March 2008 - Posts

• Upgrading your sms 2003 admin skills to SCCM 2007

  Hi all, As introduced during my presentation at the belgian techdays I will be teaching a custom training class on how-to upgrade you sms 2003 admin skills to SCCM 2007. This class is mainly aimed at current sms 2003 administrators that have transitioned to configmgr 2007 or are in the planning / preparation phase of transitioning. This class is not about the upgrade / migration itself but on upgrading the administrator's skillset. Quite a number of things have changed from Sms to Sccm and that's what this class will focus on. Based on what you already know from sms2003 this class is meant to bring you up-to-speed with sccm 2007. The idea is to make this a course that has lots of well-thought out hands-on-labs with clear instructions and examples that are usable in your production environment, mixed with me telling you everything I know about configmgr 2007. More details on this class can be found here: http://www.jcacademy.com/courses/_nl/coursesheet.asp?language=NL&country=&course_id=738 Summary: What: Customized SCCM 2007 training class Where: Jca Facilities in Louvain, Belgium When: 28th till the 30th of April How Much: The attendance fee for this course is 1250€ Instructor: Me, an enthusiastic sms trainer with a lot of training and field experience, and 3 Mvp awards. Don't wait too long, seats are going fast after the techdays announcement. Technorati Tags: Smsv4, Sccm 2007, Configmgr 2007, training "Everyone is an expert at something" Kim Oppalfens - Sms Expert for lack of any other expertise Windows Server System MVP - SMS http://www.scug.be/blogs/sccm Posted Mar 25 2008, 03:19 PM by SCUG.be Filed under: smsv4, SCCM 2007, sms v4, Configmgr 2007, SMS, personal, Training

• SCDPM 2007 - DPM 2007 can't connect to service control manager: ID 277

  I was deploying DPM 2007 agents to servers and got this error : can't connect to service control manager: ID 277 After doing some troubleshooting i hunted this problem down to this cause: The servers I wanted to install these agents on didn't have A-records in the correct DNS zone. Adding these solved my problems and i could continue adding agents. Hope this helps other people digging for a solution to this error //Bart...(read more) Posted Mar 24 2008, 09:52 AM by SCUG.be Filed under: System Center Stuff, DPM 2007, SCDPM 2007, windows server 2003

• Techdays 2008 - Ghent Belgium - {Hero} - review

  Here's my review of the Techdays 2008 that took place in Ghent this year. The short version :-) Day1: the launch I hosted the SQLUG booth and did some chitchat with other communityleaders and members, some customers and some friends... Day 2 : Techdays01 taking the bus to the location i heard people talking about the session Frederik Vandeputte delivered the day before, saying it was one of the best sessions they ever attended. Great to hear that all the work Frederik puts in his presentations...(read more) Posted Mar 23 2008, 06:21 AM by SCUG.be Filed under: Windows Server 2008, SCDPM 2007, powershell, personal, sqlug, techdays, GPO, group policy, SQL, IT-Talks

• Building a great Virtual Machine

  Hi all, This post isn't really sms 2003 or sccm 2007 related, but all of us tend to build virtual lab environments every once in a while. After some thinking I come up with some guidelines I will try to keep myself when building Virtual Machines from now on. This is the list I came up with so far. Domain Name and Passwords should be keyboard agnostic (ie: be the same on azerty/querty Domain Example: Contoso.net Password Example: Topsecret The lab layout should be set as the background image, like in the screenshot The lab should contain the lab credentials set with bginfo The saved parameters file and the windows background should be saved to a folder called c:\bginfo Create login script with saved bginfo parameters file to run as login script.     The machine should allow you to shutdown/ restart from the ctrl-alt-del box The welcome page should be disabled System restore should be disabled The shutdown event tracker should be disabled password complexity should be disabled Changing the computer account password should be disabled. Screensaver should be disabled Showing icons on the desktop should be disabled (you didn't spend all this time on building backgrounds to have them cluttered with icons) All passwords should be configured to not expire Vm's should be running on the latest service pack Your last login should be with the user that the people will need in the lab so that it is prefilled when pressing ctrl-alt-del the c:\drive should contain a folder called buildguide and an rtf file with the steps taken to create the vm, this way you can see what preparative action has been taken to make the labs work. So I created my lab environment in visio and saved the different visio's as bmp's And set a lot of the above options using a gpo, I backupped the gpo and saved it. The gpo can be found here:http://scug.be/files/folders/sccm/default.aspx And you could obviously import it back on any domain controller using gpmc. -- Enjoy "Everyone is an expert at something" Kim Oppalfens - Sms Expert for lack of any other expertise Windows Server System MVP - SMS http://www.scug.be/blogs/sccm Posted Mar 20 2008, 11:43 AM by SCUG.be Filed under: Lab, Virtual machine, Training

• 4 days Opsmgr Training by Rory McCaw

  Rory McCaw is coming back in Belgium from June 24 until June 27. He will give two courses: Two days: Opsmgr 2007 installation and configuration Two days: Opsmgr 2007 Fundamentals   These courses are one of the best their kind. You get real examples, problems and solutions from the field from a man who knows what he's talking about. If you want to upgrade your scom skills follow these courses! You can register by sending an email to info@infrontconsulting.com or via the jcacademy website.   Greetz, Akin    Posted Mar 18 2008, 04:12 PM by SCUG.be Filed under: Operations Manager 2007, Events

• How to transition from sms 2003 to Sccm 2007 - Notes from the field Tips & Tricks

  Hi all, I delivered my session at the Belgian Techdays, and I promised on my blog and during the session that I would share the scripts with all of you. So here they come. Most of these scripts were used during a side-by-side upgrade transition. The side-by-side upgrade transition process looks like this: Install SMS 2003 SP2 on new server Attach new SMS 2003 SP2 site as a child site Let objects replicate Break Parent – Child relationship Upgrade new Site to Configmgr 2007 Install KB945898 Migrate clients to new site Remove boundaries from original site Add boundaries to new site Decommission original site Migrate non-replicating objects (queries/reports) Benefits This method provides a smooth transition without impacting your current sms 2003 infrastructure until your new Sccm 2007 environment is fully up and running and has been tested successfully. This makes it one of the lowest transitioning methods available. Challenges / manual steps to perform in this method are Verify all objects have migrated Configure Site Settings Migrate Folders and folder membership Make Software distribution functional in new site without boundaries Optional: Modify package source path Migrate hardware inventory customizations (SMS_def.mof) Export / Import queries Export / Import reports Configure security rights Non-Replicating Software Metering Rules In this section I will go over these challenges, and when available introduce a script to tackle these challenges. If a script is available I will first explain what the script does, give an example command line, and add some comments/remarks. Challenge 1: See Script1 later in this post Challenge 2: This is left as manual exercise for the reader Challenge 3: See Script2 & Script3 later in this post Challenge 4: See Script5 later in this post Challenge 5: See Script4 later in this post Challenge 6: See Challenge 2 Challenge 7: Use the export and import wizard, my experience has been that importing the mof file in one pass tends to be error-prone. I usually cut the mof file into 200KB chunks and import the chunks one by one, this has resulted in a much less error-prone import process. Run the script to move the queries into the correct folder, see script 3 later in this post. Challenge 8: See Challenge 7 Challenge 9: See Challenge 2 Challenge 10: Software metering rules can be configured to apply to this site, or to this site and all child sites. If your software metering rules are configured to only apply to the current site than they will obviously not replicate. This setting is unfortunately not configurable after the rule has been created. Scripts to Tackle the challenges: Just for the record these Scripts do not come with any form of support or guarantee, the scripts have served me well but should be tested in your environment as your mileage may vary!!! Furthermore the script aren't always the cleanest code, they don't log a lot of data and do use some hardcoded parameters that would be more appropriate in an argument. Script1: Countobjects.vbs Description This script counts the number of Queries, Reports, Packages, Advertisement, Software Metering Rules, Collections and folders. Example Usage: Cscript Countobjects.vbs Remarks You run this script on both the old and new sms 2003 servers and compare the numbers, once all numbers match up you can perform step 4 and break the parent - child relationship. Script2: SmsContainers.vbs Description This script allows you to export and import the folder structure from one sms 2003 environment to another. Example Usage: Cscript SmsContainers.vbs export s01folders.txt or Cscript SmsContainers.vbs import s01folders.txt Remarks Because Sms 2003 does not replicate the folder structure to child sites we need a script that duplicates this folder structure. At import time this script creates a file called conversionarray.txt that allows us to translate old folder id's into new folder id's. We will need this file in later scripts to move the objects back into the correct folders.   Script3: xyzfoldermembership.vbs Description There are multiple scripts with this filename where xyz is either adv for adertisements, pkg for packages, rprt for reports, qry for queries and swmtr for software metering rules. These script move the respective objects into the correct folder. Example Usage: Cscript.exe xyzfoldermembership.vbs export S01xyzfolders.txt or Cscript.exe xyzfoldermembership.vbs import S01xyzfolders.txt Remarks These scripts need the conversionarray.txt to be available to find the correct folderid to place the objects in.   Script4: Modifypkgsource.vbs Description This script modifies the packagesource of all packages to a new server. Example Cscript Modifypkgsource.vbs Remarks If the sourcefiles for your packages are stored locally on the site server, you'll need to modify the package sourcepath of all packages to a new server. First copy the source package folder structure to the new server and then edit the script to replace the oldserver and newserver strings with the values needed for your environment.   Script5: ModifyAdverts.vbs Description This script configures all advertisements to run from a remote distribution point. Example Cscript ModifyAdverts.vbs Remarks Because you cannot have overlapping boundaries we can only move the boundaries after all of the clients in a boundary have migrated. Because of this, clients in the new sccm infrastructure will not be able to find a local distribution point. So if you want these clients to be able to run advertisements these advertisements have to be configured to allow run from remote distribution point. If you want to change the value back later just change the bit value. Secondly if you already have some advertisements that are configured to run from remote dp, or download from remote dp, this script does not build a text file to store what it has changed, so the script doesn't allow you to revert back to the original situation. If this is something you require you'll have to adapt the script to save the original configuration. The scripts can be downloaded here: http://scug.be/files/folders/sccm/default.aspx -- Enjoy. Technorati Tags: Sms, sms 2003, Sccm 2007, Configmgr 2007, Migration "Everyone is an expert at something" Kim Oppalfens - Sms Expert for lack of any other expertise Windows Server System MVP - SMS http://www.scug.be/blogs/sccm Posted Mar 16 2008, 07:09 PM by SCUG.be Filed under: SCCM 2007, sccm2007, Configmgr 2007, SMS, Sms 2003, migration, script

• Techdays 2008 - SCDPM - data protectionmanager 2007

  During the techdays 2008 in Ghent i attended a nice session by Jason buffington on SCDPM 2007. I noticed he was using a synthetic tapedrive because all was running in a virtual environment and i hoped he didn't have to drag a real tape drive library around the world. So after the session I had a great Q&A with Jason and got introduced to some software called Firestreamer. Firestreamer for Microsoft Data Protection Manager Firestreamer is a utility that allows Microsoft System Center Data...(read more) Posted Mar 15 2008, 04:33 AM by SCUG.be Filed under: SCDPM 2007, virtual server

• Techdays Opsmgr Sessions

  Rory McCaw has given two session on techdays in Belgium about scom. The first one was a session on Remote Operations Manager 2007. " Providing Remote Managed Services with Microsoft System Center Remote Operations Manager 2007 Level: 300 This session will cover the new managed services solution Microsoft is building to enable partners to create a services-based business by delivering remote IT managed services to small and midsized businesses. Supported by System Center Operations Manager 2007 (Operations Manager 2007) and System Center Essentials 2007 (Essentials 2007) technology, this combined solution creates a powerful platform with which you can provide remote software update management, monitoring and troubleshooting of customer environments over a secure internet connection. In addition, you will be able to extend the service to show your customers the value of the services you provide. " Rory has posted the PPTX file from the presentation on his website. The second session was about Tuning and Best Pratices scom . " Providing Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 Tuning and Best Practices Level: 300 This session will provide you with the ammunition to take your Operations Manager 2007 installation to the next level. If you have installed Operations Manager and are receiving unwanted alerts and feel a little overwhelmed and unsure of what to do, this session is for you. This session will provide you with the knowledge of how to perform post installation configurations, reduce noise, create custom rules and following best practices. " You can find the presentation here. Thanks Rory! Posted Mar 14 2008, 03:28 PM by SCUG.be

• Essentials SP1 Released!

  SP1 of System Center Essentials has just been released You can find a list of issiues that are fixed in SP1 here     Feature Bullet Summary: System Center Essentials 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) incorporates the following the improvements and major changes in functionality. For a complete list of fixes and changes that are included in Essentials 2007 SP1 please see: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=110536. Support for managing workgroup-joined computers Support for monitoring SNMPv1 network devices Support for using multiple auto-approval rules in update management Support for using a remote SQL Server 2005 instance on a computer with a different architecture (x86 or x64) than that of the computer running the Essentials 2007 management server Support for running the Essentials 2007 management server, console and agent on computers running Windows Server 2008 within 90 days of the release of Essentials 2007 SP1. Management packs for Windows Server 2008 and its role will be available shortly after the release of Windows Server 2008. Improved backup and disaster recovery guidance Improvements in management pack quality Improvements in performance, usability, and supportability Clive Eastwood has written a very nice upgrade guide.   Greetz, ALkin  Posted Mar 11 2008, 05:34 PM by SCUG.be Filed under: Essentials

• List of issues that are fixed in System Center Operations Manager 2007 Service Pack 1

  Microsoft has release a list of issues that are fixed in opsmgr SP!   Posted Mar 06 2008, 03:13 PM by SCUG.be Filed under: Operations Manager 2007

• Intel® AMT Desktop Management Pack for SCOM 2007 and SCE 2007

  This is so  cool!  Watch the demo! The Intel® AMT management pack is not just for monitoring the desktops, the additional tasks in the OpsMgr 2007 console make it possible to change BIOS setting, select boot images for remote system startup and apply security policies. Watch the Intel AMT Management Pack Demo to get an insight on the management pack features.   Overview Intel® Active Management Technology (Intel® AMT) Management Pack for Microsoft System Center Operations Manager and System Center Essentials is now available. This management pack enables the users of these applications to take advantage of the advanced, hardware-based system management capabilities of Intel® AMT, which are built into PCs with Intel® VPro™ processor technology. These capabilities will help reduce the cost of discovering, managing and securing desktop and mobile PCs in the enterprise and thereby improving compliance with corporate policies. Information Technology (IT) support staff can now rapidly and remotely communicate with, power up, reboot, control, inventory assets, and remediate desktop PCs with Intel® VPro™ processor technology even if the PC is powered off or the operating system is not functioning. Support staff are able to manage PCs more effectively from the IT support center which leads to a reduction in desk-side visits and hence the total cost of ownership of computing systems equipped with Intel® VPro™ processor technology. Features of the Management pack • Installation including console-only install • Intel® AMT Management Pack works with both Microsoft* Ops Mgr and Essentials • Discovery of Intel® AMT systems within a given IP range • Support of WS-MAN protocol for contacting systems where applicable • Power control operations • System Defense • SOL/IDE-R • Event Registration • Display of Intel® AMT alerts • Hardware inventory of Intel® AMT systems • Integration with Intel® AMT SCS • Secure (TLS) connection support • Active Directory/Kerberos support • Logging of all operations to the Windows event log • Released as a Web release package containing Management Pack and SCS installation files and documentation. Downloads: Installation and User guide for Intel AMT Management Pack for SCOM 2007 and SCE 2007 Intel® Active Management Technology Management Pack for SCOM 2007 and SCE 2007   Posted Mar 04 2008, 11:53 AM by SCUG.be Filed under: Operations Manager 2007

• How to transition from sms 2003 to Sccm 2007 - Notes from the field session at Belgian Techdays

  Hi All, I will be speaking at the Belgian Techdays for the second year in a row. The session is aimed at current SMS 2003 administrators that are looking at transitioning to SCCM 2007. The session is scheduled for Thursday the 13th of March running from 14:30 till 15:45. Because of time constraints the session will not include any demo's. It will discuss all popular ways to transition from SMS 2003 to Sccm 2007, and introduce you to some scripts that can help you move to Sccm 2007 more smoothly...(read more) Posted Mar 02 2008, 02:54 PM by SCUG.be Filed under: smsv4, SCCM 2007, Configmgr 2007, SMS, Sms 2003, Training