The SMS 2003 Toolkit tool Package Loader Tool has been updated to support Configuration Manager 2007. The Preload Package Tool (PreloadPkgOnSite.exe) is used to manually install compressed copies of software distribution package source files on Configuration Manager 2007 sites. After package source files are installed, a status message is sent up the site hierarchy indicating the presence of the new package source files. This avoids sites higher in the hierarchy from copying package source files over the network when distribution points at child site are selected to host software distribution package content that has already been preloaded on them. The…
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In the Introduction to System Center Configuration Manager 2007 – Part 1, we learned how to prepare Active Directory and how to configure Windows Server 2008 for hosting the Site Server role. In this part we’ll learn how to install and configure the Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) and finally System Center Configuration Manager 2007. Installing and configuring Microsoft SQL Server 2005 In this test lab, the Domain Controller, the database and the Site Server will be installed on the same virtual machine. I wouldn’t recommend this in production, but for a testing scenario it’s just…
Introduction When people that are new to Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, start playing around with the product in a test lab, they often want to start with a simple OS deployment setup. But if you are new to the product and wants to deploy Windows XP, getting started could be a bit challenging. This article (not sure how many parts it will contain yetJ), will be a guide through the basic steps, that needs to be configured in order to successful deploy Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista Enterprise with Service Pack 1.…
Multiple Group Policy Preferences have been added to the Windows Server 2008 Group Policy Management Console (which are also available through the Remote Server Administration Toolset (RSAT) for Windows Vista SP1). Group Policy Preferences enable information technology professionals to configure, deploy, and manage operating system and application settings they previously were not able to manage using Group Policy. A few days ago Microsoft released a new version of the Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions. Microsoft Windows XP (x86): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e60b5c8f-d7dc-4b27-a261-247ce3f6c4f8&DisplayLang=en Microsoft Windows XP (x64): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=249c1aed-c1f1-4a0b-872e-ef0a32170625&DisplayLang=en Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (x86): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bfe775f9-5c34-44d0-8a94-44e47db35add&DisplayLang=en Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (x64): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=29e83503-7686-49f3-b42d-8e5ed23d5d79&DisplayLang=en For more information…
I’ve just got an email from Microsoft, saying that I’ve received the Microsoft MVP Award on System Center Configuration Manager. I’m truly honored… Thanks to my lovely wife and to my son, for being so patient when I spend (too much) time working for the Danish IT community.
Living in a non-english speaking country like Denmark, I often have to deal with deploying English versions of Windows XP and/or Windows Vista, with other Regional Settings, Keyboard Settings, Time Zones etc. In the past I’ve created a VBScript to modify the sysprep.inf or the unattend.xml, after laying down the image on the client. The values were configured with Collection Variables or Computer Variables. The script collected the value during deployment, and replaced the value in the sysprep.inf or unattend.xml file before restarting into mini setup. This year at TechEd in Orlando, I attened a great session on Windows Deployment…
Hyper-V, one of the key features of Windows Server 2008, has now released to manufacturing (RTM) and is available for deployment into production environments. A beta of Hyper-V was included with Windows Server 2008 and this update provides the final release. The Hyper-V update will be available through Windows Update from July 8th. I’ve upgraded my test lab running Hyper-V RC1 to the RTM version, and so far everything is running smoothly. The official Press Release from Microsoft. Additional information: http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/default.mspx http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950050 http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/c513e254-adf1-400e-8fcb-c1aec8a029311033.mspx?mfr=true http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/e/7/2e7387d3-1391-4176-abe8-44e481100694/relnotes.htm Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=F3AB3D4B-63C8-4424-A738-BADED34D24ED&displaylang=en
With ConfigMgr 2007 SP1 released, we now have support for running ConfigMgr on Windows Server 2008. Microsoft has released an update that adds the required information, so the Security Configuration Wizard (SCW) can lock down the ConfigMgr Site Systems. Download the update here. Overview: The Security Configuration Wizard (SCW) is an attack-surface reduction tool for the Microsoft Windows Server® 2008 operating system. SCW determines the minimum functionality required for a server’s role or roles, and disables functionality that is not required. The Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 Windows Server 2008 SCW template supports both new and updated site system definitions and…
First thing on the agenda was the Keynote… As usual Bob Muglia was doing this presentation. I don’t want to go into any details about the keynote or the sessions. But if I say the keynote was both predictable and a bit boring I don’t think I’ll offend anyone. Better luck next year 🙂 My first real session was “What’s new in SP1 in ConfigMgr”. Not a “tech sexy” topic, but I think Wally did a good job. The focus was on Asset Intelligence 1.5 and the Intel AMT feature (Out of band management). After lunch I went to a…
Today the Microsoft TechEd 2008 North America starts. What we traveled half around the globe to attend had finally begun. Monday was Pre-Conference day. I attended the “Deploying and Managing a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Environment” with Wally Mead as speaker. He started by telling us that we properly wouldn’t be able to complete the content of the session within the 7 hours available for the pre-conference 🙂 During the first half of today’s pre-conference, we was continually disturbed by the noise from the KeyNote practice. Loud bongo drums, and a hysteric woman that were yelling, for literally hours,…