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Using Maintenance Windows While Patching

I got a really good question today on maintenance windows and patching and how they can or cannot work together. Specifically if you had a maintenance window defined, but told the patches to install ignoring the maintenance window but suppress the reboots until the maintenance window will it install the updates and hold off on rebooting the clients until the maintenance window? First let's go over defining maintenance windows. Assuming you already have a collection of computers built that you...  ... Read the full post or  the first comment. Filed under: Patching, SUP, ConfigMgr, Configuration Manager, SCCM, Maintenance Windows, WSUS

ConfigMgr SP1 Goes RTM

Update : Download link More Details . Overview Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 now offers full support for management with Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008, integrates customer feedback, feature Integration with Intel vPro Technology and enhances Asset Intelligent features. Full Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 Support: Deploy and manage Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008—with full support for the latest Windows platforms, from planning through inventory, to deployment, and...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: Vista, News, ConfigMgr, Server 2008, Configuration Manager, SCCM, Downloads

ConfigMgr SP1 Goes RTM

Just made public today, it will take a day or so to get the bits available for download. Regards, Anthony Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E Microsoft MVP System Center Configuration Manager http://configmgr.com © Anthony Clendenen Technorati Tags: ConfigMgr , service pack , SCCM  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: News, ConfigMgr, Configuration Manager, SCCM

How Update Enforcement Works in NAP

There is a great article on the NAP team's blog on just how update enforcement works in NAP. "The easiest way to discuss update enforcement is to step through each part of the “Security Update Protection” section of the WSHV user interface. This is the dialog that appears within the Network Policy Server (NPS) console on Windows Server 2008" Regards, Anthony Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E http://configmgr.com © Anthony Clendenen Technorati Tags: NAP , Server 2008 , XP SP3...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: Blog, NAP, ConfigMgr, Server 2008, SCCM

XP SP3 Goes RTM

Windows XP SP3 went RTM today. It will be available to the public on April 29th. For ConfigMgr the biggest piece of this is that now you can use NAP on your XP clients as well. There is also a rumored 10% increase in performance - YMMV. Find out exactly what will be included when this link goes active in the next 24 hours or so. Regards, Anthony Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E http://configmgr.com © Anthony Clendenen Technorati Tags: SP3 , Windows XP , NAP , ConfigMgr , XP SP3  ... Read the full post or  the first comment. Filed under: News, NAP, ConfigMgr, SCCM, Windows XP

More MMS Goodness

This is from the 1E site, but down towards the bottom you can see the schedule for demos at the 1E stand. I will be presenting at least a couple times. Brian Tucker and Neil Kimberly will also be presenting at the stand on other topics. If you think I know SMS/ConfigMgr then you haven't spent much time talking to Brian and Neil these guys are AMZAZING! 1E MMS Focus 1E will be exhibiting as a Gold Sponsor at the Microsoft Management Summit at the Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas from April 28 to May...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: SMS 2003, OSD, MMS 2008, BDD, NightWatchman, OSD Plus Pack, ConfigMgr, SCCM, 1E, Power Management

New Tool for DCM

This tool coverts Security Content Automation Protocol files into DCM packs. It is in public beta and you can get it here . Overview The SCAP Conversion Tool for DCM can convert any SCAP stream files into DCM Configuration Packs for use with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007. This Beta release includes a user guide that provides detailed instructions for using this command-line tool, as well as detailed information about the mapping between the SCAP protocol and DCM. Please note...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: Tools, ConfigMgr, Configuration Manager, SCCM, Desired Configuration Management, Downloads

Auto Site Assignment and Multiple IP's

Carol posted this over the the TechNet blogs site a couple of hours ago. I commented that I didn't think it was a huge change because the odds are pretty low that this would really happen in today. Essentially the rule that an SMS or ConfigMgr client will use first bound NIC for auto assignment is no longer true. If you think this is a significant technical change leave a comment and let her know. Auto-site assignment and multiple IP addresses It happens to all of us. Just when you think you...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: SMS 2003, News, ConfigMgr, SCCM

Attending MMS 2008? Yes I Am - We Are

I have gotten a ton of emails asking me if I am going to be at MMS this year and when and up until now I have held off because I was waiting for some things to finalize. But today 1E sent out an email to customer letting them know the booth number, and when Sumir, one of the founders of 1E, was going to speak. Which is right after the State of the Union, and also at the same time as Paul Thomsen is presenting his session on ConfigMgr Client Health. So yes , I will be there from Sunday to Friday afternoon...  ... Read the full post or  the first comment. Filed under: SMS 2003, et. all, myITforum, Blog, OSD, MMS 2008, NightWatchman, OSD Plus Pack, ConfigMgr, SCCM, 1E

The Deployment Guys : ConfigMgr 2007 and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit - Video Walkthrough

ConfigMgr 2007 and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit - Video Walkthrough Are you struggling with setting up ConfigMgr 2007 Operating System Deployment and integrating MDT? - download and view the video walkthrough that shows you how to: Setup the server environment for ConfigMgr 2007 OS deployment Configure the ConfigMgr 2007 Site Settings Configure the ConfigMgr 2007 Computer Management Settings Configure the ConfigMgr 2007 Operating System Deployment Settings Setup and use MDT integration with ConfigMgr...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: SCCM 2007, OSD, WAIK, Windows PE, BDD, OSD Plus Pack, ConfigMgr, SCCM, Podcast, Microsoft Deployment, 1E, PXELite

ConfigMgr SDK (final) Released

Microsoft released the ConfigMgr SDK yesterday. You can get the download here . It includes DCM Digest Authoring guide, DCM digest schema, a SUM gadget that gives you current status messages on patches you have deployed, samples on creating admin console extensions, OSD custom task sequences and more. Regards, Anthony Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E http://configmgr.com © Anthony Clendenen Technorati Tags: ConfigMgr , SCCM , SDK , Gadget  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: Scripting, Tools, Microsoft, Gadgets, VB Script, Documentation, ConfigMgr, SCCM, Desired Configuration Management, Microsoft Deployment, Downloads

How-To: Sequencing Office 2007 with SoftGrid

I wish Microsoft would standardize on either SoftGrid or Microsoft Application Virtualization. Here is a KB on sequencing Office 2007. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;939796 INTRODUCTION This article describes one method that you can use to successfully sequence a 2007 Microsoft Office program for use with Microsoft SoftGrid. The method that is described in this article is not the only method that is available. Additionally, you may have to modify the information in this article...  ... Read the full post or  the 4 comments. Filed under: KB Articles, Microsoft, Office 2007, Documentation, SoftGrid, ConfigMgr, SCCM

Nomad Enterprise Webcast - March 5

It is not often I blog about 1E, I think it has only happened once before actually. Even before I got an offer from them they told me they didn't want me to blog about them or their products because they didn't want my blog to turn into PR for 1E. And over the last year I have not talked about the products at all. But as you may have noticed the number of posts I put up have also dropped dramatically. Well I spend most of my time working with the 1E products, back when I was at ESRI I spent...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: SMS 2003, SMS Tools, Packaging, OSD, Webcast, SMSNomad Branch, ConfigMgr, SCCM, 1E

New ConfigMgr DCM Packs

For SQL 2000, OpsMgr, and SharePoint. http://blogs.technet.com/smsandmom/archive/2008/02/21/configmgr-2007-new-configuration-packs-available.aspx Microsoft SQL Server 2000 MSIT Intermediate Configuration Pack for Configuration Manager 2007 : Direct download The Microsoft SQL Server 2000 MSIT Intermediate Configuration Pack is designed to be used for managing the configuration of SQL 2000 servers. This configuration pack defines recommended configurations based on a substantial number of settings...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: SQL , SCOM, ConfigMgr, SCCM, Desired Configuration Management, Downloads

Visio 2007 ConfigMgr Connector Released

Download details here, direct download here , prereq download here . SCOM & SCCM Connector In Microsoft Visio 2007® diagrams, appropriate data can be attached to the shapes depending on the nature and domain for which the diagram is created for. The VisAd framework helps to retrieve data from multiple data sources to diagrammatically represent in Visio diagrams. The framework implements a ‘Provider’ model, in which multiple heterogenous providers can be configured, while the Visio diagram uses...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: SCOM, Office 2007, Documentation, ConfigMgr, SCCM, Downloads

ConfigMgr SP1 and R2 Webcast

What's coming SP1 and R2...find out Wednesday Feb. 27th by attending Jeff's webcast. Register here . TechNet Webcast: Configuration Manager SP1 and R2 Overview (Level 300) Event ID: 1032369053 Register Online Language(s): English. Product(s): System Center. Audience(s): IT Professionals. Duration: 90 Minutes Start Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada) Event Overview Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 shipped recently, but we are not done...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: Webcast, ConfigMgr, SCCM

SoftGrid 4.1 and 4.2 Updates Available for Download Now

Posted today over the SoftGrid Team Blog, you can now get the latest updates for SoftGrid 4.1 SP1 and 4.2 HFRU2 on TechNet. There are some pretty significant additions and changes in these updates. I am pleased to announce public availability of SoftGrid 4.1 SP1 and 4.2 HFRU2. This cumulative update for SoftGrid v4.1 SP1 and v4.2 provides the latest updates to SoftGrid. In addition to stability improvements, this update contains the following changes: The log level of the "Error reading from...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: OSD, SoftGrid, Application Virtualization, ConfigMgr, SCCM, Downloads

Bits to Install ConfigMgr Client on XP Embedded

Overview With the ConfigMgr 2007 Advanced Client pre-requisites macro component for Windows XP Embedded, you can use ConfigMgr 2007 to manage hardware devices that are running the Windows XP Embedded operating system. These devices include, but are not restricted to, point of sale (POS) terminals, automated teller machines (ATMs) and Windows-based thin clients. Purpose Windows XP Embedded is the operating system and development platform that delivers the power of Windows in a componentized form for...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: ConfigMgr, SCCM, Downloads, Windows XP

Tired Of Your Job? How about $105-120k for an SMS 2003 to SCCM Job?

If you are interested send me a copy of your resume and I will forward it on to the recruiter, the requirements are listed below. This is with a federal agency located on the east coast. Skill set and experience: Experience with managing SMS in a multi-site environment including the ability to troubleshoot all aspects of SMS via analyzing log files on both server and clients Job Duties: Require consultant with extensive experience with SMS to perform the following tasks: (1) Advise the Agency on...  ... Read the full post or  be the first to comment. Filed under: SMS 2003, ConfigMgr, SCCM, Jobs

Why Patch Tuesday Turns Into Patch Thursday or Friday or Monday

I used to hate the second Tuesday of every month. I honestly liked it better when patches were released as they were ready. What happens with the scheduled updates is that everyone knows that it is coming and that means that everyone expects their SMS Engineers to have the patches deployed that night, no matter how late, no matter how many people, no matter what! And on Wednesday morning, usually around nine, everyone wants to know the status of the deployments. For me I had some advantages, one...  ... Read the full post or  the 3 comments. Filed under: SMS 2003, et. all, Security, KB Articles, Rants, Packaging, Patching, Reports, SCCM 2007, Funny, SUP, ConfigMgr, Configuration Manager, SCCM

System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Podcasts

On the System Center Configuration Manager site there is currently a list of five audiocast or podcasts that you can listen to. They are all fairly short and cover a specific area of ConfigMgr. Wally kicks it off with the best practices for upgrading and setup, and also discusses a few new features and prerequisites. I am sure they will add more to this over time so if you are reading this months after it has been posted use the bottom link to get to the page and see the whole list. NOTE: The links...  ... Read the full post or  the 2 comments. Filed under: Packaging, Patching, System Center, TechNet, Microsoft, SCCM 2007, OSD, SUP, BDD, ConfigMgr, Configuration Manager, SCCM, Podcast