System Center Web Log by Dan Conley

Patch Tuesday - August 2007

2007-08-15T03:55:00Z

Patch Tuesday Status

All catalogs were released at 10am today! (Yes including the one for ITMU!)

Here are some highlights for this month’s release:

· 9 new security bulletins

· 1 re-release (MS07-038) (detection logic only, no binary updates)

o Customers that have already deployed this update will not be required to re-deploy it

· All updates are covered by the supported scan tools.

Please review the bulletin details here: (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms07-aug.mspx)

Other interesting Non Security Updates in the ITMU cab include:

· SMS 2003 SP3 (For Admin Console Upgrades only)

There is also a known issue with Windows 2000 clients that are being scanned with ITMU. This issue and resolution are documented in:

KB941440: The scan process fails when the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates tries to scan Microsoft Windows 2000-based SMS 2003 Client computers for compliance (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941440)

ConfigMgr 2007 TechNet Chat Transcripts have been posted

2007-08-07T22:43:00Z

Last month we ran a series of TechNet web chats on some of the features in ConfigMgr 2007. The transcripts to those chats have now been posted to TechNet. The best way to get to them is via the new ConfigMgr TechNet Tech Center's community page. The link is right at the top: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/configmgr/bb625749.aspx

SMS 2003 SP3 Admin Console on MU/AU/WSUS

2007-08-07T01:44:00Z

I am happy to announce that as of last Friday evening, SMS 2003 SP3 is now offered to SMS 2003 Admin consoles via WSUS, Microsoft Update and Automatic Updates.

It will also be included in the MU offline catalog that ITMU consumes when the next version of the catalog releases in conjunction with patch Tuesday on 8/14.

Just like SMS 2003 SP2 on WSUS/MU/AU/ITMU this update will only be applicable to Admin Console installs only. It will not be offered to Primary or Secondary Site installations.

SCCM 2007 Deployment Pre-flight checklist

2007-07-27T19:30:00Z

**Update****

I have received feedback that some folks are having problems with the below link. I will work with the connect folks to figure that out, in the meantime, I have attached the file directly to the blog. Hopefully, that will help.

********

When preparing to deploy SCCM 2007 in your lab or production environment there are a lot of things you need to do to help ensure that the server setup will run smoothly.

We developed something that we call the "Pre-Flight Checklist" as a way to help ensure that those tasks are complete before you even lauch setup.

It is in a format that enables it to be used the "good old fashioned" way, by printing it out, and phyiscally "checking off" each item once it is complete.

Please check it out and send us feedback on what you think works, doens't work or if anything you feel is missing.

https://connect.microsoft.com/content/content.aspx?ContentID=6028&SiteID=16

**Update****

I have received feedback that some folks are having problems with the above link. I will work with the connect folks to figure that out, in the meantime, I have attached the file directly to the blog. Hopefully, that will help.

Patching Standards or Objectives

2007-07-20T21:15:00Z

Steve Pruitt has created a great blog post this topic. Check it out: http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/spruitt/archive/2007/07/19/patching-standards-or-objectives.aspx

SCCM 2007 RC1 has shipped!

2007-07-16T19:38:00Z

RC1 of Configuration Manager 2007 has just been declared and is now available on Connect: http://connect.microsoft.com.

Look under Available Connections for Systems Center Configuration Manager 2007. Note you must be registered and signed in to Connect to see this Connection.

Spread the word.

Patch Tuesday - July 2007

2007-07-11T01:11:00Z

Due to an internal issue with our web publishing system, the scan tool catalogs were delayed in thier release. They all finally went live about 2pm PST.

Patch Tuesday Status

Today is Patch Tuesday. Here are some highlights for this month’s release:

· 6 new security bulletins

· 1 re-release bulletin (MS06-078)

· All of today’s bulletins are covered by SMS Patch Scan tools

· The Detailed bulletins are posted here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms07-jul.mspx

Other info:

MS06-078 was re-released to address installation issues documented in KB923689. Customers that have already successfully installed this update will not need to re-deploy it.

Full details for this re-release are documented in the security bulletin.

Get the 411 on SMS 2003 SP3

2007-06-23T03:05:00Z

Check out Wally's Webcast on SMS 2003 SP3:

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032341248&EventCategory=5&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Got Questions about System Center Configuration Manager?

2007-06-22T22:02:00Z

Over the next few weeks the SCCM product team will be hosting a collection of TechNet web chats focusing on the following features:

· Deployment

· Operating Systems Deployment
Software Updates Management

· Desired Configuration Monitoring

· Internet Based Client Management and Native Mode

These web chats are a great way for you to interact directly with members of the product team in an informal “Q & A” online chat format.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Deploying System Center Configuration Manager 2007
Q&A with the SCCM 2007 Deployment Feature team.

Add to Calendar

June 29, 2007
10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Additional Time Zones

EnterChatRoom

Operating System Deployment with System Center Configuration Manager 2007
Q&A with the SCCM 2007 OSD Feature Team

Add to Calendar

July 10, 2007
10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Additional Time Zones

EnterChatRoom

Software Updates Management with System Center Configuration Manager 2007
Q&A with the SCCM 2007 Software Updates Management Feature Team

Add to Calendar

July 12, 2007
1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
Additional Time Zones

EnterChatRoom

Desired Configuration Monitoring with System Center Configuration Manager 2007
Q & A with the SCCM 2007 DCM Feature Team.

Add to Calendar

July 19, 2007
10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Additional Time Zones

EnterChatRoom

System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Internet Based Client Management and Native Mode
Q & A with the SCCM 2007 Client team focusing on Internet Based Client Management and Native Mode Security Configuration.

Add to Calendar

July 24, 2007
10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Additional Time Zones

EnterChatRoom

New MSSecure Catalog Released - 6/20/2007

2007-06-21T19:47:00Z

For those of you that are using the SUIT with SMS 2.0 or SMS 2003.

From the newsgroup post:

MSSECURE.XML Data Version 2007.07.20.0 for use with MBSA 1.2.1 (SMS 2.0 or
2003 with Software Update Inventory Tool (SUIT)) was last modified today,
June 20, 2007, and is now available for all supported languages (English,
French, German and Japanese). Today's release Contains an update to the scan
logic of MS07-033 for which affected the accuracy of detection on Windows
2000 SP4 with Internet Explorer 5.01 SP4.

-Dan-