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November 2007 - Posts

SMS 2003: Finding Overlapping Boundaries
We seem to run into overlapping boundaries issues every so often and without the right tool, troubleshooting these kinds of problems can be very difficult and frustrating.  Typically the way this problem manifests itself is that you find that an Read More...
OpsMgr 2007: Monitor or rule targeted at computer group does not generate alerts
One issue we still seem to see a lot of confusion about is the way that you use System Center Operations Manager 2007 to target computer groups.  It's different than the method you might have used in Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 so if you try Read More...
OpsMgr 2007: Problems Running the Support Tools
This is an issue that still seems to get a lot of people so I wanted to send out a quick heads up in the hopes that I could maybe save you some pain and heartache down the road.  On your System Center Operations Manager 2007 CD you'll find a \Support Read More...
December 2007 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft Windows operating systems
Yea, so this isn't something specific to SMS or MOM or System Center but I thought you might appreciate a heads up anyway.  Yesterday we released an update that has all the latest time zone changes in it and as far as I know it will be pushed out Read More...
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Documentation Library (November 2007)
A few minutes ago, the ConfigMgr team published it’s first ever hotfix update to the boxed ConfigMgr chm. You can go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=81997356-7f18-48b2-a53a-d6f995a47f35&DisplayLang=en to download Read More...
New Knowledge Base articles for 11-4 through 11-17
We only had two new KB articles but here they are: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=944375 How to obtain error code descriptions in System Center Configuration Manager 2007 reports 11/15/2007 Sys Center Config Manager 2007 AL EN-US http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=944443 Read More...
ConfigMgr 2007: Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 MSIT Intermediate Configuration Pack for Configuration Manager 2007
Overview The Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 MSIT Intermediate Configuration Pack is designed to be used for managing the configuration of Exchange 2003 servers. This configuration pack defines recommended configurations based on a substantial number of Read More...
MOM2005: Slow performance for MOM 2005 reports
Here's a tip on an issue we seem to be seeing every so often.  We've had a few calls lately where when running reports for Microsoft Operations Manager 2005, you may experience some of the following symptoms: - Reports run slow. - Reports run for Read More...
ConfigMgr 2007: Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 MSIT Basic Configuration Pack for Configuration Manager 2007
The Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 MSIT Basic Configuration Pack is now available for download. ====== Overview The Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 MSIT Basic Configuration Pack is designed to be used for managing the configuration of Exchange 2003 servers. Read More...
ConfigMgr 2007: Office Communications Server 2007 Quality of Experience Monitoring Server MP for MOM 2005
The Office Communications Server 2007 QoE Monitoring Server Management Pack for MOM 2005 is now available for download. ====== Overview The Office Communications Server 2007 QoE Monitoring Server Management Pack for MOM 2005 monitors the audio and video Read More...
Live On The Web: The System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Toolkit
We recently released our ConfigMgr 2007 Toolkit that contains seven downloadable tools to help you manage and troubleshoot Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007.  The toolkit will install two sets of tools, the CCM Tools and the DCM Read More...
SoftGrid: Setting up an Application Virtualization Server in Secure Mode
I know this is technically the "SMS and MOM" blog but we do a lot of work with SoftGrid, especially now that SCCM and SoftGrid will be so closely integrated, so every once in a while I may post some SoftGrid stuff here. I'll try to appended 'SoftGrid' Read More...
MOM 2005: How to Create a Repeat Alert
In MOM 2005 you may have found that it is easy to set up a notification when a service goes down and comes back up, but what if you wanted to get an alert every so often while the service was down until it came back up? This is something that is much Read More...
SCCM Documentation Update: Decide Whether to Protect the Distribution Point
Can't decide whether or not to protect you DP?  Sounds like a silly question but in reality there are a lot of things that you'll need to consider.  Learn about the pros and cons in our latest doc update below: ====== Decide Whether to Protect Read More...
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you’re somewhere in North America then you’re probably not reading this, but if you’re reading this from some other continent and aren’t familiar with our Thanksgiving holiday there’s a nice write-up on Wikipedia: Read More...
Software Update Management in ConfigMgr 2007
Like many other features in Configuration Manager 2007, software update management has been dramatically revamped. Configuration Manager separates the way that updates and regular packages are pushed to a managed agent by creating a new state-based high-priority Read More...
New SCOM2007 Guide Available: Operations Manager 2007 Key Concepts
We recently published a new key concepts guide for System Center Operations Manager 2007 that's available on the download site.  It covers: · Overview of model-based design · Service models and understanding relationships · Health Read More...
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Configuration Pack
The new System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Configuration Pack is available for download: ====== Overview Software installation errors and misconfigurations compromise security and stability, resulting in escalated support costs. The System Center Read More...
Now Available: System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Vulnerability Assessment Configuration Pack
The System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Vulnerability Assessment Configuration Pack is released on the web and ready for download: ====== Overview Software installation errors and misconfigurations compromise security and stability, resulting in Read More...
System Center Forums
Were you aware that Microsoft offers many forums for System Center Configuration Manager, System Center Operations Manager, System Center Essentials as well as many others?  If not you really should check them out.  Ask a question, post a question, Read More...
Now Available: SCCM 2007 Management Pack for Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007
My buddy Clive Eastwood put up a post about our new management pack for SCOM 2007 over on his blog so if you're looking for the latest and greatest check it out: ====== The Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Management Pack for Microsoft Read More...
SCCM Documentation Update: About Standard and Branch Distribution Points
Looking for information about how branch and standard DP's work (and work together)?  Check out our updated topic titled "About Standard and Branch Distribution Points". ====== About Standard and Branch Distribution Points Topic last updated—November Read More...
Upgrading to System Center Configuration Manager 2007
So the other other day I'm chatting with a buddy of mine that works at a company other than Microsoft and he says: "Hey J.C., we have an SMS 2003 SP3 infrastructure and we also use the OSD Feature Pack across all our sites.  Based on what you've Read More...
Webcast: Optimizing Your Remote and Branch Office Infrastructure with Microsoft System Center (Level 100)
For details see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032358171&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US . ====== Language(s): English. Product(s): System Center. Audience(s): IT Professionals. Duration: 60 Read More...
SCCM Documentation Update: Choose Between a Standard and Branch Distribution Point
Here's another new piece of documentation that's pretty cool.  There aren't any pretty flowcharts in this one, just old fashioned text based information: ====== Choose Between a Standard and Branch Distribution Point Topic last updated—November Read More...
SCCM Documentation Update: Service Location Flowchart for Distribution Point Selection
Our November documentation update has some great new and revised information for software distribution that I think you might find useful.  This one is titled Service Location Flowchart for Distribution Point Selection: ====== Service Location Flowchart Read More...
More on the New Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Beta
I've already posted a couple times about the new Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 beta but the product team has put something out on the SoftGrid blog that you may want to read: ====== Hello everyone! We are incredibly excited to announce that Read More...
New SMS, MOM and System Center KB Articles for 10-28 Through 11-3
Here are the latest KB articles for SMS, MOM, SCCM, SCOM, SCE, WSUS and SoftGrid.  Not a lot here as it's been somewhat of a slow week: ====== http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=941557 Management servers that are running the release version of System Read More...
Unexpected UI errors in WSUS
Early yesterday we began to receive reports that WSUS was generating the following error within the UI: Windows Server Update Services encountered an error The specified string is invalid. Parameter name: Title This was caused by a recently released update Read More...
Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Beta – What’s New
What's new?  The name for starters.  "Microsoft Application Virtualization" is the official name for the app formerly known as "Microsoft SoftGrid," and when you have a new name you need a new version to go along with it.  Read More...
Desired Configuration Manager (DCM) Packs Are Now Posted
In case you've been looking, the Desired Configuration Manager (DCM) packs for System Center Configuration Manager 2007 are now posted.  Check out the entire catalog at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/scp/configmgr07.aspx . ====== Desired Read More...
Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 is Open for Public Beta
Looks like the Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Beta is now available.  Mr. Zarb posted the details here but I'll include what he wrote below as well. ======= And away we go!!!!! Welcome to ITForum and Welcome to Microsoft Application Virtualization Read More...
Announcing the Infrastructure Planning and Design Series and New Releases for Virtualization!
OK, I know this may come off as marketing type stuff but we have some really cool information here if you're going to be doing any planning and deployment with Microsoft's virtualization technology in the near future. Check out the release below: ======= Read More...
Webcast: Microsoft System Center for Server Infrastructure Optimization (Level 200)
For details se http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032355551&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US . ====== Language(s): English. Product(s): System Center. Audience(s): IT Professionals. Duration: 60 Read More...
Webcast: How Microsoft IT Deploys System Center Data Protection Manager 2007
Yea, I know this happened yesterday but you can still view it online.  This is great stuff, especially if you're planning your own SCDPM2007 rollout. For details see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032355960&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US Read More...
What's New in Operations Manager 2007 Service Pack 1
This topic describes some of the improvements and major changes in functionality that are included in Operations Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Operations Manager 2007 SP1 is available in two ways. First, it is offered as a standalone executable file Read More...
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Pricing and Licensing
Looking for information on how much Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 will cost and how you can get it?  Look no further because that information can be found right here . J.C. Hornbeck Read More...
Duplicate GUIDs? – Fix it with Scripts!
You may have figured out that having duplicate SMS Unique ID’s (a.k.a. Duplicate Guids) in SMS can cause problems. Per KB837374 you may experience the following symptoms: • The SMS Administrator console displays only the last discovered Read More...
Configuration Manager 2007 RTM is now available on the MVLS site
If you have a Volume Licensing agreement then the final System Center Configuration Manager 2007 code is available on https://licensing.microsoft.com .  It seems that a lot of people are having a hard time finding it so here's a tip: Search for "Config Read More...
Windows Vista Deployment Through BDD 2007 Fails After Adding Hotfix 941649
Here's an issue we've been running into every now and then that you might want to be aware of.  After adding hotfix 941649 , a Windows Vista deployment through BDD 2007 may fail with the following error: The installation was canceled. Any changes Read More...
WSUS 3.0 Service Pack 1 Release Candidate Now Available
Just a quick heads up that the WSUS 3.0 Service Pack 1 Release Candidate is now available for download from https://connect.microsoft.com .  Just be sure to sign in and then select 'Available Connections' to see it.  It's labeled "Windows Read More...
Webcast: Optimizing Desktop Management with System Center Configuration Manager and Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization (Level 300)
For details see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032358169&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US . ====== Language(s): English. Product(s): System Center. Audience(s): IT Professionals. Duration: 60 Read More...
Virtualizing System Center Operations Manager 2007 Roles
We seem to have been getting a lot of questions surrounding the virtualization of various System Center components so I thought I send out a link to a great write-up Satya Vel posted over on the Operations Manager Product Team Blog .  ====== In the Read More...
New SMS, MOM and System Center KB Articles for 10-21 Through 10-27
Here are the latest: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=942536 You cannot move created objects into a folder or out of a folder if the folder was created on a secondary site of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 10/24/2007 Sys Center Config Manager Read More...
System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 Release Candidate Now Available
The release candidate for Service Pack 1 for Operations Manager 2007 is ready for download from https://connect.microsoft.com/systemcenter .  If you haven't already registered you'll need to do so before the RC is available under 'Available Connections.' Read More...
ConfigMgr 2007: What if I don't extend my Active Directory schema?
Extending the Active Directory schema for Configuration Manager 2007 allows clients to retrieve many types of information related to Configuration Manager from a trusted source. In some cases, there are workarounds for retrieving the necessary information Read More...
The Microsoft Asset Intelligence forum
This was actually launched back in September but if you're looking for information about Asset Intelligence or have a few questions you'd like to ask this is the place to go. ====== We'd like to welcome you to the Asset Intelligence forum. Here we'll Read More...
Asset Intelligence: Reports don't contain data
We have seen some cases where folks attempt to run a report and instead of data they get a message that says :"No matching records could be found".  A different variation of this issue is a complaint that over time fewer and fewer machines Read More...
SMS 2003: Getting a list of all of the queries for each of your collections
Have you ever wondered how you can get a list of all of the queries for each of your collections? You may have noticed that when you try to export queries, you can select multiple queries to export, but when you export collections you have to do them Read More...
Whitepaper: Transitioning from SMS 2003 Patch Management to Configuration Manager 2007 Software Updates Management
I am pleased to announce that we have just published a whitepaper that provides guidance for customers transitioning from SMS 2003 Patch Management to System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Software Updates Management. You can download the paper from Read More...