Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook

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.

Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook

Credits

About the Authors

About the Reviewers

www.PacktPub.com

Preface

Free Chapter

Designing a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Infrastructure

Introduction

Dividing up site system roles

Creating migration jobs

Installing SQL the right way

Managing Internet-facing clients

Using remote and workstation distribution points, and BranchCache

Deploying Windows 7 with Operating System Deployment

Introduction

Creating an OSD test environment

Leveraging the build and capture process

Migrating user state

Managing drivers

Customizing the build process with prestart hooks

Patching your reference build

Leveraging the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit with CM12 OSD

Deploying Applications and Software Updates

Introduction

Creating applications and deployment types

Managing Software Center and Application Catalog

Preparing for software updates

Creating and monitoring software updates

Leveraging Automatic Deployment Rules

Reducing collection dependencies with conditional rules and global conditions

Deploying custom updates

Converting classic packages to applications

Creating and deploying Virtual Applications (App-V)

Superseding applications

Monitoring content and deployment status

Managing Compliance Settings

Introduction

Building Configuration Items

Creating and deploying a baseline

Leveraging Security Compliance Manager

Monitoring compliance with SSRS

Managing Sites

Introduction

Managing collections

Configuring site maintenance

Managing site communications

Configuring discovery

Managing Boundary Groups

Managing role-based security

Configuring the Application Catalog

Managing and validating content for DPs and DP groups

Managing Clients

Introduction

Deploying clients

Managing client health

Managing client settings

Monitoring client installation and activity

Making use of user centric improvements

Configuring power management

Managing Inventory

Introduction

Managing hardware inventory

Managing software inventory

Managing software metering

Monitoring inventory data flow

Integrating Asset Intelligence

Managing Reports and Queries

Introduction

Installing SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)

Configuring Reporting Services

Patching your reference build

Patch your reference build on a regular interval. The recipe in this chapter that describes building reference machines stresses the need to have a fully automated process if possible. A fully automated process allows you to quickly run a build and capture to update the reference build. There is a new feature in CM12 that may allow you to increase the interval between running a build and capture process called Schedule Updates. This feature allows you to apply Windows updates to an offline image. In CM07, you could perform these steps manually using DISM commands. CM12 allows you initiate the steps from the console, and schedule them at a time that is convenient.

Tip

Offline updates are not supported on Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP, and only apply to images (not Operating System Installers).

Getting ready

To leverage offline updates, you must have the desired Windows updates downloaded and deployed using software updates. You don't have to target a specific...

Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook

Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook

Overview of this book

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Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook

Patching your reference build

Tip

Getting ready