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How To Get The Most From Your Microsoft Configmgr 2012 Migration Via 1E
How To Get The Most From Your Microsoft Configmgr 2012 Migration Via 1E
SCCM
2012
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Contents
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Overview
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Abstract
This white paper sets out how you can
expedite your migration to ConfigMgr
2012. When the migration is done, or if
you have already migrated, it also
provides ideas to maximize SCCM 2012s
benefits and to lower your costs.
The Authors
Several of 1Es ConfigMgr technical
specialists have contributed to this
document, namely: Shaun Cassells, Troy
Martin, Mike Terrill, and Paul Thomsen.
ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
Overview
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 (ConfigMgr or SCCM) has
been well received by organizations of all types and sizes around the world. Many of
the organizations that 1E works with have moved to it, are moving to it, or have
imminent plans to do so. If you are preparing to upgrade or are in the midst of such a
project, this is the ideal time to expedite your project, minimize your costs, and
maximize the benefits from ConfigMgr. If youve already made the move, you can build
on the lessons youve learned to make your ConfigMgr implementation even better.
Based on 1Es many years of experience as Microsofts premier ConfigMgr partner, this
document provides you with a wide variety of ideas and options to maximize the
return your organization is getting from your ConfigMgr investment. You can consider
implementing these ideas yourself, and where appropriate talk with 1E about how we
can help.
This document suggests options such as:
Use industry best practices when using the key SCCM 2012 features
Keep your ConfigMgr hierarchy as simple as possible (especially since SP1s
availability) you can add a Central Administration Site (CAS) or other primaries later
if business developments require them
Flatten your server infrastructure and cut on-going running costs
Consider the Intune integration option so that you can manage consumer-oriented
devices in addition to Windows computers (as well as Macintosh and Linux)
PowerShell support brings a new level of customization and control
In 2012 1E consultants took a deep dive into SCCM and published their tips for success.
Those original observations proved to be very helpful and popular so we were pleased
to update them in 2013 for Service Pack 1 (SP1). Later in this document you will find
updates to the changes that were made in ConfigMgr 2012 R2 and the changed
environment ConfigMgr now serves.
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
Application Management
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
Distribution Points
There are some notable changes in the role
of the distribution point (DP) in ConfigMgr
2012. The branch distribution point (BDP)
distinction has been dropped in ConfigMgr
2012. Instead, there is a single DP role that
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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CONFIGURATION.MOF (Microsoft
Operations Framework). What is really
cool with this interface is that new classes
can be added by connecting to WMI on
any computer and browsing to the class
you want to report on. In addition,
custom hardware classes may be
exported to a MOF file and imported in
the same interface. This allows custom
inventory settings to easily be transferred
from a lab environment to your
production environment.
Administrators in Control
Central to simplifying ConfigMgr
hierarchies is removing the need to have
primary sites to manage subsets of
clients. With ConfigMgr 2007 you might
have created a separate SCCM site to
manage datacenter clients, another for
your clients in Europe, and another for
the executives computers.
The same logic could have applied to
managing their ConfigMgr objects, such
as packages, task sequences, and
software update deployments. SCCM
2012 gives you new options to put such
controls in place without having to add
primary sites.
The first set of such controls are what
well call assignment collections,
meaning collections used to define the
clients and users that the administrators
can manage, and then assigned to them.
When setting up administrators in the
ConfigMgr console you should specify
one or more collections that the
administrators can use.
ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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Software Distribution
Nomad enables software to be
distributed across the enterprise quickly
and efficiently, from patches and
upgrades to full Operating System (OS)
Images. In most cases clients can find the
content they need on other clients that
have previously needed it.
When thats not the case the client can
smartly download it from a central
distribution point, as described in the
Bandwidth Efficiency section below.
When multiple clients need the content
simultaneously that download is done
only once by a master that is elected for
the purpose.
The process of establishing Nomad
communications is entirely automated.
Nomad clients use UDP broadcasts to
intelligently elect the master computer
for each download on each subnet, with
the ability to re-elect should the master
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
Improved Security
Security and compliance are quite rightly
significant concerns for the enterprise.
Nomad integrates with and builds on the
inherent security provided by SCCM 2012,
introducing no additional risk to
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
Your software asset management or licensing team will also benefit from AppClarity
in that they can import their licensing data and readily identify license compliance
issues. They can even address compliance issues in many cases by using AppClarity
to automatically de-install software where it is not being used, bringing it into
compliance.
Shopping
Microsoft has anticipated the rise of user expectations for app stores by including an
Application Catalog in ConfigMgr 2012. However, the Application Catalog is a minimal
solution lacking key features such as:
Offering both applications and legacy packages (the latter are not offered)
Active Directory security groups changes
Resource requests, such as for computers or office supplies only ConfigMgr
objects can be offered
A robust approval workflow
Easy integration with ticketing systems or other infrastructure
Rental of applications, legacy packages, or security group changes, ensuring they
are removed after the user has used them for project-oriented work
Extensive customization to brand the web site in the same fashion as your other
intranet sites
License management
1E Shopping offers these and many other features in a very modern web design that
your users will find to be a pleasure to use. The experience is consistent with what
they have with their consumer devices, reflecting well on your IT organization.
NightWatchman
One of 1Es most popular products is our industry leading power management
solution, NightWatchman. Windows and ConfigMgr have power management
features but real-world complexities often prevent them from enforcing power
management when they should. Reporting on the savings realized is minimal.
Integrating NightWatchman in your ConfigMgr 2012 infrastructure will allow your
organization to maximize power savings and minimize its greenhouse gas impact.
The facilities and sustainability teams in your organization will highly value the added
value that ConfigMgr 2012 brings to the organization when partnered with
NightWatchman.
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ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CONFIGMGR 2012 MIGRATION?
WakeUp
Where power management is effective you might find that you cannot manage
computers after-hours because they are in a low power state. To minimize this issue
you should use a Wake-on-LAN (WOL) solution. ConfigMgr includes WOL options,
including a new WOL proxy feature, but technical constraints mean that these options
only work in limited circumstances.
Both Nomad and NightWatchman include WakeUp, a full-featured WOL solution that
does not have technical constraints. You can use WakeUp to maximize the
effectiveness of ConfigMgr 2012s features. Either automatically or at SCCM
administrator discretion you can use the ConfigMgr console to wake computers for
patch management,
We trust this white paper has raised ideas that will make your experience with
ConfigMgr 2012 even better. If you would like to discuss those ideas further, please
contact us at the numbers below.
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About 1E
1E is the pioneer and global leader in
efficient IT solutions. 1Es mission is to
identify unused IT, help remove it and
optimize everything else. 1E efficient IT
solutions help reduce servers, network
bandwidth constraints, software licenses
and energy consumption.
Contact us
UK (HQ): +44 20 8326 3880
US: +1 866 592 4214
India: +91 120 402 4000
info@1e.com
Copyright 2014 1E. All rights reserved. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
1E shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.