SCCM Current Branch

While most of us will be perplexed with SCCM naming convention, I think it will be easier to stick with SCCM current branch + its version number from now on. 

As the official blog states this is to facilitate the faster pace of Windows 10 and Intune upgrades. One thing to note is that every update is supported on a 12 month basis and MS is still encouraging SCCM users to upgrade from there SCCM 2012 R2 version to the latest current branch as part of effort to keep the SCCM up to date.

The official blog: 

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/enterprisemobility/2016/06/24/faq-system-center-configuration-manager-current-branch/ 

Happy reading! 

SY

Did You Know 6: Understanding and troubleshooting Microsoft Configuration Manager OSD PXE boot

This is THE official guide from Microsoft whereby Microsoft pin-point which log file to look at. My previous blog was more of the high level: 

http://cmxp.blogspot.sg/2015/11/did-you-know-5-pxe-boot-workflow.html

This support page will put things in perspective and help you to identify which is the log file to pinpoint at: 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10082/troubleshooting-pxe-boot-issues-in-configuration-manager-2012

I will find time to digest and to present it in a diagram format. Meanwhile have fun reading. :)

SY 

SCU 2016 Dallas TX: SCCM Videos Highlight

After a long wait from the the previous post: 

http://cmxp.blogspot.sg/2016/01/scu-2016-in-3-days.html

Here are some of the video highlights that I have watched so far: 

The Other 85%: Patching 3rd Party Apps in SCCM

Duncan McAlynn touches on how HEAT software can act as a plugin to help SCCM extend its capabilities to patch 3rd party software, better yet, you could tap on SCCM ADR feature to perform the patching. 

Software Updates by Example

Jason Sandys touches the details and the pit fall of software updates, towards the end of the video he also introduce a right click tool done by Nickolaj Andersen.

Windows 10 Deployment - Expert level,

The title says it all, one of my favourite deployment gurus Johan Arwidmark

Migrate your infrastructure to Configuration Manager 1511 - Notes from the Field

Avoid migration pitfall with Kent Agerlund

Hope you guys enjoy the video highlights and spend sometime watching it! :) 

Happy watching!

SY

CU: CU3 For System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 and System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1

New CU was release yesterday: 

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/configurationmgr/2016/02/26/cumulative-update-3-for-configmgr-2012-sp2-and-configmgr-2012-r2-sp1-is-now-available/

Most of the problems are stated here: 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3135680

If you are experiencing issues that are found in the above KB, you might want to an update. 

Happy patching! :) 

SY

Future Of SCCM

There was 2 webinars this month that caught my attention, both webinars were talking about SCCM 1511 lead by one of my favourite SCCM guru Kent Agerlund. I don't know when it will be taken away, go watch while you still have the chance, both webinars are pretty informative: 

Part 1 of the Webinar: 

http://bit.ly/1JSG9Nx

Part 2 of the Webinar: 

http://bit.ly/1UAYPSv

Enjoy watching! :) 

SY 

HOTFIX: "Browse Windows App Packages" dialog box is missing for SCCM 1511

There is a fix for the above issue. Take a look now: 

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/configurationmgr/2016/02/02/hotfix-browse-windows-app-packages-dialog-box-is-missing-from-system-center-configuration-manager-version-1511/

Happy reading! :) 

SY

Home Made SCCM Videos: Log File Investigation Series Part 1

This is an continuation to previous video: 

http://cmxp.blogspot.sg/2016/01/home-made-sccm-videos-cmtrace-intro.html

In this episode I will touch on the workflow of a typical software distribution cycle, once we understand the workflow we can match the respective log file to the workflow which will be easier for administrator to troubleshoot any issues that arises from software distribution: 

Here's the blog that compliments the above video: 

http://cmxp.blogspot.sg/2015/10/log-file-investigation-part-7-software.html

I hope you guys enjoy this video!. :) 

Happy watching. 

SY 

System Center 2016

Stumble across this blog that has a nice pictorial presentation for system center 2016, maybe you guys want to take a look: 

http://www.systemcenter.ninja/2016/01/whats-coming-for-system-center-in-2016.html

Apparently, most of the suite applications are more geared toward Cloud. 

Have fun reading! 

SY

SCU 2016 in 3 days!

This year SCU will be streamed online live! Can't wait to watch various talks and demos by gurus around the world, bookmark this event page: 

https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/System-Center/SCU-2016

Hope you guys enjoy it! :)

SY

Support for Mac OS X 10.11

SCCM 2012 new supports Mac OS X 10.11:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrteam/archive/2016/01/13/support-for-mac-os-x-10-11-in-configuration-manager.aspx

List of support Mac OS as of now: 

Operating system	Configuration Manager version
Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)	System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with SP1
Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)	System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with SP1
Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)	System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 and cumulative update 1 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with SP1
Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)	System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 and cumulative update 4 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Managerwith cumulative update  1 System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with SP1
Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite)	System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 and cumulative update 5 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Managerwith cumulative update  3 System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with SP1
Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan)	System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with SP1

Happy reading. :)

SY 

Hotfix: Windows 10 upgrades are not downloaded in System Center Configuration Manager

New hotfix available for your SCCM, should you need to deploy Windows 10 patches: 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3127032

SY. 

Home Made SCCM Videos: CMTrace Intro

I remembered last year I wanted to made some videos that compliment my log file investigation series. Finally after several hours of recording here's a short clip and intro for CMTrace: 

Here's the blog that compliments the above video: 

http://cmxp.blogspot.sg/2015/04/log-file-investigation-part-1.html

I hope you guys enjoy this video!. :) 

Happy watching. 

SY 

Coming Soon: New Features For Intune

For those who are into MDM:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoftintune/archive/2016/01/06/coming-soon-support-for-new-windows-10-features-and-apple-vpp-for-business.aspx

New features will support of Windows 10, Apple Volume Purchase Program etc.

Happy reading!

SY 

Last post of 2015

I like to take this opportunity to wish all readers a happy 2016. To be able to blog and share my experience is a wonderful thing because as I write and share it also means that I am learning at the same time.

My project for next year apart from writing SCCM blogs, I hope to do some personal video recording to compliment some of the blog articles I have written over here.

With that, I wish you a happy 2016 and may you are accompanied by health and wealth always.

Thank you for reading! :)

SY

Configuration Manager 2016 Technical Preview 4

The actual release will be near soon. Latest TP edition focus more on Windows 10 devices and update feature. 

Read more at: 

http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrteam/archive/2015/11/19/now-available-system-center-configuration-manager-technical-preview-4.aspx

Download over here: 

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-system-center-configuration-manager-and-endpoint-protection-technical-preview

Have fun! :) 

SY 

SCCM 2012 SP2 and SCCM 2012 R2 SP1 CU2 is out

This new CU enhances performance issues for hybrid Intune device enrolment and DP performance as well, to know more read the below: 

http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrteam/archive/2015/11/10/now-available-cu2-for-sc-2012-r2-configmgr-sp1-and-sc-2012-configmgr-sp2.aspx

One thing to note, the CU that was downloaded before 13 Nov 2015 will remove some files that are necessary to MS Intune. Do take note. 

For your information. :) 

SY

SQL Setup For SCCM 2012 (Part 2)

This second part of the series is really to compliment the first part I wrote. Some may not know or most of you already know, this was some notes that was taken way back in the SQL 2005 days. But it is a simple and nice overview to understand a SQL query better, and it really explains why the SQL performance is always pointing back to:

1) Processor

2) Memory

3) Disk

Although the process may differ from product to product, but this is very general overview. Usually at the 2nd phase of the query it will check for syntax, look out for the resources available and set a "cost" for the query before it really process the query.

When the processing take place it will really take a performance toll unto the server memory, disk and CPU that is why we whenever we need to setup any SQL server, we need to really take into consideration of the above three components first, and subsequently to look into the SQL statement to enjoy better performance.

Happy reading! :)

SY

Did You Know 5: PXE Boot Workflow

I thought I would want to deep dive into PXE Boot workflow and present it as a pictorial format as there isn't much troubleshooting workflow out there. (At least for me) This may differ from your environment, but generically this workflow should apply most of the SCCM PXE boot environment. (UEFI and Legacy boot).

This diagram will be helpful when I shared with my fellow colleagues, so I thought this will be useful as well. Identify the phase you are stuck in, and check for possible reasons:

In "User Machine" phase, chances are: 

a) PXE boot BIOS settings are not set correctly.

b) Firewall or DHCP server are not set correctly.

In network phase, ensure that your switch has: 

a) IPHELPER configure to point from your switch to DHCP and WDS/TFTP server which in my case the DP server is holder the roles.

b) Your firewall you allow the necessary protocols like port 69 (TFTP), 4011 (PXE related ) and high port range that is required by SCCM server.

In DHCP phase, ensure that: 

a) Your DHCP server do not have port 66 & 67 if you want to do UEFI boot.

b) Port 69 (TFTP) is set.

In DP phase, ensure that: 

a) WDS services are up and running. If this service fail, the machine will have no chance to validate its details with SCCM MP.

In MP phase, ensure that: 

a) You have the SMSPXE.log file to check the connectivity between the MP is valid plus in the log you be able to check the machine validation between MP. If the machine is unable to validate, this could means that the machine detail you have imported in your SCCM console is not correct. (Mis-type a MAC address, happens all the time)

Enjoy reading and hope you guys find it useful. :)

SY

SQL Setup For SCCM 2012 (Part 1)

I am not a DB expert but I did went through great length to do a lot of research for DB setup for SCCM 2012, this is including some of the previous MS chalk talks I have attended plus of course some of the tips and tricks from various MVPs and here is the platform for me to share my findings.

A lot of time this may not sound like SCCM to you, but trust me SCCM performance issue is closely knitted with the performance of its own database that is why I thought I spend a lot more time on this topic which is seldom shared.

Why am I writing this? Because chances are, you be like me who will be handling several systems in the company and you have little time for SCCM. Therefore you really want SCCM DB to be designed nicely to give you lesser headache.

I tried to generalise the concepts shared here so that you could use the concepts here for typical SQL server as well. But for MS products every product has specific requirement of the SQL settings. So it will be best to consult MS technet or consultants on this matter.

Before I end part 1. Here are the typical three areas professionals look at, when they deal with SQL performance. While network should not be overlooked as well however I am giving network a miss because seldom the performance related issue with SQL server is due to network.

The above areas are not in any order. 

Happy reading! :) 

SY

Did You Know 4: SQL Server Collation

Chances are your SQL server installation should be on SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS and not something else, because a SCCM server deployment will not pull through if you choose other than the above collation. What collation really does it that it actually is how your character data is stored and compared. 

So during the deployment of SCCM server, as I forgot to tell my customer that the SQL server collation should be the default one instead: 

In order not to re-install SQL again you could rebuild SQL server. 

WARNING: The below option will wipe all DB information, you use this rebuild option for new setup like my case, for any existing setup with data in is beyond this article. 

Here's the command line below: 

Make sure that: 

1) You have a domain admin rights ID to perform the above rebuild or else your rebuild is not going to work. 

2) Since it is a re-build, it would be better to have your SA password reset just in case that you have forget the previous SA password on the existing account or for some queer reason your existing AD account is unable to gain access to the SQL server. 

3) I cannot stress again, this should be done on a new setup DB server, to do this on a production server is risky. You better know what you are doing. 

Happy trying! :) 

Shawn Yuen