Book Image

Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook

Book Image

Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook

Overview of this book

Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (CM12) is a systems management application for managing large groups of Windows-based computer systems. System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provides remote control, patch management, software distribution, operating system deployment, network access protection, and hardware and software inventory. This practical cookbook shows you how to administer System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and understand how to solve particular problems/scenarios Packed with over 50 task-based and immediately reusable recipes, this book starts by showing you how to design a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Infrastructure. The book then dives into topics such as recommended SQL configuration for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, deploying Windows 7 with Operating System Deployment (OSD), deploying Applications and Software Updates, managing Compliance Settings, managing Sites and managing Inventory amongst others.
Table of Contents (15 chapters)
Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook
Credits
About the Authors
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Customizing the build process with prestart hooks


Prestart hooks (previously known in CM07 as "pre-execution hooks") are used to allow the admin to perform additional steps prior to the start of the TS, such as capturing the username, and prompting the user to input data. Prestart hooks can be used at the beginning of the TS to prompt the user for information, or programmatically determine information that applies to the OS deployment process. For example, you could prompt the user to select a location, or additional components to install during the TS. You could also query a web service or a database to determine the role of a server to deploy.

CM07 enables you to create prestart hooks by mounting a boot image, and add a .ini file with instructions to launch the desired script or executable. While that process is still available, CM12 provides two additional methods to configure Prestart hooks from the admin console:

  • On the boot image properties

  • During the media (USB or ISO) creation process...