In this post, we will be looking at using SCCM dynamic queries to populate collections in our deployments. As an SCCM administrator, you most likely had to plan out mass deployments to all your servers or workstations or even both. How did you go ahead and populate your collections? Queries? Since the introduction of SCCM 2012, we now have a multitude of options, most notably: Direct membership Queries Include a collection Exclude a collection Chances are, if you are deploying new software to be part of a baseline for workstations (for example), you will also add it to your task sequence. In my past life, I must admit, I really did like queries. They can be such a powerful tool to populate your collections. I always was looking for ways to pimp the usual types of queries we use. For example, we developed a fabulous list of operational collections that we … Read More
Windows 10 Resources and Links for SCCM Administrators
Before starting a Windows 10 migration project, it’s always a good idea to be informed. There was so much information about Windows 10 in the past year : the OS itself has a couple of new features that you need to first understand. Your infrastructure needs various updates before you can start managing Windows 10 devices. The Windows 10 servicing options are also a huge chunk to understand. This can be overwhelming at first so we decided to compile a list of documentation that we found helpful during our multiple deployment projects. Come back often as this list will continue to grow with time as Microsoft releases interesting documentation on a weekly basis. General Documentation Huge compiled list of documentation provided by Microsoft about various topics : Windows 10 Documentation hub Introduction to the new Windows 10 device management strategies: The Path to Modernizing Windows Management Windows 10 release are frequent, it … Read More
Step-by-Step SCCM 1606 Upgrade Guide
The second upgrade for SCCM Current Branch (1511) is now available. This post is a complete step-by-step SCCM 1606 upgrade guide. If you’re looking for a complete SCCM 1511 installation guide, see our blog series which covers it all. You can’t install this upgrade if you are running SCCM 2012. You need to be at least at SCCM 1511. Installing SCCM upgrades is very important to your infrastructure. It adds new feature and fixes lots of issues, which some of them are important. New Update and Servicing model If you’re not familiar with the new SCCM servicing model, read our New Update and Servicing section of the 1602 upgrade post which explain it all. Similar to SCCM 1602, if you need to make a new SCCM installation, you can’t install SCCM 1606 directly. You need to install SCCM 1511 first and then apply SCCM 1606 from the console. SCCM 1511 is still the baseline version if you’re starting from … Read More
Inject Software Updates in your WIM using SCCM Offline Servicing
Offline Servicing in SCCM is the process through which you can inject software updates in your operating system WIM files. This process can alleviate your build and capture yearly/bi-yearly WIM updates that you most likely run in your enterprise. However, as much as this process is great to shorten your gold image updates, it’s still not perfect. Why? The answer is quite simple. Even if your gold image contains products such as Microsoft Office, offline servicing will not apply Office patches even though these are downloaded to your Software Update Point. Only core Windows applications can get patched through this process. What are the type of core applications that you can apply patches to? Obviously, Windows, Internet Explorer, .Net Framework and so on and so forth. (also called CBS, for Component Based Servicing) SCCM Offline Servicing Overview Here’s what happens in the background when you start the SCCM Offline servicing process : SMS_Executive … Read More
Windows 10 Deployment | SCCM Task Sequence Upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10
In the fourth post of this blog series about Windows 10 Deployment using SCCM, we will show you how to upgrade a Windows 7 to Windows computer 10 using SCCM task sequence upgrade. The goal of an upgrade task sequence is to upgrade an existing operating system to Windows 10 without loosing any data and installed software. This post assumes that you are running SCCM 1511 or SCCM 1602 and that you completed the preparation of your environment for Windows 10. If you are running SCCM 2012 R2 SP1, the product team has release important information about SCCM task sequence upgrade that you can find in this blog post. In the past, an in-place upgrade scenario was not a reliable and popular option to deploy the latest version of Windows. With Windows 10, it’s now reliable and features an automatic rollback in case something goes wrong. This scenario can also be considered faster than the wipe and reload deployment scenarios, since … Read More
Windows 10 Deployment | Create SCCM Windows 10 Build and Capture Task Sequence
In the third post of this blog series about Windows 10 Deployment using SCCM, we will show you how to create a SCCM Windows 10 Build and Capture Task Sequence and deploy it. Complete the preparation of your environment before reading this post. You will be able to edit this task sequence later to customize it to your environment. The goal of a build and capture task sequence is to capture a reference machine OS in order to redeploy its configuration multiple time. As a best practice, we recommend not to add too much software and customization to your reference image. Rather, use the task sequence steps to customize your deployment which decrease management operation tasks in the long run. For example, if you want to include Adobe Reader to your reference image because all your users need it, do not install it on your reference machine and do your capture. Instead, … Read More
Step-by-Step SCCM 1602 Upgrade Guide
The first upgrade for SCCM Current Branch (1511) is now available. This post is a complete step-by-step SCCM 1602 upgrade guide. If you’re looking for a complete SCCM 1511 installation guide, see our blog series which covers it all. Installing SCCM upgrades is very important to your infrastructure. It adds new feature and fixes lots of issues, which some of them are important. New Update and Servicing Since SCCM 1511, Microsoft now release update pack differently than services packs and cumulative updates. Downloading and updating is made directly from the console. If you need to make a new SCCM installation, you can’t install SCCM 1602 directly. You need to install SCCM 1511 first and then apply SCCM 1602 from the console. SCCM 1511 is still the baseline version if you’re starting from scratch. The update process seem quite easy but don’t get confused. Yes, it’s easy to apply, but these updates needs to be planned as … Read More
SCCM Windows 10 Deployment | Prepare your Environment
In the first part of this blog series on how to deploy Windows 10 with SCCM, we will prepare our environment for Windows 10. If you’re already deploying other operating systems with SCCM 1511, adding Windows 10 is just a matter of adding a new WIM (which our post covers in part 4). If you’re new to deploying operating system with SCCM, follow this post which will covers all steps needed before you can deploy your first systems. Overview SCCM Windows 10 Deployment Upgrade to SCCM 1511 Enable PXE Support Prepare your boot image Prepare your Operating Systems Create your SUG USMT Packages Upgrade to SCCM 1511 It’s possible to manage Windows 10 with SCCM 2012 but when it comes to deploying Windows 10, if you want to use the full features, you need SCCM 1511 and further. Follow our guide to upgrade your SCCM server and make sure that you … Read More
Upgrade to Internet Explorer 11 with SCCM
Last week, Microsoft announced the end of support for older version of Internet Explorer . Many organisations will need to upgrade to Internet Explorer 11 soon. This post will describe how to upgrade to Internet Explorer 11 with SCCM. There’s multiple ways to upgrade your Internet Explorer : Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) Software Update with SCCM Standard Package with SCCM Task sequence with SCCM All of theses options were tested and the fastest installation is by using Task sequence because of the ability to manage restart and multiple consecutive steps to get everything installed in one deployment. IEAK could also do that, but we never had much success with it. Task sequence are made for OS Deployment, but they can be very useful with complex application deployment. In this post, we will cover : How to update to Internet Explorer 11 with SCCM using a task sequence … Read More
How to enable the new SCCM 1511 Software Center
SCCM 1511 contains many new features, one of them is the improved Software Center. After installing or upgrading to SCCM 1511, on an updated client you’ll see that the Software Center hasn’t changed. This is because the new Software Center is not enabled by default. This blog post will describe how to enable the new SCCM 1511 Software Center. Some of the main improvements : Possibility to view Users and Device deployments New visual design Device Compliance is now part of Software Center. Don’t get confused, this is not for Compliance Settings (DCM) it’s for Conditional Access scenarios Silverlight is no longer a requirement Enable the new SCCM 1511 Software Center The new Software Center is enabled through SCCM Client Settings. To enable the function and deploy it to your machines : Open the SCCM Console Go to Administration / Client Settings Create a new Client Settings or modify the one your using. For this post … Read More
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