SCCM is device management tool for Windows devices. This is a client server application by Microsoft. How to manage devices with this tool for Windows devices? 90% of corporate Windows devices are managed by the this tool.
SCCM video posts in this blog will help you to understand in a better way. Most of the videos shared in this post are real time experience of this Windows Device managment.
SCCM is the short for System Center Configuration Manager. This tool is a software management suite provided by Microsoft that allows users to manage a large number of Windows based computers.
This tool features remote control, patch management, operating system deployment, network protection and other various services. Device management solution like has a great tech community.
Core infrastructure, Updates for Configuration Manager, Supported configurations for Configuration Manager, Cloud-attached management of CM, Co-management for Windows 10, Manage clients on the internet, Windows as a service, CMPivot, Application management, Manage apps from the Microsoft Store for Business, OS deployment, Introduction to OS deployment, Upgrade to Windows 10, Phased deployments, Software update management, Introduction to software updates management, Manage Office 365 ProPlus updates
SCCM 1902 is available as an in-console update. SCCM 1902 is also a baseline version. You can download SCCM 1902 from VLSC or Eval Center as 1902 is a baseline version. You can install a new SCCM primary server or CAS site to build a new infra with SCCM 1902 baseline media.
Microsoft released the eval version of SCCM 1902 yesterday as per the tweet from Eswar Koneti.
You can download the eval version from Microsoft Eval center. You don’t have to login to eval center to download. You just need to fill out a form and download SCCM 1902 production version free.
You can use the SCCM 1902 production version with full functionality for 180 days without paying anything to Microsoft.
NOTE! – You can download & install SCCM 1902 baseline eval version. But, the fact is that SCCM 1902 media content in VLSC and Eval center is the same.
Download SCCM 1902 – SCCM 1902 Download Free Version
What is SCCM Baseline Media?
With new 1902 baseline version of SCCM, you can avoid installing an outdated version of SCCM (e.g 1802, 1710, etc..) followed by an additional in console update upgrade of your infrastructure to bring it up to date.
SCCM 1902 Baseline media can be used for following scenarios:
New SCCM CAS Server Installation
New Primary Site in a New SCCM hierarchy
Migration from SCCM 2012 scenarios
Scenarios(Download SCCM 1902)
Baseline Version
In-console Update
CD.Latest Folder
New
CAS Server
Yes
No
No
New-Site-NEW-Hierarchy
Yes
No
No
Migration
from SCCM 2012
Yes
No
No
New-Site-Existing-Hierarchy
No
No
Yes
Restore
Site
No
No
Yes
Upgrade
Existing Hierarchy
No
Yes
No
SCCM 1902 is Available in VLSC?
As per the tweet from David James, the SCCM 1902 download is available in VLSC after 2 weeks. Download SCCM 1902 from VLSC (VLSC Portal ).
I have posts which explain about how to check the SCCM Client Version and SCCM Build Version. In this post, you will learn how to check SCCM console version. The post will also provide the list of SCCM console versions for all SCCM current branch releases.
SCCM Console Version
How to Check SCCM Console Version
Let’s find out the version of the SCCM console by following the below steps. You want to learn more details about SCCM console in the following SCCM Admin Console Walkthrough guide.
Open SCCM Console from start menu
SCCM console – Click Start | <All Programs> | Microsoft System Center | Configuration Manager Console
Click on the drop down Arrow near to Home button
Click on “About Configuration Manager” button
The popup windows shows SCCM Console version
SCCM Console Version
The following table will give all the details about SCCM Console Version. The list provides latest or updated SCCM Console versions.
Microsoft released the SCCM 1902 production version as an opt-in. Yes, This SCCM release is opt-in version (fast ring). This SCCM 1902 Production Upgrade video post will give much more details.
You want to watch end to end Video Tutorial of SCCM 1902 Production Version (2:50 Hours) –Facebook Live – Checkout – New Features Walk through!
The 1902 won’t be available in your SCCM console until Microsoft releases a SLOW ring version of SCCM 1902. SCCM 1902 production version will be the baseline version.
Download PowerShell Script to Enable SCCM 1902 Production Version
How do you get the SCCM 1902 production version today in your console? Here is the blog post from Microsoft to get the 1902 version on to your LAB, Development, or pre-production/staging environment.
Checkout Microsoft’s Announcement about the 1902 release here. SCCM 1902 Fast Ring is an Opt-in update option given to SCCM customers SCCM 1902 Slow Ring is GA, generally available for all applicable SCCM Infra.
[Related Post – SCCM 1902 Production Upgrade Step by Step Walkthrough Guide (Coming Soon) ]
Best time to Perform SCCM 1902 Production Version Upgrade?
Microsoft fully supports the SCCM 1902 fast ring or opt-in version. Hence officially you can upgrade your production environment to SCCM 1902 with opt-in version. However, I won’t directly jump into the production upgrade.
I want to test the 1902 version in the LAB environment and Staging environment before going into production upgrade. By the time I complete all these testing in staging, Microsoft will release the fast ring version of SCCM 1902.
SCCM 1902 Known Issues?
I’m not aware of any known issues of SCCM 1902 production version. However, I will try to keep an eye on SCCM 1902 known issues announcements from Microsoft and update here or in another blog.
SCCM 1902 Production Upgrade
Checklist/Best Practices SCCM 1902 Production Upgrade?
Microsoft has already provided a checklist of SCCM 1902 upgrade best practices in their documentation here. I would recommend reading that documentation before proceeding with the upgrade. SCCM 1902 In-console update available only for 1710, 1802, 1806, or 1810?
Check All Windows Server, SQL components running on your SCCM site servers for the supportability of SCCM 1902 version ( A minimum version of SQL Server 2012 Native Client which includes support for TLS 1.2 must be installed. For more information, see the List of prerequisite checks. )
All sites run a supported version of SCCM
Review the version of the Windows ADK for Windows 10
Review the site and hierarchy status for unresolved issues
Review file and data replication between sites
Install all applicable critical Windows updates
Disable database replicas for management points at primary sites
Set SQL Server AlwaysOn availability groups to manual failover
Disable SCCM site maintenance tasks at each site
Create a backup of the site database
Temporarily stop any antivirus software on SCCM Servers
Plan for SCCM client piloting
Plan to use service windows
Review supported extensions for SCCM 1902
Run the SCCM 1902 setup prerequisite checker
Update All SCCM site
SCCM 1902 Production Download or Upgrade Stuck?
When you have an issue with SCCM 1902 production version update download and upgrade process, please check the monitoring workspace and understand what is happening. Also, you refer to the log files mentioned in each stage of SCCM console monitoring workspace.
I have blogged about SCCM troubleshooting on update and servicing issue. I would recommend reading the following post to get more help on SCCM 1902 upgrade issues.
More troubleshooting help on SCCM 1902 Download stuck and upgrade issues here.
SCCM 1902 Site Server, Client, and Console Version Numbers?
Following table is the best place to know more about the SCCM 1902 console, site server, and client version numbers. After SCCM 1902 Production Upgrade, you would be able to see the following version details.
NOTE! – There will be some changes in the version numbers after your upgrade as I’m using the early build to create this post.
SCCM 1902 Site Version
SCCM 1902 Console Version
SCCM 1902 Client Version
Baseline
1902 In-console update available for?
5.00.8790.1000
5.1902.1085.1500/ 5.1902.1085.1600
5.00.8790.1005/ 5.00.8790.1007
Yes
Yes for SCCM 1710, 1802, 1806, or 1810
Post Installation Tasks for SCCM 1902 Production Upgrade
After the site updates, use the following checklist to complete common tasks and configurations. Confirm version and restart (if necessary). More Details available in the following link here.
This video tutorial is to help you to setup Smart package studio lab environment. Application packaging team works closely with the SCCM team in many organizations. But, I have seen much love for application packaging team. Let’s empower the application packaging team with smart package studio.
Microsoft MSIX is the future of Windows application installation technology. Another fact is that Microsoft office is still using a different installation technology Checkout my previous blog post to learn how to convert MSI to MSIX in the following post here.
Smart package studiois one of the modern packaging tools which uses AI and Machine Learning algorithms to help application packaging team. More details about How to Setup Smart Package Studio.
Setup Smart Package Studio
Join Application Packaging Community
Smart package studio community is made for helping application packaging community. This community will help to up-skill the application packaging skills. Following are some of the posts which will help you to up-skill.
Quick Steps to Setup Smart Package Studio Lab Environment
I have already explained all the steps in the above video tutorial. I would recommend going through the details as per the video. Also, try to download the dependent apps from the following list to get ready for LAB setup.
In this video tutorial, you will learn how to install SCCM 1810 rollup update 2 released by Microsoft. Microsoft released rollup update 2 on 25th March 2019. Yes, I know we are all waiting to hear about SCCM 1902 release.
Where is SCCM 1902 Production Release?
I don’t know that it is an honest answer. But, I predicted it to be available on 27th March via an updated post here. I’m not very sure how much time more I can hold on with the above prediction.
The best option is to look for Djam’s tweeter feeds to know more about SCCM 1902 release dates.
Install SCCM 1810 Rollup Update – KB 4488598
The installation of SCCM rollup update for 1810 is a straight forward process as you can see in the above video. The SCCM 1810 Rollup Update 2 will be available in your SCCM console if you have an online service connection point.
You can follow the steps shows in the video to install KB 4488598 to install SCCM 1810 Rollup Update 2. SCCM updates always follow the top-down approach. So, you need to initiate the installation on CAS or Standalone Primary server.
Restart Requirement for SCCM 1810 Rollup Update
I tested this in the lab environment, and it didn’t ask me to restart the primary server. The same information is provided in the Microsoft KB article here(KB 4488598).
Availability of SCCM 1810 Rollup Update?
I think the rollup update 2 for SCCM 1810 should be available for all the ONLINE SCCM 1810 environments. But, in the KB article, Microsoft mentioned that the update would be available only for the following SCCM 1810 Package GUID environment.
Note! – My LAB environment’s update package was not there in the below GUID list even though my LAB environment received the rollup update 2.
SCCM 1810 Rollup Update 2 – Console, Client, Site Version Details
Yes, after installing the update on your primary/CAS server, you will have to update the console and client versions as well.
SCCM 1810 Client Version (after rollup Update 2) = 5.00.8740.1042
SCCM 1810 Full Version (after rollup Update 2) = 5.00.8740.1042
SCCM 1810 Console Version (after rollup Update 2) = 5.1810.1075.2600
List of Fixes Included in SCCM Rollup Update 2
I have a list of SCCM 1810 known issues in a different post. I have also listed download the fixes included in SCCM 1810.
The Community Hub is a centralized location for sharing useful SCCM objects with others. The new SCCM new Community workspace is available in SCCM 1902 preview versions. In this video post, you can download community scripts reports from SCCM Console.
From the SCCM community workspace, you can download community scripts and reports from this workspace?
Download Community Scripts Reports from SCCM Console
In the SCCM console, and select the Hub node. To see more details about an available item, click it in the hub. — More information in the video tutorial.
From the details pane of SCCM console, click Download to acquire the item. When you download an item from the hub, it’s automatically added to your SCCM site.
Use the Community – Hub to download the following types of SCCM objects:
Scripts
Reports
Configuration items
You can download community Scripts Reports from SCCM console. You can see more details in the video tutorial.
There is one more node in the SCCM community workspace called Documentation.
NOTE! – Community workspace is continuous changes in the preview versions. In the earlier version of SCCM 1812 preview, the Community Hub added with the support for reports. When you download a report from the hub, SCCM installs it to the reporting point. You’ll see downloaded reports from the community in a new Hub folder under reports.
Download Community Scripts Reports from SCCM Console
Where are Downloaded SCCM Scripts in SCCM Console?
As I mentioned in the above section, you can download scripts from SCCM console Community workspace – Hub.
Go to – \Software Library\Overview\Scripts from SCCM console
Check out whether the downloaded scripts node underneath Software Library are available in the Scripts node
In this video tutorial you can learn how to integrate SCCM and Desktop analytics. I have a guide which talks more about end to end SCCM integration with Desktop analytics process. In this post, we will see the difference between Desktop Analytics Vs Windows Analytics.
Windows Analytics is a free solution that provides data-driven insights to reduce the cost of deploying, servicing, and supporting Windows 10. There are three (3) main components in Windows analytics process. Following are section contains the difference between Desktop Analytics Vs Windows Analytics.
Upgrade readiness
Update compliance
Device health
Upgrade readiness – Plan upgrades by identifying devices that are ready, identify and resolve app and driver compatibility blockers.
Update compliance – Ensure update and antimalware compliance with timely reports for all your devices (even those on the road).
Device health – Reduce support costs by proactively identifying and remediation top end, user impacting issues.
What is Desktop Analytics
Following are the advantages of Desktop Analytics. Following are section contains the difference between Desktop Analytics Vs Windows Analytics.
Single pane of glass for getting Device readiness insights across Windows and Office
Data-driven pilot ring creation
Richer app and Office macro insights with App Health Analyzer and Readiness Toolkit for Office
I had a chance to attend Microsoft Ignite The tour of London 2019. Microsoft Ignite | The Tour is a free event. You can download Microsoft Ignite PPTs (Power Point Presentations) from the following table.
I have created a video experience of Ignite Tour – London 2019 sneak-peak. This video will give you an experience of attending Microsoft Ignite the tour.
You can see more options to download Microsoft Ignite PPTs in the resources section of this post.
What is Microsoft Ignite The Tour?
Microsoft Ignite The Tour is a free event organized in different cities of the world. You can find the list of Ignite tour cities here. This event is the platform to highlight new/future technologies of Microsoft and train IT Pros, Dev Ops, and Devs.
I would recommend attending Microsoft Ignite The Tour event within your country or city. Don’t Miss it! Checkout and Download Microsoft Ignite PPTs.
Microsoft Ignite Tour is a smaller version of Microsoft Ignite happens in the US every year. The next Microsoft Ignite event is on November 4-8, 2019 at Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL.
Download Microsoft Ignite PPTs
I have downloaded all the PPTs (presentations) listed in the below table. It all works fine. Some of the PPTs after downloading twice!
NOTE! – I noticed that these are not up to date. I found some variations in the slide decks which are available to download and the ones which are actually presented during the event.
I would recommend downloading Microsoft Ignite PPTs. And also go through the downloaded PPTs to train yourself with the knowledge.
In this quick video post, you will learn some details about the SCCM 1902.2 preview version. Mainly, you will get the information on the version numbers of SCCM client, Console, etc. Some a video walkthrough of SCCM 1902.2 features or new capabilities.
SCCM 1902.2 is offering more analytics capabilities for Office 365 via SCCM hardware inventory. You can’t eliminate the need of Office 365 Readiness tool with these analytic capabilities.
In the future of SCCM, there could be possible that you will get richer readiness information about Office 365. But it’s not for now and this SCCM 1902.2 version.
Enhanced HTTP – Per SCCM Primary Site
This SCCM 1902.2 capability is great! Enhanced HTTP is not a global setting which you need to enable from SCCM CAS server.
You can enable the Enhanced HTTP capability for one primary server out of many primary servers in your SCCM hierarchy.
SCCM Enhanced HTTP is required or helpful for two new features:
Additional language support is nice for SCCM admins who are struggling with Office 365 language specific updates.
The update workflow now separates the 38 languages for Windows Update from the 103 languages for Office 365 Client Update.
Improved Phased Deployment Success Criteria
SCCM Phased deployment is a nice feature, and I have seen continuous improvements in Phased Deployment workload. SCCM 1902(.2) comes with another exciting development to “specify a number.”
Specify additional criteria for the success of a phase in a phased deployment. The criteria can now also be the number of devices successfully deployed. A number between 1 and 100,000.
In this video post, you will learn how to find out the SCCM build numbers. In this post, you will get the details of all the SCCM Build versions in the table format. The build number of your SCCM is 4 digit number.
