March 2010 – Technology Rollup Mail – Manageability
News
TechNet 2.0 Revealed – Multipart blogcast series begins with Episode 1
Keith Combs kicks off a series describing the enhancements under development for TechNet. In Episode 1, he explains the mission of TechNet 2.0 and features a podcast where group program manager John Martin describes the core scenarios. Keith’s main goal is to inform everyone on the coming improvements, get your feedback, and help the TechNet team prioritize its work around this project. Each Tuesday and Thursday in February, he will post a new episode detailing different features of the new TechNet experience. So take part in the conversation.
System Center Capacity Planner (SCCP) End-Of-Life Announcement
Microsoft System Center Capacity Planner (SCCP) is formally being discontinued, effective immediately, as it no longer supports the current versions of Microsoft applications it was designed for. The most recent version, SCCP 2007, is no longer available. No new versions of this standalone capacity planning tool, as well as any new or updated application capacity planning models, will be developed.
The Manageability Guys
https://blogs.technet.com/manageabilityguys/
Steve Rachui's Manageability blog - ConfigMgr/OpsMgr
https://blogs.msdn.com/steverac/
Configuration Manager & SMS
Announcing the Release of Configuration Manager 2007 SuperFlows
The Configuration Manager writing team is very excited to announce the release of the following SuperFlows:
· Software Updates Synchronization SuperFlow: Provides the detailed dataflow for the software updates synchronization process, additional resources related to software updates synchronization, and troubleshooting information.
· SuperFlow for Configuring Software Updates: Provides detailed steps that help you to plan for and configure software updates at a site. This SuperFlow also includes troubleshooting information and additional resources that you can use to learn more about configuring software updates in Configuration Manager 2007.
· Software Update Deployment SuperFlow: Provides information that helps you to prepare for and deploy software updates after you configure the software updates infrastructure and synchronize software updates.
· SuperFlow for Creating SRS Report Models in Configuration Manager 2007: Provides detailed steps that you can use to create a SQL Server Reporting Services report model in Configuration Manager 2007.
Configuration Manager 2007 Dashboard – Now in Beta Release!
The Configuration Manager 2007 Dashboard lets customers utilize a browser based, graphically rich reporting experience that can replace Config. Manager system management console. The dashboard will help you stay informed of application and operating system deployments, security updates, system health status and more.
Application Compatibility Toolkit Connector for SCCM 2007 available for download
The Configuration Manager 2007 ACT Connector helps you inventory installed applications and determine their compatibility with Windows. It also retrieves device driver compatibility for installed devices and reports which device drivers will need to be updated to support Windows.
Join the ConfigMgr 2007 R3 open Beta at Connect
Join the OpenBeta program for R3 for all the latest information, news, status, and schedules for release.
Note: no R3 download is available at this time, and no date has been set for availability.
Configuration Manager vNext Technology Adoption Program (TAP) Now Open
Join the next TAP program for the newest release of System Center Configuration Manager. Building on over 14 years of systems management leadership, the next wave of configuration management technology introduces new capabilities as well as enhancements to existing product functionality.
Quick Link: https://connect.microsoft.com/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=4346&InvitationID=VNXO-DFPW-G6HD&SiteID=892
Configuration Manager 2007 Out Of Band Demo and Tips
Our very own Buz Brodin, a Senior Escalation Engineer here on our System Center Configuration Manager support team, recently posted a great video that goes through some demos and some tips and tricks for setting up and using Out Of Band Management with Intel AMT enabled clients. If you haven't seen this and plan on using OOB Management with AMT clients then this is one you won't want to miss
ConfigMgr 2007 and AMT/vPRO - Useful Links for Initial Planning and Deployment
Out of band management feature support in Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 provides powerful management control for computers that have the Intel vPro chip set and Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) firmware versions 3.2.1 or later. https://blogs.technet.com/oob/archive/2010/02/16/configmgr-2007-and-amt-vpro-useful-links-for-initial-planning-and-deployment.aspx
Welcome to our new Out of Band Management support team blog!
Hi and welcome to our new Out of Band Management support team blog! If you've been following our Configuration Manager support team blog then you've probably already seen a couple posts on AMT and OOB but due to the increasing popularity of this subject we've decided to branch off and start a new blog dedicated solely to using OOB/AMT in SCCM 2007 SP1 and later. Look for a lot of new stuff on AMT and OOB right here very soon.
The Configuration Manager Support Team Blog
https://blogs.technet.com/configurationmgr/
The Out Of Band Support Team Blog
https://blogs.technet.com/oob/
The Deployment Guys
https://blogs.technet.com/deploymentguys
Carlos Santiago's Manageability Blog - Configuration Manager
https://blogs.technet.com/carlossantiago/
Operations Manager & MOM
OpsMgr 2007 R2 MP version 6.1.7599.0 is Released!
The System Center Operations Manager team has released its second quarterly update of the OpsMgr 2007 R2 MP to the catalog. This package (Version 6.1.7599.0) is specific to OpsMgr 2007 R2 and will not import on product versions prior to that.
The Operations Manager Support Team Blog
https://blogs.technet.com/operationsmgr/
Data Protection Manager
Certification: System Center Data Protection Manager 2007, Configuring. Exam 70-658
The test 70-658 is a Technical Specialist exam designed to assess candidates’ hands-on skills configuring System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 for: Installing the DPM Server; Enabling End User Recovery (EUR); Configuring networking for DPM; Deploying a DPM agent; Controling DPM bandwidth; Managing discs and tapes; Defining protection for standalone configurations and for highly available configurations; Configuring protection policies; Managing recovery points; Staging a replica; Recoverig files, Exchange Server data, Share Point data, SQL Server data, system state data, and virtualized environments Monitoring DPM; Performing maintenance; Integrating with other backup solutions; Configuring DPEM for disaster recovery; and Recoverng a DPM Server.
https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Exam.aspx?ID=70-658&Locale=en-us
Download System Center Data Protection Manager 2010 Storage Calculators
System Center Data Protection Manager 2010 XLSX storage calculators to aid DPM 2010 administrators in sizing the DPM storage pool for each workload being protected.
Download DPM 2010 Release Candidate
The new version of System Center Data Protection Manager is now available for download. The version 2010 has new Windows client protection capabilities and specific functionalities for working with SQL/SharePoint/Exchange.
https://connect.microsoft.com/site840/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=26452&wa=wsignin1.0
Other
System Center Virtual Machine Manager
https://blogs.technet.com/scvmm/
The App-V Blog
https://blogs.technet.com/Softgrid/
Downloads
Configuration Manager & SMS
Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Connector
The Application Compatibility Toolkit Connector (ACT Connector) assists administrators with collecting the necessary computer and application compatibility information to help plan for a Windows deployment.
Operations Manager & MOM
BizTalk Server MP for OpsMgr 2007
The BizTalk Server Management Pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 provides monitoring for BizTalk Server 2006, BizTalk Server 2006 R2, and BizTalk Server 2009.
Windows Server IIS 7 for SC OpsMgr 2007
The Internet Information Services Management Pack provides proactive and reactive monitoring of your Internet Information Services (IIS) environment.
Events/Webcasts
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 On-Demand Webcasts
https://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetmms.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=42364#42364
Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) On-Demand Webcasts
https://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetmms.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=42363
Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 On-Demand Webcasts
https://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetmms.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=42365
Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 On-Demand Webcasts
https://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetmms.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=42555
Microsoft System Center Overview On-Demand Webcasts
https://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetmms.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=42366
Configuration Manager & SMS
TechNet Webcast: Everything You Wanted to Know About Windows 7 Deployment in 90 Minutes (Level 200)
Monday, February 22, 2010 11:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada)
In this 90-minute webcast, Microsoft evangelist and senior program manager Keith Combs takes you on a whirlwind tour of the tools and methods used to deploy the Windows 7 operating system. We look at deploying Windows 7 manually and automating light-touch or zero-touch installations.
https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032439614
System Center Virtual Machine Manager
TechNet Webcast: Dynamic Infrastructure ToolKit for System Center Deployment: Scenario Walkthrough (Level 300)
Thursday, February 25, 2010 9:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Attend this webcast to learn how to set up the foundation for a private cloud in your enterprise with the help of Dynamic Infrastructure Toolkit for System Center scenarios such as:
· Enabling independent hardware vendor and system integrator partners to extend the toolkit's powerful extensible features.
· Simplifying IT scenario of end-to-end business unit IT (BUIT) on-boarding
· Simplifying IT scenario of infrastructure request/allocation processes.
· Enabling end-user self-service portal for virtual machine provisioning.
https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032441702
New KB's
Configuration Manager & SMS
Sys Center Config Mnger 2007 AL: An advertised program created in a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 site server never runs in a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 client computer (Updated)
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/970634/EN-US
Sys Center Config Mnger 2007 AL: A properties setting of a deployment management object is unexpectedly changed on a computer that is running System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (Updated)
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/977057/EN-US
Operations Manager & MOM
Sys Center Operation Mgr 2007 EN: The installation rolls back when you try to install a secondary management server in a management group on which a Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 Reporting server has been installed (Updated)
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/957566/EN-US
Sys Center Operation Mgr 2007 EN: The "Windows Operating System" column has a "Not monitored" state for a new agent
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/979387/EN-US
Sys Center Operation Mgr 2007 EN: Alerts that are raised by the monitors should not be manually resolved in Operations Manager 2007
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/979388/EN-US
Other
Sys Center DataProtect Mgr 07 EN: Recommended hotfixes for Microsoft Data Protection Manager 2007 systems (Updated)