SCCM 2012 Cumulative Update 3 – Upgrade Guide

SCCM 2012 Cumulative Update 3 – Upgrade Guide

by | Feb 27, 2016 | Features, Patch Releases, SCCM

An update version 3 has been released for Microsoft’s System Centre Configuration Manager 2012.

SCCM 2012 CU3

This update released by Microsoft fixes the following issues;

Administrator Console

  • The Administrator Console may take longer than expected to expand different nodes, such as the All Users or All Devices nodes. This occurs when the console is installed on a touch-screen enabled computer.
  • The Create Task Sequence Wizard generates an Unhandled exception when the Configuration Manager Console is installed on a computer that is running Windows 10 version 1511.
  • The Configuration Manager console exits unexpectedly when the Task Sequence Editor is used to change a Microsoft Recovery (Windows RE) partition. Additionally, you receive an exception that resembles the following:
    System.Collections.Generic.KeyNotFoundException: The given key was not present in the dictionary.
    The Configuration Manager console exits unexpectedly when you try to add a custom icon for an application that’s available in the Application Catalog. This only occurs if the FIPS local/group security policy, ‘System cryptography: Use FIPS compliant algorithms for encryption, hashing, and signing’, is enabled on the computer that is running the console.

Operating system deployment

  • A task sequence may continue for an application installation failure, even if the Continue on error option is not selected in the task sequence properties. This applies to task sequences installing applications that use a dynamic variable list.
  • A task sequence will try to reinstall applications already installed by using a dynamic variable list if one of the applications is configured to restart the computer. For example, if the third in a list of 3 applications requires a restart, the first and second applications in the list will try to install again after the restart.
    Use of the pre-provision BitLocker task sequence step during an operating system deployment results in the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) having a status of Ready for use, with reduced functionality.

Configuration Manager Client

  • Applications removed from a Mac client computer continue to appear in the Installed Software node of hardware inventory for that client.

Microsoft Intune and mobile device management

  • In a Configuration Manager environment in which the Microsoft Exchange Server connector is configured for use with Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, mobile devices aren’t listed as expected in the All Mobile Devices node of the administrator console. Additionally, errors that resemble the following are recorded in the EasDisc.log file on the Configuration Manager site server:
  • The certificate required to connect to the Intune service cannot be renewed if the Microsoft Intune connector is installed to a server other than the site server, and proxy authentication is required for Internet access.
  • Blocking Exchange ActiveSync access for an enrolled device fails. Errors that resemble the following are recorded in the EasDisc.log file on the site server after the blocking action fails:*** [42000][102][Microsoft][SQL Server Native Client 11.0][SQL Server]Incorrect syntax near ‘IsUIBlocked’.ERROR: UpdateDeviceAccessState: Execute() failed.

Site Systems

  • The client automatic upgrade policy is refreshed after every restart of the SMS Executive service, even when no properties have changes. Entries that resemble the following are recorded in the hman.log file on the site server.
    Handle auto-upgrade client configuration changes
    Update auto-upgrade client configurations
  • The State Systems component does not process messages that are generated by the Certificate Registration Point site system role if that server is configured to use a non-US date format. Errors that resemble the following are recorded in the statesys.log file on the site server:
    SQL MESSAGE: spProcessStateReport – Error: Message processing encountered a SQL error 241 at record 1 for TopicType 5001: “Conversion failed when converting date and/or time from character string.”, Line 0 in procedure “”
  • The SMS Executive service may exit unexpectedly when it processes a NOIDMIF file that contains a Unicode character invalid for the codepage of the site server.
  • The “Reassign Distribution Point” migration task may stop responding when it tries to reassign a distribution point from a Configuration Manager 2007 secondary site. This occurs if the database record for the 2007 distribution point is removed and replicated to the primary site before the new record is added.
  • The WMI Provider Host (WmiPrvSE.exe) hosting the Configuration Manager Provider (SMSProv) may exceed its memory quota on a site that processes lots of status messages from a custom application. This can result in a loss of connectivity through the Configuration Manager console until the server hosting the provider is restarted.
  • Queries, and query-based collections that use the Windows Update Agent Version as criteria return unexpected results for Windows 10-based computers. This is because the Windows Update Agent Version in hardware inventory data is reported incorrectly in the 6.x range, such as 6.0.10240.16397 instead of the 10.x range, such as 10.0.10240.16397

Software distribution and content management

  • 3120338 Content can’t be downloaded from Cloud-Based Distribution Points System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 2 when BranchCache is enabled
  • Applications deployed to a device that uses the Primary Device global condition will fail if the primary user has an apostrophe in their name.
  • Distribution Points configured for HTTPS communications will be reset to use HTTP communications after other site properties are changed. For example, installing a new Software Update Point can trigger the Distribution Point to revert to HTTP communications. Other Distribution Point settings may also change.
  • 3123884 Application installation fails from the Company Portal in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

Settings management

  • 3118485 “Setting Discovery Error” is returned for SQL Server 2014 Configuration Items in System Center Configuration Manager
  • A Configuration Item (CI) that uses a Setting Type of SQL query will only evaluate against the first instance of a SQL Server even if the “All Instances” option is checked in the CI properties.
    Additional changes that are included in this update

Endpoint Protection

  • 3041687 Revised February 2015 anti-malware platform update for Endpoint Protection clients

Supported operating systems

  • Mac OS X 10.11 can be targeted as a client platform for the following features:
    Application Management
    Settings Management

Software updates management / operating system deployment

  • A new optional task sequence variable, SMSTSWaitForSecondReboot, is available to better control client behavior when a software update installation requires two restarts. This is in addition to changes released with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 to improve handling of unexpected restarts, as documented in Install Software Updates. This variable should be set before the “Install Software Updates” step to prevent a task sequence from failing because of a “double reboot” of a software update.SMSTSWaitForSecondReboot is a value in seconds that specifies how long the task sequence execution process should pause after the computer restarts to allow for sufficient time for a second restart to occur. For example, setting SMSTSWaitForSecondReboot to 600 results in a pause of 10 minutes after a restart before additional task sequence steps execute. This can be useful when hundreds of updates are being applied in a single “Install Software Updates” task sequence step. The value can be raised or lowered , depending on the volume of updates in your environment. If later task sequence steps trigger a computer restart, a second SMSTSWaitForSecondReboot variable can be set to reduce the wait down back to 0. This makes sure there are no additional delays after software updates are applied.

To download this Hotfix, visit the Microsoft site here

SCCM Version 1511 – New Features

by | Feb 16, 2016 | SCCM

SCCM – version 1511 New Features

The latest version of Microsoft’s System Centre Configuration Manager has been released. (SCCM 1511). While we all expected this to be called SCCM 2016, it is in fact now called SCCM 1511. The new versioning is due to the fact that SCCM update cycle will be frequent. Every new version will be named as SCCM YYMM (Year and Month). Version 1511 was released on the 15th of November, hence 1511.

 The new features as part of this release are as follows;

 Windows 10

  • Windows 10 servicing
  • Sideloading apps in Windows 10
  • Compliance settings for Windows 10

Infrastructure

  • Preferred management points
  • Single Primary site supports up to 150k clients and 700k client in a hierarchy
  • Support for Microsoft Azure virtual machines
  • Diagnostics and Usage Data
  • Service a server cluster
  • Support for SQL Server AlwaysOn for highly available databases
  • Integration with Windows Update for Business

Console

  • Natively manage Office 365 desktop client update
  • Deploy Windows Business Store applications
  • Support for multiple Automatic Deployment Rules
  • Client deployment status in console monitoring
  • Schedule and run the WSUS clean up task from the Configuration Manager console
  • Updates and servicing
  • Client piloting to preproduction
  • Software Center

Operating System Deployment

  • Windows 10 in-place upgrade task sequence
  • Windows PE Peer Cache

Mobile Device Management

  • Mobile device management (MDM) feature parity between Intune stand-alone and Configuration Manager
  • Mobile Application Management
  • Data protection for mobile devices
  • On-premises mobile device management (MDM)
  • App deployment to Windows 10 devices with on-premises MDM
  • Certificate provisioning is supported for Windows 10 devices that you manage using on-premises mobile device management.
  • Improved workflow for creating mobile device configuration items
  • Bulk enrollment of Windows 10 devices with on-premises MDM
  • Wipe and retire for on-premises mobile device management

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SCCM – version 1511 New Features

by | Dec 12, 2015 | Features, SCCM

SCCM Version 1511 – New Features Overview

With the release of version 1511, Microsoft introduced a major shift in how System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) is updated and versioned. Instead of the expected “SCCM 2016,” Microsoft adopted a continuous update model, naming releases based on the year and month. SCCM 1511, for example, was released in November 2015.

This update marked the beginning of Microsoft’s “as-a-service” approach to Configuration Manager, providing more frequent updates and enhanced integration with Windows 10 and Microsoft cloud services. Below is a summary of the new features introduced in this release.

Windows 10 Management

  • Windows 10 servicing support for streamlined update management
  • Support for sideloading Windows 10 applications
  • Enhanced compliance settings tailored for Windows 10

Infrastructure Improvements

  • Preferred management points for optimized client communication
  • Single primary site supports up to 150,000 clients
  • Hierarchy support extended up to 700,000 clients
  • Full support for Microsoft Azure virtual machines
  • Diagnostics and usage data for proactive management
  • Support for servicing server clusters
  • SQL Server AlwaysOn support for high availability
  • Integration with Windows Update for Business

Console Enhancements

  • Native management of Office 365 desktop client updates
  • Deploy apps from the Windows Store for Business
  • Support for multiple automatic deployment rules
  • Improved client deployment status visibility in the console
  • WSUS cleanup task can be scheduled and run from the console
  • New updates and servicing dashboard
  • Client piloting to pre-production collections
  • Enhanced Software Center experience

Operating System Deployment

  • In-place upgrade task sequences for Windows 10
  • Peer cache support for Windows PE

Mobile Device Management

  • Feature parity between Intune stand-alone and SCCM-managed MDM
  • Mobile Application Management (MAM) capabilities
  • Data protection and security enhancements for mobile devices
  • Support for on-premises mobile device management
  • App deployment to Windows 10 devices via on-prem MDM
  • Certificate provisioning for managed Windows 10 devices
  • Streamlined workflow for creating mobile configuration items
  • Bulk enrollment of Windows 10 devices
  • Wipe and retire functionality for on-prem MDM

SCCM 1511 set the foundation for modern device management and Windows 10 readiness. These updates offered enhanced flexibility, scalability, and integration for enterprise IT environments moving toward a hybrid or cloud-first model.