It is always difficult writing a book on troubleshooting as there is no way to list every possible error that could be seen and how to resolve it. Particularly in a product such as Configuration Manager that incorporates many dependencies outside of the core applications and is often well distributed, it simply would not be feasible. We can, however, cover some of the more frequently occurring problems and error messages based on both my own and others' experiences with the product.
First of all, we should get this sometimes obvious hurdle out of the way—external factors. So often it has been seen that outside influences put heed to successful operations where Configuration Manager itself is not actually at fault. Due to the level of logging available in Configuration Manager, people are often led down blind alleys without considering the basics. Can the client actually see the server and vice versa? In these times of increased IT security, we should ensure...