Disclaimer
The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent anyone else's view in any way, including those of my employer.
© Copyright 2007
The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent anyone else's view in any way, including those of my employer.
© Copyright 2007
Not that I know or ever work with anyone that uses a Mac. I mean come on, I work for a Microsoft Gold Partner, no one I know from myITforum.com or work has ever even seen a Mac, let alone own one…
What Missing Sync did for $39, SyncMate does for free—syncing your contacts, calendars, notes and favorites from your Windows Mobile phone onto your Mac with little to no hassle. Unfortunately for WM users, the default iSync software doesn’t support either WM5 or WM6 as well as it should. We haven’t tried SyncMate yet ourselves, but if it works nearly as well as Missing Sync—which we have tried—then it’ll be worth every penny. [Eltima via Thinkabdul]
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
Yes it is true the ConfigMgr Doc team has released a new update to the offline help included in ConfigMgr! And there is a ton of updates to the help file (see below) included in the 7.5 MB download. I think this is an excellent idea so that you can search and get information when you are testing or if you ConfigMgr server does not have a connection to the Internet.
Topic last updated—November 2007
The following table describes what’s new in the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Documentation Library as of November 2007. The topics listed in the table are new or contain significant technical changes. Topics that contain minor changes are not listed.
Note
Many Configuration Manager 2007 files are stored under the operating system directory. On 32-bit operating systems, this is %windir%\system32, but on 64-bit operating systems, the directory is %windir%\SysWOW64. In the Documentation Library, the 64-bit directory is not always specified.
Getting Started
Topic
DescriptionConfiguration Manager Planning Phase
Additional information added to describe how to create a deployment project plan.
Configuration Manager Supported Configurations
Additional information added to describe the supported versions of Microsoft SQL Server that can be used to host the site database.
Incorrect information about Itanium based system support for the site database server note corrected.
Incorrect information about the supportability of Fast User Switching for Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista corrected.
Setup Prerequisite Checks
Two additional prerequisite check rules added to KB940848 and KB941132.
What’s New in Software Distribution for Configuration Manager
Includes a new section with information about copying multiple packages to one distribution point.
Planning and Deploying the Server Infrastructure for Configuration Manager 2007
Topic
DescriptionChoose Between Primary Sites, Secondary Sites, and Branch Distribution Points
Updated topic to include considerations for branch distribution points instead of sites.
Configuration Manager in Multiple Active Directory Forests
Includes additional information about site hierarchies across forests.
Configuration Manager In-Place Upgrade
New content added to highlight the fact that upgrading existing SMS 2003 sites using the 120-day evaluation version Configuration Manager 2007 software is not supported.
Considerations for Upgrading Sites
Updated with the required Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 service pack level required for upgrade to Configuration Manager 2007.
Example Scenarios for Implementing Internet-Based Client Management in Configuration Manager
Includes new scenario: "Support Internet-Based Clients and Intranet Clients in the Intranet on the Same Site System Server." This scenario includes information about how to specify multiple fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) for a site system server that supports intranet clients and Internet clients.
How to Deploy a Site Using Simple Setup and How to Deploy a Site Using Custom Setup
Includes new information about how to handle required setup redistributable files when installing primary sites.
How to Extend the Active Directory Schema Using an LDIF File
Troubleshooting Active Directory Schema Extensions During Upgrades
Configuration Manager Upgrade Checklist
Includes new information about the procedures required when using the LDIF file to extend the Active Directory schema for Configuration Manager if the Active Directory schema has already been extended for SMS 2003 sites.
How to Install a Secondary Site Using the Configuration Manager Console
How to Install a Secondary Site Using Configuration Manager Setup
Includes new information about how to handle required setup redistributable files when installing secondary sites from local installation source files at the secondary site server computer.
How to Upgrade an SMS 2003 Administrator Console
Includes new information about how to connect the Configuration Manager console to the site database after upgrading an SMS 2003 Administrator console.
International Client Pack
Includes information from SMS 2003 release notes that still applies to Configuration Manager 2007.
Prerequisite Component Update Checker
A new topic that describes the process used to download updated client component prerequisite installation files.
Scripted Primary Site Installation Example
Scripted Secondary Site Installation Example
New client prerequisite download scripted installation options added to unattended installation scripts.
Setup Command Line Options
Revised content to clarify the functionality of the /PREREQ /ALLSEC command-line option.
Troubleshooting the Configuration Manager Server Infrastructure
Troubleshooting Management Point Communication
Troubleshooting State Message Backlogs
Includes new information for troubleshooting the server infrastructure for Configuration Manager.
Unattended Setup Overview
Revised content to clarify information about the unattended setup client prerequisite download and client agent keys used in unattended setup initialization files.
Configuring Configuration Manager Sites for Best Performance
Includes new Configuration Manager performance planning and configuration information.
How to Modify a Sender
Sender Properties: Advanced Tab
Revised content to clarify how to configure sending thread configurations.
Prerequisites for Native Mode
Includes additional Configuration Manager 2007 dependency for contacting a certificate revocation list (CRL) when it is used in your PKI deployment.
Planning and Deploying Clients for Configuration Manager 2007
Topic
DescriptionAbout Client Approval in Configuration Manager
Clarification that a Configuration Manager 2007 client cannot be approved before it is successfully installed and assigned to a site.
Advertised Programs Client Agent Properties: Notification Tab
Updated options displayed on the Notification tab of the Advertised Programs Client Agent Properties dialog.
Example Roaming Scenarios for Configuration Manager: Complex
Pictures added to illustrate each example scenario, as well as corrections to the scenario "Client Roams into another Configuration Manager 2007 Hierarchy."
Firewall Settings for Configuration Manager Clients
Removed reference to the Configuration Manager 2007 console requiring port 135 and unsecapp.exe. Due to console redesign in Configuration Manager 2007, these firewall exceptions are no longer required.
How to Export the Site Server Signing Certificate for Configuration Manager Client Installation
New procedural topic for exporting the native-mode site server signing certificate if you need to specify the SMSSIGNCERT CCMSetup client.msi property during client installation.
How to Identify Client Configuration Details for Native Mode and Internet-Based Client Management
New procedural topic for using Resource Explorer to identify client configuration for native-mode and Internet-based client management. This information is stored in hardware inventory; from there, it can be used for troubleshooting, auditing, or creating query-based collections.
How to Initiate Policy Retrieval for a Configuration Manager Client
Updated to include a script to run on the client computer.
Configuration Manager Management Point Location Data Flow: Mixed Mode
New dataflow displaying the process by which Configuration Manager 2007 clients locate their default management point when their assigned site is operating in mixed mode.
Configuration Manager Management Point Location Data Flow: Native Mode
New dataflow displaying the process by which Configuration Manager 2007 clients locate their default management point when their assigned site is operating in native mode.
Configuration Manager Site Assignment Data Flow
New dataflow displaying the process by which Configuration Manager 2007 clients become assigned to a site.
Supported Localized Languages
Includes new information to confirm that DBCS characters are not supported for package or file names.
Tasks for Managing Configuration Manager Clients on Windows XP Embedded Devices
New topics providing methods for managing the Configuration Manager 2007 client on devices running the Microsoft Windows XP Embedded operating system.
Configuration Manager 2007 Features
Note
The 6A and 12A asset intelligence reports are not present in Configuration Manager 2007 installations. References to these reports in the documentation should be ignored.
Topic
DescriptionAbout Collection-Specific Settings
New topic about per-collection settings for policy polling and restart intervals.
About Distribution Points
Includes several new topics about distribution points. Also, existing topics have been expanded. Updated distribution point topics include the following:
About BITS-Enabled Distribution Points
About Protected Distribution Points
About Standard and Branch Distribution Points
Choose Between a Server and Server Share Distribution Point
Choose Between a Standard and Branch Distribution Point
Decide Whether to Enable BITS on a Distribution Point
Decide Whether to Protect the Distribution Point
How to Configure a BITS-Enabled Distribution Point
How to Configure a Protected Distribution Point
How to Deploy a Branch Distribution Point
How to Convert a Standard Distribution Point to a Branch Distribution Point
About Drag-and-Drop Support in the Configuration Manager Console
New topic specifying which objects can be dragged and dropped.
About On-Demand Package Distribution
Revised a statement in this topic that implies that a branch distribution point can get content from a management point. Branch distribution points get content only from a BITS-enabled standard distribution point. Added considerations for configuring high-priority packages for on-demand package distribution.
About Resources
Clarified the types of operations you can perform on non-client resources, such as a user account or routers.
About Software Updates Compliance
New topic about software updates compliance and the scan for software updates compliance process.
About Software Updates Synchronization
Updated topic about the software updates synchronization process.
About the Package Definition File Format
Updated example of supported clients.
About Windows Installer Source Location Manager
Added topics about Windows Installer source location management. Updated the F1 help about the Windows Installer tab with more information about Windows Installer source location management. These new topics contain the same information as the SMS 2003 white paper "Windows Installer Source Location Manager." Windows Installer source location management has not changed in Configuration Manager 2007.
How To Configure Windows Installer Source Update Management
Script Sample for API-Based Triggering of the Product Source Update Manager
Program Name Properties: Windows Installer Tab
Administrator Checklist: Prepare the Configuration Manager Environment for Bare Metal Operating System Deployment
New topic describes the tasks you perform to prepare the Configuration Manager 2007 environment for bare-metal operating system deployments.
About Compliance Evaluation Schedules in Desired Configuration Management
Clarifications about how configuration baseline assignments are evaluated, including the two-hour random delay window.
Compliance Sent As State Messages and Status Messages in Desired Configuration Management
Previously titled "Changes in Compliance That Are Sent to the Site for Desired Configuration Management," this topic now clarifies when compliance information is sent in state messages or status messages.
Compliance Information Missing in Desired Configuration Management
Clarified symptoms when the prerequisite Microsoft .NET Framework version is missing on clients and includes additional information related to the client evaluation time.
Best Practices for Desired Configuration Management
New topic that lists best practice information about desired configuration management in Configuration Manager.
Best Practices for Network Access Protection
New topic that lists best practice information about Network Access Protection in Configuration Manager.
Best Practices for Software Updates
Updated topic with best practices for software updates.
Choose Between Updating and Refreshing a Package
New topic about the differences between updating and refreshing packages.
Decide Whether Clients Should Download Content If They Are on a Slow or Unreliable Network Boundary
New topic about considerations for configuring clients to not download content on slow or unreliable network boundaries.
Determine Administrator Roles and Processes for Wake On LAN
New topic that provides guidance on the various roles and processes involved with implementing Wake On LAN in Configuration Manager 2007, and some of the possible consequences of not identifying them.
Example Package Access Scenarios
New topic illustrating the security context used to access packages in various forest and domain configurations. These scenarios work with the following new flowcharts:
Package Access Flowchart When Running from Distribution Point
Package Access Flowchart When Downloading from an Intranet Distribution Point
Package Access Flowchart for Internet-Based Clients
Example Scenarios for Implementing Wake On LAN
New topic that contains three example scenarios of how Wake On LAN can be implemented in Configuration Manager 2007 to address specific business requirements.
Flowcharts for Software Updates
New flowcharts for software updates, including the following:
Software Updates Synchronization Process Flowchart
Software Update Deployment Process Flowchart
Deployment Package Process Flowchart.
Frequently Asked Questions for Discovery
New topic for frequently asked questions. This information is from the SMS 2003 Technical FAQ but still applies to Configuration Manager 2007.
Frequently Asked Questions for Software Distribution
Carried over several frequently asked questions (FAQ) from the SMS 2003 Technical FAQ that still apply to Configuration Manager 2007.
In the FAQ, called out that dependent programs are not installed when a program is run in a task sequence. The information already existed in the content for operating system deployment. Also added the content to the F1 help for programs: Program Name Properties: Advanced Tab.
Known Issues for Mobile Device Management
Updated topic that describes known issues for the mobile device management feature and solutions for issues when available.
Ports Used in Software Updates
New diagram that illustrates the ports used by software updates in a typical Configuration Manager hierarchy.
Run Query Special
Removed content because it no longer applies. In previous versions, run query special was included because large queries sometimes caused the console to stop responding. Queries are now run immediately when the query is selected.
Software Distribution Troubleshooting Flowcharts
Added a section with software distribution flowcharts.
Software Metering Log Files
New topic listing log files that can help to troubleshoot Configuration Manager 2007 software metering.
Software Updates State Messages
New topic about the state messages created by software updates clients.
Troubleshooting Discovery
Moved the existing Discovery Troubleshooting Administrator Workflows to the troubleshooting section. Added discovery troubleshooting workflows. Includes new topic for troubleshooting common issues: Troubleshooting Discovery Issues.
Prerequisites for Operating System Deployment
Updated to include the public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates that might be required for operating system deployments if the site is configured for native mode.
Planning for Operating System Deployment in a NAP-Enabled Environment
New topic with planning information about how to configure operating system deployments with Network Access Protection (NAP).
Planning for Operating System Deployment in a Native Mode Site
New topic with planning information about the public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates that are required for operating system deployments in a native mode site.
Troubleshooting Operating System Deployment
New topics included in the operating system deployment troubleshooting section to help you identify and resolve problems related to operating system deployments.
Troubleshooting Software Metering Issues
New topic for problems and solutions related to Configuration Manager 2007 software metering.
Troubleshooting Software Updates Issues
New topics for troubleshooting software updates issues, including the following:
Troubleshooting General Software Updates Issues
Troubleshooting Software Update Point Configuration Issues
Troubleshooting Software Updates Synchronization Failures
Troubleshooting Software Update Deployment Issues
Troubleshooting Software Updates Client Issues
Troubleshooting Group Policy Configuration for Software Updates
Troubleshooting Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates Issues
About State Messages
Includes new information about client state message behavior.
Troubleshooting Wake On LAN Issues
New topic for possible problems and solutions related to Wake On LAN failing to wake up computers as expected.
Security and Privacy for Configuration Manager 2007
Topic
DescriptionAbout Maintenance Windows
Updated to confirm that maintenance windows are not inherited by subcollections.
About the SMS Admins Group
How to Assign Rights for Objects to Users and Groups
Clarified information about SMS Admins group. If the SMS Provider is not installed on the site server, Configuration Manager 2007 cannot automatically add users to the SMS Admins group.
How to Configure Windows SCW for Configuration Manager
It was previously assumed that the templates would be released on the download center. The templates are now planned to be released as part of the Configuration Manager 2007 Toolkit. The following related topics have been updated to reference the Toolkit:
What’s New in Security for Configuration Manager
Best Practices for Securing Site Systems
How to Manage Accounts from the Command-Line
Removed Site System Installation Account as an account that can be managed using the Manage Site Accounts tool (MSAC.exe).
Overview of Configuration Manager Security
Clarified that rights do not flow down the site hierarchy and must be set at each site individually.
Ports used by Configuration Manager
Added number 37 for PXE Service Point to the Microsoft SQL Server communication. Updated the remote control Ports section.
Technical Reference for Configuration Manager 2007
Topic
DescriptionCustom Error Codes for Configuration Manager 2007
Includes new information mainly related to native mode in the Client Custom Error Codes section.
Computer Client Agent Properties: General Tab
Updated an incorrect value for the state message reporting cycle. This now reads 15 minutes.
Import Object Wizard
Corrected statement about duplicate objects overwriting existing objects. Reports with duplicate names overwrite existing reports, but collections and queries create duplicate object names with different IDs.
Example Configuration Manager Deployment Scenarios
- Example Configuration Manager Installation Scenario
- Example Configuration Manager Upgrade Scenario
Example Configuration Manager Deployment Checklists
- Example Configuration Manager Installation Checklist
- Example Configuration Manager Upgrade Checklist
Added Configuration Manager Setup and upgrade scenarios as well as example custom installation checklist examples to assist in planning and deploying Configuration Manager sites.
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
Run – don’t walk, hand carry that training request through management for registration! If you need assistance with the justification check here.
Back by popular demand MMS returns to Vegas this year, some of you may recall the Sea World party that Microsoft threw for my birthday two years ago, on April 27th, well this year MMS starts the day after my birthday on April 28th. If you book your hotel through registration you can get a room at the Venetian for only $239/night for four nights, I went to the Venetian’s web site and a room for the cheapest room for the same dates is $399/night, it also where the conference is being held, so if you may have over indulged the night before 
it is not too far to the sessions or if you really over indulged 
it’s not too far back to your room
.
I really enjoy this event, it is very nice to actually talk to everyone and meet some of the people you only see in the mailing lists and forums, and of course to catch up with old friends as well. But it is by far the BEST training you can get for ConfigMgr and you can actually talk to Wally, you will have to bring two friends to hold him still while you talk, but you can really talk to the Microsoft people that work day-in and day-out on ConfigMgr and the other management products, not just an email but really discuss things with them and learn a tremendous amount and get a deeper understanding of the products, their features, and what is being planned. Oh yeah, and the other vendors are there too like myITforum, so you can grill them talk to them.
Some useful links:
MMS 2008 Registration page (Prices go up after March 18th)
MMS 2008 Group Registration page, for those companies sending multiple people.
MMS Alum send email with your email address in the subject line
MMS 2008 Hands On Lab page (will have content in Feb)
MMS 2008 Content Survey page where you can help determine what is included at MMS!
Event Overview
In the past year Microsoft has released a range of new management products and technologies, including seven new System Center suite releases alone. MMS 2008 provides the best way to learn how to apply these solutions in your organization, fueling productivity and building growth.
With sessions by technical experts, opportunities to try out new products and meetings to discuss them with leading Industry experts and peers, MMS 2008 remains the premiere technical event of the year for IT professionals and the IT community.
Event Theme
The theme of this year’s Microsoft Management Summit is Integrate IT, reflecting the increasingly complex world of IT Management and the key role integration has to play in reducing complexity while maximizing flexibility, availability and performance. Sessions from Microsoft speakers and industry experts during MMS 2008 will focus on how the latest wave of management solutions support:
Event Agenda
MMS 2008 will offer more deep technical breakout sessions than ever before, covering a broad range of Management topics and technologies. Daily Q&A slots also allow attendees to meet the presenters and discuss specific session content informally in a 1:1 format. In addition, the event will provide over 9,000 Hands-On Lab places during the week, including more Instructor-led Labs than in previous years and a “walk-in” self-paced lab area. All of Microsoft’s Management solutions, together with those provided by Partners, will be on show at the MMS 2008 Expo where you’ll have the opportunity to review the solutions and discuss your specific requirements with company experts.
Attending MMS 2008 will enable you to harness the power of System Center by Integrating IT with your business goals. Visit the conference web site at www.mms-2008.com for more details of the overall agenda and registration information.
Event Content
Recent Microsoft product releases which will be covered in detail during MMS 2008 include:
In addition during the event there will be early looks at some releases due to ship during the coming year, including:
MMS 2008 is the ideal opportunity to come listen to the product teams describe these new releases, try out the new products and discuss real-world deployment experiences with leading industry experts and your peers within the IT industry.
Content Survey
If you’d like to help in the content selection process for MMS 2008, we invite you to complete the MMS 2008 Content Survey. By taking a few minutes to tell us about your experience and information needs, you’ll help ensure the topics and labs presented at the event are relevant to you and your organization. The survey can be accessed here and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. When the survey closes we will draw four entries from amongst the responses and will send a Portable Media Player to those respondents.
Registration
This year the summit will be returning to The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two different registration options are available for MMS 2008 attendees – you may either purchase your MMS 2008 registration and hotel accommodation separately, or as a package.
If you choose to register using the “Package” option, your registration fee includes accommodation for the nights of April 28th – May 1st 2008 at the Venetian Hotel. This is adjacent to the event venue, a short walk from the Conference venue. Alternatively you may choose to purchase accommodation separately from your registration or during the registration process. The MMS 2008 Event Team has negotiated a special rate at the Venetian Hotel, available only through the registration web site. Details of the accommodation on offer are provided at the MMS 2008 web site.
Hope to see you all there.
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
This toolkit includes many of the classics along with a few new hits.
Overview
The following list provides specific information about each tool in the toolkit.
Client Spy – A tool to help troubleshoot issues related to software distribution, inventory, and software metering on Configuration Manager 2007 clients.
Policy Spy – A policy viewer to help review and troubleshoot the policy system on Configuration Manager 2007 clients.
Trace32 - A log viewer that provides a way to easily view and monitor log files created and updated by Configuration Manager 2007 clients and servers.
Security Configuration Wizard Template for Configuration Manager 2007 – An attack-surface reduction tool for the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating system with Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 (SP1 and SP2) that determines the minimum functionality required for a server’s role or roles, and disables functionality that is not required.
DCM Model Verification – A tool used by desired configuration management content administrators for the validation and testing of configuration items and baselines authored externally from the Configuration Manager console.
DCM Digest Conversion – A tool used by desired configuration management content administrators to convert existing SMS 2003 Desired Configuration Management Solution templates to Desired Configuration Management 2007 configuration items.
DCM Substitution Variables – A tool used by desired configuration management content administrators for authoring desired configuration management configuration items that use chained setting and object discovery.
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
Below are three DCM Configuration packs you can download and import for monitoring your ConfigMgr server, Citrix Presentation server, and servers for vulnerabilities including the OS, IE, Office, SQL, and IIS.
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Vulnerability Assessment Configuration Pack
Overview
Software installation errors and misconfigurations compromise security and stability, resulting in escalated support costs. System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Vulnerability Assessment Configuration Pack can help prevent errors, increasing your organizational uptime and helping you build a more secure infrastructure. This configuration pack provides vulnerability assessment reporting for common software misconfigurations using the desired configuration management component in Configuration Manager 2007. The Configuration Manager 2007 Vulnerability Assessment Configuration Pack monitors the configuration of Microsoft Windows operating systems, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, SQL Server, and Internet Information Services (IIS). To use this Configuration Pack, import and assign the three configuration baselines (Vulnerability Assessment: IIS Baseline, Vulnerability Assessment: SQL Server Baseline, Vulnerability Assessment: Windows Baseline) to a collection containing the computers you want to monitor. To understand in detail what each configuration item will be evaluating, review the properties of the configuration item.
Scenarios:• Scan for potential security issues that may exist because of misconfigurations.
• Example checks:o Are unnecessary services installed and running?
o Do shared folders have appropriate permissions?
o Is Windows Firewall enabled?
o Are strong passwords enforced?
o Are unsecured guest accounts enabled?Download details: Configuration Manager 2007 Vulnerability Assessment Configuration Pack
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Configuration Pack
Overview
Software installation errors and misconfigurations compromise security and stability, resulting in escalated support costs. The System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Configuration Pack can help prevent errors, increasing your organizational uptime and helping you build a more secure and reliable Configuration Manager 2007 infrastructure. This Configuration Pack contains Configuration Items intended to manage your Configuration Manager 2007 site system roles using the desired configuration management component in Configuration Manager 2007. This configuration pack monitors the following site system roles: management points, distribution points, and software update points. The Configuration Pack can also monitor Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) components on software update points or upstream WSUS servers. To manage your site system roles with this Configuration Pack, import and assign the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Server Roles configuration baseline to a collection which contains your Configuration Manager 2007 site systems. While there is one configuration baseline for all site systems, it evaluates compliance only for roles configured on the site system. For example, if a computer has only the distribution point role, it will not be evaluated for management point configurations. To understand in detail what each configuration item will be evaluating, review the properties of that configuration item in the context of the Configuration Manager 2007 Server Role being addressed.
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 site roles covered:
• Management points
• Distribution points
• Software update points
Citrix Presentation Server Configuration Pack for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager
(SCCM) 2007
The attached file contains the Citrix Presentation Server Configuration Pack for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 and the related Administrator’s Guide.
- Presentation Server 4.5 for Windows Server 2003
- Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition
- Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 for Microsoft Windows 2003
- Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 x64 Edition
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
There are always so many each week!
Microsoft Popfly went into public Beta a couple weeks ago. Popfly allows you to make mashups, web pages, gadgets, so on all in in online easy to use editor that includes tutorials.
Want to install DirectX 10? How about Leopard on your PC?
Shoot – I gotta run, literally, I have a training session in 30 minutes!
Have a great weekend, I will be in New York next week if you want connect email me.
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
In ConfigMgr these names sound very clear, objects, settings, right….Let’s look at the description of these two.
"Use the Objects tab of the Configuration Manager 2007 configuration item properties dialog box to view, add, edit, and delete objects that you want to include in this configuration item. Examples of configuration item objects are files, folders, and registry keys."
"Use the Settings tab of the Configuration Manager 2007 configuration item properties dialog box to view, add, edit, and delete settings and their validation criteria that you want to include in this configuration item. Examples of configuration item settings are those obtained from Active Directory Domain Services, the registry, and scripts."
Can you spot the difference? In Settings there is a little extra text, "and their validation criteria " and "those obtained from Active Directory Domain Services, the registry, and scripts"
All and all this isn’t that confusing, but when you actually go to create a Configuration Item, it might begin to get confusing. Here is an example I was documenting. I want to monitor the Automatic Updates settings, specifically I want to make sure that my clients do not change the setting to download updates each night. Which is located in this registry key "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\AUOptions"
In DCM you have to first create the Configuration Item (CI) then create a Configuration Baseline to include any number of CI’s, and finally assign those baselines to clients for monitoring and reporting, and eventually automated fixing.
If you right-click on the CI node and select New -> Operating System CI it will open a window where you can enter the desired name, description, and add or remove any categories you like. Then you click Next, it then wants to know what OS this is going to apply to, either by description or by specifying the build number and service pack number see the corresponding image on the right.
When you click Next you are presented with the Objects window where you can create a new object such as a registry key like above, or an assembly or a file/folder. If you choose registry key you are presented with this window.
Now if you fill in the Key field with the above key it is all good, you can use that Values along with the operator to change it to 4, or 3, so on, what ever your setting is for AU’s. 4 will have them download updates each night and reboot after they are done. You click OK, it returns you back to the Objects window, you click next and you move along to Settings. And this is where I got confused. If you click the New button and select Registry in the Settings window you get this dialog.
Now these two boxes are not identical, there is a distinct likeness however. And now that I know much more about DCM, CI’s, objects, and settings I understand these options much better. But this is my complaint, when going though setting up this CI I am presented with that task sequence like window, with tabs (?) on the left, and the summary page, progress, yada yada yada…but if I enter that key in the the first window it does not check the value, only the existence of the object, if I enter it into the second one and enter the value into the validation tab as seen below…look familiar? See above! Well I can see where this can be 
confusing…I got some insight from Jeff Gilbert on the ConfigMgr doc team and in sitting back for a few more minutes without trying to use the Help, ConfigMgr technical docs, and some PowerPoint slides I was able to make it clear in my mind. But I still hate the task sequence process and believe that if I was able to just right-click the CI node, select New, Operating System Configuration Item and then Object or Setting like this…
So hopefully this will help you when you go to work with DCM, remember objects are things that you check for their existence and settings are just that, you check the settings of an item (not necessarily an object). At least that is how I understand it today, and if tomorrow is like today, that could very well change. But my dislike for the Task Sequence model will not likely change any time soon, I don’t care how many clicks it supposedly saves me.
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
More Options ...
Categories
Tag Cloud
Blog RSS
Comments RSS
Void 
Life « Default
Earth 
Wind 
Water 
Fire Light 
Last 50 Posts 
Back