares to thousands of attendees. In fact, many partners admit that a significant portion of their annual revenues come from the weeks and months following MMS.

Microsoft to RTM System Center Service Manager at MMS? | System Center Guide

Enter the 2010 IT Dinosaur Awards Video Contest - BigFix, Inc.

rodtrent — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:29 GMT

It’s open season on enterprise IT evolutionary throwbacks with BigFix’s 2010 IT Dinosaur Awards Video Contest.
So charge up your "Flip," smart phone, recording web cam, or digital video camera and show the world the frustrations deploying distinctly BC technologies to solve 2010 AD system and security management problems.

Enter the 2010 IT Dinosaur Awards Video Contest - BigFix, Inc.

ConfigMgr/OpsMgr : SCCM Patching and OpsMgr Maintenance Mode

rodtrent — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:29:31 GMT

Customers using OpsMgr for monitoring and SCCM for patching commonly select the option in SCCM to put MOM/OpsMgr agents in maintenance mode during patching – or even with standard software distribution.

Steve Rachui's Manageability blog - ConfigMgr/OpsMgr : SCCM Patching and OpsMgr Maintenance Mode

Download the Free WMI Monitor & Start Monitoring Your Windows Apps

rodtrent — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:49:53 GMT

Our free WMI Monitor makes it easy to monitor your Windows applications and servers and gives you amazing insight into real-time performance with a slick desktop dashboard.

Monitor real-time performance metrics on any Windows server or application

Leverage a large selection of pre-built and community generated application templates for monitoring virtually any application

Modify or design your own application templates with the built-in WMI browser

Savision Live Maps Integration With Service Manager

rodtrent — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:19:31 GMT

Dennis Rietvink is one of the founders of Savision which is a long time partner of System Center Operations Manager. Dennis used the information provided in these blog posts to create a custom administration setting, task handlers, and console tasks to enable this integration scenario between Service Manager and their product Live Maps for Operations Manager 2007. IT analysts using the Service Manager console to resolve alerts from Operations Manager will be able to use the Live Maps to visualize the alert-generated incident in the context of a map or other diagram.

SCSM Engineering Team Blog : Savision Live Maps Integration With Service Manager

myITforum Release: Public Submissions of ConfigMgr Queries, ConfigMgr Reports, and also scripts…

rodtrent — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:22:06 GMT

I have some more cool stuff to share as the new myITforum.com progresses forward. After working through a couple bugs last night, the public submission of queries, reports, and scripts is now live.

What is this?

myITforum.com has a huge number of columnists who share their expertise and experiences regularly. But, what if you don’t want to be a columnist? Maybe you don’t think you have the time to dedicate to a column, or maybe you’re shy about putting your name on highly a trafficked web site, or even more possible is that your company forbids your name and company associated with an online presence. Whatever the case, you now have an option to share with the community anyway.

Using the following content submission form, you can now share your reports and queries for ConfigMgr (SCCM), and general scripts you have written with the worldwide systems management community.

Content Submission form: http://www.myitforum.com/absolutenm/as.aspx

We will probably release more areas where you can participate besides just these 3, but that will be up to all of you. myITforum.com has always been about meeting your needs as an IT professional and if you see a requirement for additional areas to share, just let us know and we’ll consider it.

Thanks to everyone for your dedication to this community. And, thanks also for your patience as we take the best community in the world and make it better.

The myITforum.com Query Zone – new ways to submit and grab ConfigMgr queries

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:37:41 GMT

You’re probably already aware by now, but myITforum.com is undergoing some major changes. We’ll release more info later on, with an official unveiling at MMS 2010, but I just wanted to share something cool. For a long time folks have wanted to be able to get quick access to ready-made queries for SMS and ConfigMgr. Well, with the new article zones on myITforum.com we can provide that for you (more on what “zones” are later on).

So, if you want to jump straight to the Queries section of the site, use this URL:

http://www.myitforum.com/absolutenm/default.aspx?zoneid=119

We’ll be making it even easier than that soon by providing a nice easy to remember URL like "cmqueries.myITforum.com” or something like that, but for now, grab that URL to get quick access.

Also, on this same topic, we have a public query submission engine coming soon (just have to work out a couple bugs), so anyone and everyone will be able to submit queries quickly and easily so they are (almost) immediately available to the world.

I think you’ll agree that this is really cool stuff!

MyOTRadio is a GO - Reed G. Porter at myITforum.com

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:11:54 GMT

At 5pm February 4th I will broadcast the first epidose of MyOTRadio (My Off-Topic Radio). I'll be rambling about the first Golden Breadstick Award, Fitness Podcasts, Microsoft Management Summit (have an extra ticket? Call or email me), and various other topics sure to amuse you into a deep sleep.

MyOTRadio is a GO - Reed G. Porter at myITforum.com

Changes Coming in Data Execution Prevention with Office 2010

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:34:35 GMT

Hello, my name is Vikas Malhotra, and I am a security Program Manager in the Office Trustworthy Computer Team (TWC). In this post I will be covering some security changes we made around Data Execution Prevention or DEP for short. DEP is one of the many new defense in depth protection layers we have added in Office 2010.

I will begin by telling you what DEP is all about and how it can affect you both as an IT professional and as a developer.

Microsoft Office 2010 Engineering : Data Execution Prevention in Office 2010

Solution - Status 0xc0000001 when deploying Windows 7 via OSD in ConfigMgr 2007

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:46:31 GMT

When deploying Windows 7 via OSD in SCCM 2007 SP2, upon rebooting from the WinPE stage to Windows 7 Mini-Setup, Windows may not start

The Configuration Manager Support Team Blog : Solution - Status 0xc0000001 when deploying Windows 7 via OSD in ConfigMgr 2007

Test for Admin Rights - Fast, Small, Efficient, Universal Script Code in VBS and CMD/BAT

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:24:27 GMT

This script code uses a fast and efficient method for determining whether the current session (process) has admin rights. The compact code is provided in VBS (9 lines) and CMD/BAT (3 lines). It works with XP / Server 2003 through Windows 7 / Server 2008. It works with UAC (reports admin rights only if session / process elevated). It uses passive methods to determine rights – in other words, it does not try to change anything on the target system.

This script is a quick and universal method – unlike the CSI-Toolkit VBScript IfUserPerms, it cannot tell you that the user COULD elevate if you prompted them, nor can it tell you any of the user’s other special permissions. IfUserPerms, however, relies on whoami (not present on XP and 2003) and is only provided in VBS.

http://csi-windows.com/toolkit/csi-isadmin

Have you tried Service Manager yet?

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:41:03 GMT

Service Manager is soon to be the latest offering in the System Center product suite, and delivers an integrated platform to help organizations automate and adapt their IT service management best practices (such as those found MOF and ITIL). Focused on incident, change and problem management, Service Manager connects knowledge and information across System Center to centralize the management of configuration and work items, allowing organizations to triage, manage and track their operational activities.

Nexus SC: The System Center Team Blog : Have you tried Service Manager yet?

WSCC - Windows System Control Center version 1.8.9.1 released

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:26:12 GMT

WSCC is a free, portable program that allows you to install, update, execute and organize the utilities from various system utility suites. WSCC is only an interface, you need to download and install the utilities separately. Alternatively, WSCC can use the http protocol to download and run the programs.

KLS SOFT - WSCC - Windows System Control Center

Release: Hyper-V ActiveX Control for RDP - alpha code

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:03:19 GMT

Hyper-V ActiveX Control

Dynamic Data Center Toolkit for Hosters - Release: Hyper-V ActiveX Control - alpha code

Revealed highlights of ConfigMgr vNext :: Litware

rodtrent — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:40:20 GMT

As you probably already know a new version of ConfigMgr are scheduled to be released next year. Microsoft is calling it ConfigMgr vNext but my guess is that the RTM name will be ConfigMgr 2011. In this post I want to share information and my views on some of the new functionality and changes in ConfigMgr vNext that has been revealed by Microsoft. ConfigMgr vNext TAP nomination is open and you can find the nomination survey here. Rumors say that beta program should start in the end of March. I’m really excited that a new version is coming; it’s a special event for a system management techie that only occurs every five years and experience say that it only gets better if you look at the history of SMS/ConfigMgr products.

Revealed highlights of ConfigMgr vNext :: Litware

Solution: Error message when you try to publish a Windows Installer package for a virtual application from a network share to an App-V Client: xxxxxx-xxxxxx0A-000001D1

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:34:08 GMT

After you sequence an application that uses the Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) Sequencer version 4.5 or a later version, you have the option of generating a Windows Installer package to publish the application. If you try to publish a Windows Installer package that is located on a network share, you may receive the following error message:

The Application Virtualization Client could not complete the operation.

The Application Virtualization Client is operating in disconnected mode and cannot perform the operation requested. Ensure that you can connect to the Application Virtualization Server, and then retry the operation. If the problem persists, report the following error code to your System Administrator.

Error code: xxxxxx-xxxxxx0A-000001D1

The App-V Blog : Solution: Error message when you try to publish a Windows Installer package for a virtual application from a network share to an App-V Client: xxxxxx-xxxxxx0A-000001D1

Known issues when you use a management pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 in a localized version of Windows Server 2008 R2

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:26:22 GMT

This article lists the known issues that you may experience when you use a management pack for Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 on a computer that is running a localized version of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Known issues when you use a management pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 in a localized version of Windows Server 2008 R2

Deploying Data Protection Manager 2007

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:14:18 GMT

Deploying Data Protection Manager 2007 (Part 1)

Deploying Data Protection Manager 2007 (Part 2)

Deploying Data Protection Manager 2007 (Part 3)

Deploying Data Protection Manager 2007 (Part 4)

Hotfix Package 1 for Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Service Pack 1: January 2010

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:11:55 GMT

This article describes a hotfix package for January 2010 that contains the latest hotfixes for Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) 4.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Hotfix Package 1 for Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Service Pack 1: January 2010

App-V Advanced Sequencing: Sequencing Applications That Cannot Install to Q:

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:06:33 GMT

At some point while sequencing applications you will most likely run across an application that will not let you install to Q:. This by itself does not present a problem when sequencing the application. In fact only one minor modification will need to be made.

App-V Advanced Sequencing

App-V:How to Sequence an Application

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:54:30 GMT

The Application Virtualization (App-V) Sequencer creates applications that can be run in a virtual environment. The App-V Sequencer monitors the installation and setup process for an application, and it records the information necessary for the application to run in a virtual environment. You can also use the App-V Sequencer to configure which files and configurations are applicable to all users and which files and configurations users can customize. When you sequence an application, you should save the package to a drive that is local to the computer you are sequencing on.

How to Sequence an Application

1e: NightWatchman saving energy

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:04:20 GMT

Following on from my earlier post about the importance of turning things off, we had a briefing the other day from a company called 1E.

1E entered the power management space about 10 years ago when they wrote NightWatchman. NightWatchman is a PC power management application which aims to reduce the energy wasted by computers not being turned off at the end of the working day.

They were well ahead of the market (remember, they started 10 years ago, long before there was any power management built into the operating system) and, in fact, they had a hard time selling NightWatchman until about three years ago.

NightWatchman is now deployed on 4 million PCs worldwide savingcustomers US $360 million in energy costs and preventing 3 million tons of CO2 emissions, according to 1E.

NightWatchman saving energy

Skatterbrainz Blog: What is PowerShell? No Really, What is it?

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:11:49 GMT

What is PowerShell?

If you're a programmer or script writer (aka "scripter" aka "script kiddie"), you've probably heard a lot about Microsoft PowerShell. You've probably sniffed out a ton of web sites that offer articles and code snippets and whatnot. You may have seen online tutorials and webcasts that explain what it is and what it does and how incredibly powerful and useful it is. It is.

But really: what is it?

When someone says they're "using PowerShell", or “doing PowerShell scripts”, what do they really mean?

Skatterbrainz Blog: What is PowerShell? No Really, What is it?

Troubleshooting agent deployment in System Center Essentials 2010

rodtrent — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:54:57 GMT

Essentials 2010 uses up to three agents to manage computers:

Windows Update agent - built into the Windows operating system, configured via Group Policy - provides update distribution, software distribution and hardware & software inventory

Operations Manager agent - deployed to managed computer using 'Push Install' capability from Essentials server - provides rich model-based monitoring and remote task execuation

Virtual Machine Manager agent - deployed when using the 'Designate a host' task - provide server virtualization management

I'll focus this article on troubleshooting the deployment of the Operations Manager agent using the Computer and Device Management Wizard (aka Discovery Wizard), the most common agent deployment mechansim, explain how the Windows Update agent is configured once the Operations Manager agent has been installed, and close with an explanation of the backup agent deployment mechanism we introduced in Essentials 2010 RC.

System Center Essentials Team Blog : Troubleshooting agent deployment in System Center Essentials 2010