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.

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Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook
Sep, 2012 | 224 pages
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Table of Contents (15 chapters)
Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook
Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Administration Cookbook
Credits
Credits
About the Authors
About the Authors
About the Reviewers
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Preface
Free Chapter
1
Designing a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Infrastructure
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
2
Deploying Windows 7 with Operating System Deployment
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
3
Deploying Applications and Software Updates
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
4
Managing Compliance Settings
Managing Compliance Settings
Introduction
Building Configuration Items
Creating and deploying a baseline
Leveraging Security Compliance Manager
Monitoring compliance with SSRS
5
Managing Sites
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
6
Managing Clients
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
7
Managing Inventory
Managing Inventory
Introduction
Managing hardware inventory
Managing software inventory
Managing software metering
Monitoring inventory data flow
Integrating Asset Intelligence
8
Managing Reports and Queries
Managing Reports and Queries
Introduction
Installing SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
Configuring Reporting Services
See also
Sharing your reports with others
Building queries
Editing and creating reports
Index
Index

Introduction

CM12 gathers vast amount of data from your clients, but in order to use that data to make useful asset reports, you will need to install SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) so that you can install a Reporting Services Point (RSP).

In order to edit the default reports that come with an RSP or to help locate and target certain systems or users with a deployment, you need to know how to create and edit queries (both SQL and WQL queries).

Tip

SQL versus WQL – what's the difference?

Structured Query Language (SQL) is used to query SQL database, such as the Microsoft SQL database used with CM. WMI Query Language (WQL) is used to query Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). CM relies heavily on WMI. You can watch smsprov.log on any primary or CAS and learn a lot about WQL and SQL, including how to convert between the two. In CM, we use SQL to build reports, and WQL to create collections and queries.

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