All things SMS, System Center Configuration Manager, Active Directory, Group Policy, Virtualization, Security, Gadgets, Technology, and the Daily Thoughts of an SMS Engineer named Anthony Clendenen.

The Daily Ramblings of an SMS Engineer

Browse by Tags

BDD 2008 Beta 3 Available On Connect

September 17, 2007

The ConfigMgr compatible version of BDD (Beta 3), which I will call BDD 2008 for now, is available through open beta on the Connect site. The RTM version is expected to be out in November of this year. In this version there is the previously discussed multicasting , USMT, WAIK, and ACT 5.0. On Friday October 5th there is also a webcast on deploying an OS with ConfigMgr, you can register for it here . Official announcement below. Deployment 4 is the code name for the next version of Business Desktop...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Microsoft ConfigMgr Community Forums Now Live

September 15, 2007

In another move to get away from the newsgroups Microsoft has opened up the System Center Configuration Manager Community that includes a web based forums section . On the front page you will find a link to the subforums of ConfigMgr, Microsoft employee blogs, MVP blogs (not mine however?), and links to related communities like myITforum.com . Regards, Anthony Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E Inc. http://configmgr.com © 2007 Anthony Clendenen Technorati Tags: ConfigMgr , SCCM , CM , Config...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: , , , , , ,

SoftGrid SMS Connector Discontinued

September 12, 2007

The SoftGrid connector will be deprecated in the near future and replaced with Windows Installer Application Virtualization Extension or WIAV. The reasons they are moving away from the SMS Connector is due to future plans and interoperability with old and new products. What is it? Yes, you in the back, you have a question? Ah, yes what is it he asked. It is essentially a tool to take your sequenced applications and turn them into Windows Installer packages (MSI's). Another question? Go ahead...  ... Read the full post or  the first comment. Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

Multicasting in Server 2008

September 03, 2007

Kevin is right, this has already been talked about , but he does a nice job of explaining the two types of multicasting. Two drawbacks to this however...First you cannot multicast across subnets, well you can but if your network supports this you are wide open to a SQL Slammer type of attack where one laptop brings your network to its knees. Second, you have to have Server 2008 to make this work. A simple, less costly solution, that you can utilize now is to use the 1E OSD Plus Pack , or SMSNomad...  ... Read the full post or  the first comment. Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 Delayed

August 30, 2007

What is the status? Windows Server 2008, formerly Longhorn, will be delayed until Q1 of 2008 but will be available to SA and MSDN subscribers prior to RTM. SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 are scheduled to be released with Server 2008 so I can only assume they will be delayed as well. Vista SP1 also suffers from the same fate, delayed until Q1 of 08. The BETA of Vista SP1 will be available to participants in about two weeks however. And SP3 for XP is moving along with its BETA also being out...  ... Read the full post or  the first comment. Filed under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Download Configuration Manager 2007 - Evaluation Software

August 27, 2007

Overview System Center Configuration Manager – previously Systems Management Server – represents a tremendous advance over its well-regarded predecessor, now providing the control necessary to more effectively manage change in today’s dynamic IT infrastructures. Manage the full deployment and update lifecycle with, streamlined, policy-based automation; with enhanced insight into, and control over, assets and systems compliance; and with optimization for Windows – particularly Windows Server 2008...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: , ,

Configuration Manager 2007 RC1 Available

July 16, 2007

On Connect you can now download RC1 of ConfigMgr. Configuration Manager 2007 RC1 (Build 5831) available! Configuration Manager 2007 RC1 (Build 5831) is now available for download! Go here to download: https://connect.microsoft.com/Downloads/Downloads.aspx?SiteID=16 Configuration Manager 2007 RC1 (Build 5831) available! Regards, Anthony Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E Inc. We are considered a premier SMS Solution Provider by Microsoft. See us at http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/partners...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: , ,

SCCM RC Available For Download

May 29, 2007

Update: "Technically, this is * not * the RC1 build. It’s a build from the RC1 branch of the source, but the actual RC1 is still a few weeks away. -Michael" Maybe it really will be out in August!?! We all know how much Bill loves it when we speculate... SCCM 2007 Release Candidate (RC) available for TAP customers The Release Candidate (RC) version 5790 of System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 has been released. It is currently available through the Microsoft Connect site for TAP...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: , ,

What's new for SCCM 2007 SP 1 and R2?

March 27, 2007

Omar at it again...I keep running into him and never take his picture! What's new for SCCM 2007 SP 1 and R2? SCCM 2007 is to be released, but the SP1 and R2 versions are already planned Configuration Manager 2007 SP1: Changes to support Vista SP 1 and LHS Key CCS reported bugs and CDCR's Configuration Manager 2007 R2: OS Deployment update Multicast with LH server, unknown machine Enterprise Scale application virtualisation (Softgrid) Source: Omar's Blog on Systems Management: What's new for SCCM...  ... Read the full post or  the first comment. Filed under: , , ,

MMS 2007 - Day 2 - Keynote Speech

March 27, 2007

Rodney Sherwood starts off the keynote again this year with this comedy and a video of interviewing the stars at MMS. Senior VP Server and Tools, Bob Muglia was the keynote speaker. He started out with the Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI). One part of the DSI is Virtualized infrastructure which consists of Virtual Server 2005 R2 and SoftGrid. Virtualization, OS virtualization "Viridian" Longhorn or Windows Server 2007, VPC, VS 2005 RS. Application virtualization is SoftGrid, focus now is on the client...  ... Read the full post or  the first comment. Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

System Center and Intel

March 22, 2007

I have been kind of surprised by the lack of announcements this year before MMS, it seems like there was a flood of info last year, but this sounds very exciting! This morning Intel is announcing comprehensive support for System Center . This support encompasses SMS 2003 R2, Operations Manager, and System Center Essentials. We will be announcing at MMS further support in SCCM 2007. This is extremely exciting news, it is everything from an add-on to SMS to Management Packs to delivery of System Center...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: , , ,

SCCM 2007 What's New? Day 1 - Software Update Points

February 23, 2007

The Open Beta 2 of the next version of SMS went live yesterday. So what is new with SMS? For one thing Software Update Point is a new role, this is what handles the patching synchronization between your SMS servers, Microsoft, and companies that supply custom updates through Microsoft. This role is installed on a server that has WSUS 3.0 installed, the WSUS server can be a local or remote sever to your site server, but WSUS must be installed prior to installing the role, hence selecting the role...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: , ,

New Version of SCCM 2007 Beta 2 Availabe on Connect

February 22, 2007

On Connect there appears to be a new version of SCCM 2007 it is labeled build 5578, and release date of yesterday. I haven't used SCCM in seveal months and don't recall the build number and haven't seen this confirmed anywhere yet. Main page here , and main Connect page here . As Rod points out , as we closer to MMS you can expect a flood of new SCCM and SCOM information and downloads. Regards, Anthony Anthony Clendenen | Senior Technical Consultant | Microsoft Practices | Dimension Data “ Dimension...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: , , , ,

SCCM Adopts WSUS Interface for Patching

January 23, 2007

Omar, Omar, Omar....Why must you always.....read on folks. SCCM 2007: No ITMU but WSUS!! "If you are considering SCCM 2007 and you have your 'legacy' SMS 2003 running on ITMU or ITCU? -Forget it! SCCM 2007 will use WSUS. But will a few lesser screenclicks really speed up your patch management? The integration of ITMU / ITCU in SMS2003 was for me one of the biggest milestones for centralised patch management. I was an advocate to get rid of WSUS. Ok, you had to put your mind to work managing all the...  ... Read the full post or  the 2 comments. Filed under: , ,

This Dell 2950 is Smoking Fast!!!

August 24, 2006

A few months ago I posted an article on how Intel was poised to take the lead back in the speed race. What I didn’t mention was I had been briefed by Intel a few months before and they laid down so very heavy claims, percentages were mentioned that you don’t hear often from a vendor, claims were made that cause you to do a double take at their Power Point slide. Dell was also in on this meeting and our AE offered me a loaner server to test. Well it came several weeks back but I was in...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: ,