[Today's post is provided by the Configuration Manager Writing Team] 

The Configuration Manager documentation library (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680651.aspx) has been updated on the Web and the latest content on the Web has Updated: April 1, 2010 at the top of the topic.

Additionally, the Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Release Notes are updated to clarify which versions of 64-bit Windows Server 2008 are subject to a known issue when using WAIK 2.0 for operating system deployment.

This month's updates incorporate customer feedback and updates to the supported configurations documentation.  There are fewer updates than usual because we've been busy with MMS preparation, Configuration Manager 2007 R3 Beta, and Configuration Manager v.Next Beta 1!

We do value customer feedback and try to incorporate it when possible.  Although we can't promise to make the docs perfect for everybody, we are committed to continual improvement.  So, keep that feedback coming, and feel free to contact us about anything related to the documentation by using our usual address of SMSDocs@Microsoft.com. 

What's New in the Configuration Manager Documentation Library for April 2010

The following information lists the topics that contain significant changes since the March 2010 update.

Configuration Manager 2007 General Supported Configurations
- Updated with the clarification that IPv6 is supported, unless specifically stated otherwise by individual feature prerequisites. This support is not new and was previously noted in What's New in Configuration Manager 2007.

Configuration Manager 2007 Supported Configurations
Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 Supported Configurations
Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Supported Configurations
Configuration Manager 2007 R2 Supported Configurations
- Updated with the information previously blogged: Configuration Manager Support Announcements for March 2010.

Deploying the Web Server Certificates to Site System Servers
- Updated the Note information about how to specify more than one FQDN in the certificate Subject Alternative Name (SAN) with the new documentation How to Request a Certificate With a Custom Subject Alternative Name.  For more information, see Documentation Announcement: How to Request a Certificate with a Custom Subject Alternative Name.

How to Deploy an Operating System Image to a New Computer Using Boot Media
- Updated with the information that you must specify the default management point for new computers during PXE operating system deployment.

How to Capture an Image from a Reference Computer by Using Capture Media
- Updated to clarify that Administrator rights are required to capture an operating system image from a reference computer.

Troubleshooting General Operating System Deployment Issues
- Updated with a known issue and workaround for lost user settings when migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 and you use the User State Migration Tool.

How to Update Package Data on Distribution Points
- Updated to correct what happens when you update package data.

-- The Configuration Manager Writing Team

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.

I'm really pleased to be able to announce a recent publication from the Certificate Services documentation team that will help our customers running Configuration Manager in native mode: How to Request a Certificate With a Custom Subject Alternative Name.

There are a couple of native mode scenarios that require PKI certificates with more than one server name in the certificate, which is when you need to specify a Subject Alternative Name (SAN) value when you're using Certificate Services with Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008:

• Network load balancing (NLB) management points and software update points.
• Internet-based site systems that need to specify intranet and Internet server names - for example, a management point that accepts connections from clients on the Internet and on the intranet.

Until recently, we've been directing customers to KB 931351 How to add a Subject Alternative Name to a secure LDAP certificate as the best documentation to help you deploy certificates with more than one name in the certificate.  However, this KB was written for domain controllers so that they could support secure LDAP, and using Windows Server 2003 CA with SAN attributes.  We've been working with the Certificate Services documentation team and passing on your feedback that this document didn't include Windows Server 2008 CA or the Certificate Enrollment wizard, and the instructions to specify the FQDN of a domain controller were confusing (not relevant for Configuration Manager scenarios).  Additionally, this document didn't explain how SAN extensions could be used as a safer alternative to SAN attributes, and it didn't include any security best practices for production environments (such as the risk of impersonation when enabling SAN attributes, and the recommendation to use manual approval and the separation of duties with role-based administration).

This new documentation addresses all these things and includes a script (MakeSanExt.vbs) to request certificates with a base64-encoded SAN extension.

Our April documentation updates will reference this new documentation where it used to reference KB 931351 - for example, the topic Deploying the Web Server Certificates to Site System Servers.

--Carol Bailey

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.

This year, your Configuration Manager writing team, now known as Configuration Manager Information Experience (iX), and the larger organization we belong to - Server and Cloud Division Information Experience (SCD iX) - will have a more prominent presence at the Microsoft Management Summit 2010 than ever before. If you are curious about what we are up to - for example, what do we mean by "information experience," come and see our presentation, try out our demos (and win a prize) at our kiosk, and participate in one of our focus groups.  We value your feedback and encourage your engagement with us as we formulate our content information strategy for System Center products.  If you are attending MMS 2010 this year, here are a few events we'd especially like you to know about and attend.

Add this session to your personal schedule using the MMS 2010 Session Builder:

Creating an Information Experience for Windows and Management Customers - Session BJ01, Monday 4/18, 3:00

You know about the thousands of topics, documents, white papers, KB articles and other information sources available to support you as you use Microsoft Windows and Windows Server products. The Server and Cloud Division - Information Experience team is committed to enhancing your experience with Windows Server products by creating an information experience - not just writing content. This session will explore how we are leading Microsoft in driving innovation, excellence, and community-focused enhancements to the product support experience based on customer feedback. This session is a follow-up session to one we presented in 2008 at which we gathered your input and feedback. Now we'd like to show you where we are and where we are going.

Join this focus group:

Focus Group: The Information Experience for the Private Cloud - Thursday, 4/22, 2:30

This focus group will explore the content needs of customers that are evolving their IT service offerings towards a privately hosted cloud.  We will specifically investigate new and creative methods for the structure, composition and presentation of Microsoft's guidance for managing the private cloud and the services it hosts.  We are also interested in investigating customers' requirements in progressing beyond product deployments and into customizations and modeling of their specific environment.

Join this focus group:

Focus Group: System Center Content Architecture and Innovation - Tuesday, 4/20, 3:30 and Wednesday, 4/21, 2:30

This focus group will explore the content needs and requirements for System Center customers. We will specifically investigate the effectiveness of new and innovative System Center content types. We will also examine the current and evolving content architecture, with a focus on Configuration Manager, including demos of current and expected innovations in information delivery.

Visit us on the Expo floor:

Microsoft Pavilion Kiosk: Server and Cloud Division - Information Experience; System Center Information eXperience Innovations

Come and see the latest innovations we've introduced to enhance your product experience. You'll see demonstrations of:

SuperFlows - An interactive information model for process and data flow troubleshooting, and content delivery

Cloud Search and Cloud Help - Intelligent search from the console and product help from the web

Configuration Manager 2007 Cloud Search beta - A console add-on that allows you to do smart contextual searches for Web-based information across Microsoft and community sites and blogs, returning the results in a single portal. Come and join the beta!

Bing Visual Search for PowerShell Commandlets - Finding developer information through visual search and organization

Configuration Manager Feature Quizzes - Increasing your success by raising your awareness of requirements, issues, and tasks related to key Configuration Manager scenarios

We look forward to seeing you at MMS 2010 this year!

Steve Kaczmarek, Content Publishing Manager, Management and Services Division Information Experience (MSD iX)

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.