Share via

System Center 2012 Self-Study Guide (Complete Edition)

  • Article

As promised, now that I've finished producing the 7-part series on self-study items for the System Center 2012 suite of products, I am circling back and consolidating these separate parts into a single study guide.  This post is for those who prefer to have all of their System Center 2012 study resources in a single post rather than distributed among a 7-part series.  Consolidating this material also provides me a chance to offer a different way of viewing the material, and of updating certain parts that I left off earlier (I've learned a good bit about where to go to find the available resources for System Center as I've worked through this series, and hopefully this consolidated guide will benefit from that experience).

For those of you who still prefer to have your material presented in discreet parts, here is the list of each of those posts for your ease of reference:

 NOTE: Because this is a consolidated study guide, I have done what I can to eliminate repitition as much as possible.  Some overlap undoubtedly is still present, but where it makes sense to consolidate (especially where many individual products are referenced in a series of videos), I have moved those to the "General" section under the relevant category.

System Center 2012 Self-Study Guide (All-In-One Edition)

Top-level link for System Center 2012 is: http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter

Microsoft Virtual Academy

General

  • Introduction to Private, Hybrid and Public Cloud
    • Introduction to Private, Hybrid and Public Cloud
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
    • Introduction to Cloud Concepts
      • Part 2 (Video
      • Transcript (PDF)
    • Service Models and Security in the Cloud
      • Part 3 (Video
      • Transcript (PDF)
    • Cloud Services Cheat Sheet (PDF)
    • Assessment (Self-Assessment
  • Introduction to Systems Management & Service Delivery
    • Introduction to Systems Management & Service Delivery
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
    • Systems Management Cheatsheet (PDF)
    • Value and Types of Service Management
      • Part 2 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
    • Policies & Processes, Scale & and Automation
      • Part 3 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
    • Metrics, Billing, Self Service
      • Part 4 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
    • Introduction to Systems Management & Service Delivery (Self-Assessment)
  • What's new in System Center 2012
    • Part 1 (Video)
    • Transcript (PDF)
    • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
  • System Center 2012 Licensing Overview
    • Part 1 (Video)
    • Transcript (PDF)
    • Assessment (Self-Assessment)

 Advisor

  • System Center Advisor
    • System Center Advisor - Overview
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Part 2 (Video)
      • Part 3 (Video)
      • Student Manual (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)

App Controller

  • Private Cloud: Application Service Management
    • Application Services Management, Configuration & Deployment
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Student Manual (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Application Services Management, Operation & Management
      • Part 2 (Video)
      • Student Manual (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)

Configuration Manager

  • System Center 2012: Configuration Manager
    • System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Technical Overview
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Slides (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Deployment and Infrastructure Technical Overview
      • Part 2 (Video)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Application Management
      • Part 3 (Video)
      • Part 4 (Video)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Compliance and Settings Management
      • Part 5 (Video)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Software Update Management
      • Part 6 (Video)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Enabling Flexible Work Styles with Intelligent Infrastructure
      • Part 7 (Video)
      • Student Manual (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)

Data Protection Manager

Operations Manager

  • System Center 2012 Operations Manager
    • Overview
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Configuration and Deployment
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Part 2 (Video)
      • Part 3 (Video)
      • Student Manual (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Dashboards and Data Visualization
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)

Orchestrator

  • System Center 2012: Orchestrator & Service Manager
    • Orchestrator & Service Manager - Overview
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Part 2 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Best Practices for Monitoring and Operating the Data Center and the Private Cloud
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • System Center Data Warehouse and Reporting
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Transcript (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)

Service Manager

  • System Center 2012: Orchestrator & Service Manager
  • Orchestrator & Service Manager - Overview
    • Part 1 (Video)
    • Part 2 (Video)
    • Transcript (PDF)
    • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
  • Best Practices for Monitoring and Operating the Data Center and the Private Cloud
    • Part 1 (Video)
    • Transcript (PDF)
    • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
  • System Center Data Warehouse and Reporting
    • Part 1 (Video)
    • Transcript (PDF)
    • Assessment (Self-Assessment)

Virtual Machine Manager

  • System Center 2012: Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)
    • Overview of Virtual Machine Manager 2012
      • Part 1 (Video)
      • Slides (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Using VMM 2012 to Configure a Private Cloud
      • Part 2 (Video)
      • Slides (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)
    • Modeling and Maintaining Virtualized Services in VMM 2012
      • Part 3 (Video)
      • Slides (PDF)
      • Assessment (Self-Assessment)

Videos/Webcasts

General

Advisor

App Controller

Configuration Manager

Data Protection Manager

Endpoint Protection

Operations Manager

Orchestrator

Service Manager

Unified Installer

Virtual Machine Manager

Podcasts

General

Advisor

App Controller

Configuration Manager

Data Protection Manager

Endpoint Protection

Operations Manager

Orchestrator

Service Manager

Unified Installer

Virtual Machine Manager

Articles/Documentation

General

  • System Center 2012
    • App Controller
    • Configuration Manager
    • Data Protection Manager
    • Endpoint Protection
    • Operations Manager
    • Orchestrator
    • Service Manager
    • Unified Installer
    • Virtual Machine Manager

Advisor

  • What's New in System Center Advisor?
  • System Center Advisor Help
    • What is System Center Advisor?
    • Advisor Maintenance Schedule
    • What's new this month?
    • System Center Advisor Release Notes
    • Deploy System Center Advisor
    • System Center Advisor Troubleshooting
    • Contact Microsoft Help and Support
    • System Center Advisor Terms of Service
    • System Center Advisor Legal Notices
  • System Center Advisor Troubleshooting
    • Troubleshoot the Gateway
    • Troubleshoot the Agent
    • Diagnosing Connection Problems with System Center Advisor
    • Advisor Deployment Troubleshooting
    • Help!  I Cannot Download the Certificate
    • Service Principle Name (SPN) and System Center Advisor
    • Gateway Event Messages
    • Agent Event Messages

App Controller

Configuration Manager

Data Protection Manager

Endpoint Protection

  • Endpoint Protection
    • System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection Privacy Statement
    • Information and Support for System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection
    • Endpoint Protection Client Help
      • Why do I need antivirus and antispyware software?
      • Getting started
      • Scanning for viruses, spyware, and other potentially unwanted software
      • What's real-time protection?
      • How do I know that Endpoint Protection is running on my computer?
      • What are virus and spyware definitions?
      • How do I remove or restore items quarantined by Endpoint Protection?
      • What is the Microsoft Active Protection Service Community?
      • Troubleshooting
      • Glossary
    • Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
      • Introduction to Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
      • Planning for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
      • Configuring Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
      • Operations and Maintenance for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
      • Security and Privacy for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
      • Technical Reference for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Protecting Identity in the Cloud

Operations Manager

Orchestrator

  • Orchestrator
    • Release Notes for System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
    • Getting Started with System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
    • Deploying System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
    • Administering System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
    • Using the Orchestration Console in System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
    • Using Runbooks in System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
    • Runbook Activity Reference for System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
    • Privacy Statement for System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
  • Integration Packs for System Center 2012 - Orchestrator
    • Active Directory Integration Pack
    • HP iLO and OA Integration Pack
    • HP Operations Manager Integration Pack
    • HP Service Manager Integration Pack
    • IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus Integration Pack
    • VMWare vSphere Integration Pack
    • Integration Packs for System Center
  • Importing Runbooks from System Center Orchestrator 2012
    • How to Create an Orchestrator Console
    • How to Synchronize an Orchestrator Connector
    • How to Disable and Enable an Orchestrator Connector
  • Orchestrator Integration Toolkit
    • Overview of Orchestrator Integration Toolkit
    • Installation
    • Command Line Activity Wizard
    • Integration Pack Wizard
    • Orchestrator SDK
      • What's New in the Orchestrator SDK
      • Migrating QIK API Custom Activities
      • Getting Started with the Orchestrator SDK
      • Taking an Imperative Approach
      • Creating a Custom Resource File
      • Orchestrator SDK Reference
  • Wiki Articles

Service Manager

  • Service Manager
    • Release Notes for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
    • Release Notes for the Authoring Tool in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
    • Planning Guide for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Planning for System Center 2012 - Service Manager Deployment
      • Preparing for System Center 2012 - Service Manager Deployment
      • Planning for Performance and Scalability in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
    • Deployment Guide for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Before You Deploy System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Turkish Language Collations
      • Prerequisite Checker for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Deployment Scenarios for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Guidance for Installing System Center 2012 - Service Manager on Virtual Machines
      • Configure Windows PowerShell to Run in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Registering with the Service Manager Data Warehouse to Enable Reporting
      • Deploying Additional Service Manager Management Servers
      • Deployment Considerations with a Disjointed Namespace
      • Self-Service Portal for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Guidance for Load Balancing System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Completing Deployment by Backing Up the Encryption Key
      • Indexing Non-English Knowledge Articles
      • Troubleshooting System Center 2012 - Service Manager Deployment Issues
      • Deploying Service Manager from a Command Line
      • Appendix A - Command-Line Option Error Codes
    • Administrator's Guide for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Using Management Packs in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Using Connectors to Import Data into System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuration Items in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuring Incident Management in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuring Service Level Management in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuring Workflows in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuring Change and Activity Management in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuring Release Management in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuring Desired Configuration Management to Generate Incidents in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuring System Center 2012 - Service Manager Notifications
      • Using the Service Catalog in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Using Groups, Queues, and Lists in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Using Runbooks in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • User Interface Customization in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Managing User Roles in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Managing Run As Accounts in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Managing Knowledge Articles in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Configuring and Using the System Center 2012 - Service Manager Cmdlets for Windows PowerShell
      • Managing the Data Warehouse in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Managing the System Center 2012 - Service Manager Self-Service Portal
      • Using Service Manager Tasks to Troubleshoot Computer Problems
      • To Configure System Center 2012 - Service Manager CEIP Settings
      • Appendix A - List of User Role Profiles in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Appendix B - Mapping Active Directory Domain Services Attributes to Properties in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Appendix C - Mapping System Center 2012 - Service Manager Properties to Configuration Manager Database Views
      • Appendix D - System Center 2012 - Service Manager Registry Keys
    • Operations Guide for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Searching for Information in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Managing Incidents and Problems in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Managing Changes and Activities in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Managing Service Requests in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Managing Release Records in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Using Data Warehouse Reporting and Analytics in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
    • Authoring Guide for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Introduction to the Service Manager Authoring Guide
      • Management Packs: working with Management Packs
      • Classes: Customizing and Authoring
      • Forms: Customizing and Authoring
      • Workflows: Customizing and Authoring
      • Sample Scenario: The Woodgrove Bank Customization
      • Views Sample Scenario: How to Customize a Column Title in a View
      • Reports Sample Scenario: How to Include Dashboards and Reports in Custom Views
    • Disaster Recovery Guide for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Disaster Recovery Scenarios Overview
      • Prepare for Service Manager Disaster Recovery
      • Implement Service Manager Disaster Recovery
    • Cmdlets in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Cmdlet About Topics for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Administrator Cmdlets for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Data Warehouse Cmdlets for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
    • Upgrade Guide for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Upgrade Planning for System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Setting Up a Service Manager 2010 Lab Environment with Production Data
      • Upgrading to System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • After Upgrading to System Center 2012 - Service Manager
      • Failed Upgrade in System Center 2012 - Service Manager
    • Microsoft System Center 2012 - Service Manager Privacy Statement
    • Glossary for System Center 2012 - Service Manager

Unified Installer

  • Unified Installer
    • Release Notes for System Center 2012 - Unified Installer
    • User's Guide for System Center 2012 - Unified Installer
      • System Requirements for System Center 2012 - Unified Installer
      • Preparing an Installer Computer for System Center 2012 - Unified Installer
      • Preparing a Target Computer for System Center 2012 - Unified Installer
      • Running the System Center 2012 - Unified Installer
      • Log Files in System Center 2012 - Unified Installer
    • Microsoft System Center 2012 - Unified Installer Privacy Statement
    • Microsoft System Center 2012 - Unified Installer Supported Configurations
    • Microsoft System Center 2012 - Unified Installer Next Steps
  • Installing System Center 2012 using the Unified Installer

Virtual Machine Manager

Virtual Labs

General

  • Guided Labs
    • Provide Resources through Self-Service Requests
    • Drive Consistent Service Delivery
    • Provision Additional Cloud Infrastructure
    • Delegate Cloud Resources
    • Create Consistency through Service Templates
    • Perform a Standardized Application Deployment to Test
    • Stage Application Resources
    • Self-Service Deployment of an Application to a Production Environment
    • Gain Insight and Visibility Through Reporting
    • Monitor Infrastructure
    • Taking Corrective Actions in the Infrastructure
    • reduce Time to Resolution with Application Performance Monitoring
    • Deploy and Update to a Service Instance
    • Explore Creating Dashboards
  • TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center (some of these labs deal with earlier versions of System Center, but are included here for completeness)

Configuration Manager

Endpoint Protection

Operations Manager

Service Manager

NOTE: These labs are for Service Manager 2010.  However, since they may provide a foundation for better understanding Service Manager 2012 they have been included for completeness.

Virtual Machine Manager

Scripts/Script Resources

General

Virtual Machine Manager

Useful Websites

General

Advisor

App Controller

Configuration Manager

Data Protection Manager

Endpoint Protection

Operations Manager

Orchestrator

Service Manager

Virtual Machine Manager

Useful Blogs

General

Advisor

App Controller

Configuration Manager

Data Protection Manager

  • System Center: Data Protection Manager Engineering Team Blog

Endpoint Protection

Operations Manager

Orchestrator

Service Manager

Unified Installer

Virtual Machine Manager

Downloads

General

Advisor

App Controller

Configuration Manager

Data Protection Manager

Endpoint Protection

Operations Manager

Orchestrator

Service Manager

Unified Installer

Virtual Machine Manager

Forums

General

  • System Center Forums
    • System Center Cloud and Datacenter
      • App Controller
      • Data Protection Manager
      • Operations Manager
      • Service Manager
      • Virtual Machine Manager
    • Configuration Manager
      • Configuration Manager 2007 and earlier
      • System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
    • Related Forums
      • Cross Platform and Interop Resources
      • System Center Essentials
      • Mobile Device Manager
      • Online Services

App Controller

Configuration Manager

Data Protection Manager

  • System Center Data Protection Manager
    • General Discussion on Data Protection Manager
    • Data Protection Manager - Tape Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - Disaster Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - File Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - Exchange Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - SharePoint Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - SQL Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - Hyper-V and CSV Clusters
    • Data Protection Manager - Setup and Agent Management
    • Data Protection Manager - System State and BMR Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - Laptop Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - Workgroup or Untrusted Machine Protection
    • Data Protection Manager - Storage Pool
    • Data Protection Manager - PowerShell

Endpoint Protection

Operations Manager

  • System Center - Operations Manager
    • General
    • Deployment
    • Management Packs
    • Reporting
    • Authoring
    • Extensibility
    • AVICode 5.7
    • Unix and Linux
    • Application Performance Monitoring (APM)

Orchestrator

  • System Center Orchestrator
    • General
    • System Center Integrations
    • Third-Party Integrations
    • Quick Integration Kit / SDK Development
    • Deployment
    • Service Provider Foundation

Service Manager

  • System Center - Service Manager
    • General
    • Setup
    • Customization Using the SDK and Authoring Tool
    • Data Warehouse, Reporting and Dashboards
    • ITIL and MOF Processes - Incident, Problem, Change, Release, Service Request Management
    • Administration (User Roles, Notifications, Workflows, etc.)
    • System Center Integration and Connectors
    • Portals
    • Documentation

Unified Installer

Virtual Machine Manager