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
Create 148 Operational SCCM Collections using this Powershell Script
Using Powershell you can do many things in SCCM. Over the years, in many SCCM consulting projects we got involved in, we get the same question: “Can you create SCCM collections for Servers, Laptops, Workstations, Windows 10…”. Back in 2015, I started to build an SCCM collection PowerShell script to create SCCM operational collections which we create just after an SCCM installation. With time, I added more and more collections to the script. Fast forward to today, the script now contains 148 collections and has been downloaded more than 75 000 times making this PowerShell script my most downloaded contribution to the community. This set of collections usually covers 95% of the initial client needs. All you need to do is to run the SCCM collection PowerShell script on your SCCM server and wait. In about 5 minutes, you’ll end up having 148 collections in an Operational folder. The collections are set to … Read More
How to use SCCM CMPivot
SCCM Current Branch 1806 is loaded with amazing features. In this post, we will cover the latest addition in the reporting space: CMPivot. SCCM has always been good with reporting and inventory of it’s managed devices but SCCM data is up-to-date at the last time the inventory has been run. SCCM CMPivot allows SCCM administrators to initiate a live query on selected computers on a specific topic. The result of that query can then be used to mitigate and fix potential issues. How many time were you asked “what is the current state as of NOW?” well, you’ll finally be able to answer appropriately with SCCM CMPivot. In this post, we will covert how to use CMPivot to create a basic query and how to use the result of this query. SCCM CMPivot Prerequisites SCCM must be Current Branch 1806 or higher SCCM clients must be running 1806 or higher Powershell v5.0 on target … Read More
How to manage your Distribution Points with Collections
Do you have a high number of distribution point in your SCCM environment? Managing large SCCM environment with many Distribution Point or Pull Distribution Point is not an easy task. We’ve done a great post on 8 ways to monitor your Distribution Point, it was most related to the console monitoring and reports. We also provided a report to manage content on your Distribution Point. Additionally, you can use collections to regroup Distribution Point based on specific information. The advantage of using collections is that an action that can be taken based on the membership. (compliance settings, applications, etc.) This post will explain various tips to improve your day to day SCCM Distribution Point Management. Collection query to get all Distribution Points First of all, we will create a collection to keep track of computers acting as Distribution Point or to target members of a Distribution Points Group. Create a new collection and use this … Read More
Configuration Manager Servicing Extension
Updated 2014-12-09 : The tool is no longer in Beta version. It’s now available for download here The SCCM Product team has just release an interesting “Configuration Manager Servicing Extension” that add nice features to the SCCM console. Here’s the major features : Notifies you of Configuration Manager updates as they become available, with the ability to filter updates according to which major release they apply to Provides details on the sites in your environment, including the last major Configuration Manager version installed and the most recently installed Cumulative Update Provides a list of Configuration Manager client versions that may be present in your environment, and makes it easy to create queries to locate these clients Provides a built-in RSS reader to display recent blog postings from the System Center Configuration Manager Team Blog and The Configuration Manager Support Team Blog Download the tool on Microsoft Connect: https://connect.microsoft.com/ConfigurationManagervnext/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=53752 *Note : you must be logged to … Read More
sccm query imported computer
This sccm query imported computer might be helpful to know which user imported a specific computer. You add a new computer directly to the SCCM database by calling the ImportMachineEntry Method in Class SMS_Site. This can be used to deploy operating systems to computers that have not yet been discovered automatically by SCCM. You can view this information in the Status Message Queries and search for MessageID #30213. But this query will target only the information you need. You can use this query to create a report or directly in SQL MS. This query won’t work to create a collection since it’s SQL language. select CASE smsgs.Severity WHEN -1073741824 THEN ‘Error’ WHEN 1073741824 THEN ‘Informational’ WHEN -2147483648 THEN ‘Warning’ ELSE ‘Unknown’ END As ‘SeverityName’, smsgs.MessageID, smsgs.Time, smwis.InsString1 as Username, smwis.InsString4 as ComputerName, smwis.InsString5 as MAC from v_StatusMessage smsgs join v_StatMsgWithInsStrings smwis on smsgs.RecordID = smwis.RecordID join v_StatMsgModuleNames modNames on smsgs.ModuleName = modNames.ModuleName … Read More