The Configuration Manager 2007 Documentation Library and the Documentation Library for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager have been updated on the web and the latest content has Updated: January 1, 2012 at the top of the topic.
New this month, we’re publishing prerelease documentation for the Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Physical to Virtual Migration Toolkit – also known as the P2V Toolkit. Download the release candidate for this toolkit from the Microsoft Connect site to migrate Configuration Manager 2007 to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager in a branch office scenario where migration over a wide area network (WAN) connection is not feasible and where hardware resources for a side-by-side migration are limited. This toolkit virtualizes the site server instance so Configuration Manager 2007 and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager can run on the same physical server in an environment where you can perform a side-by-side migration.
Documentation updates for this month includes customer feedback for Configuration Manager 2007 and updates the support information for SQL Server that was previously announced on this blog in September. We have some updates and clarifications for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, and we’ve also added notification to the Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 beta documentation that this is now updated and replaced with System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection. You cannot use the beta version of FEP 2012 with the release candidate versions of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, so expect this beta documentation to be retired in the near future.
In addition, for FEP 2010 customers, we’ve updated Prerequisites for Deploying Forefront Endpoint Protection on a Client to include information about how Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011 installs the Forefront Endpoint Protection client and definition updates to write filter-enabled devices.
We 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 2007 Documentation Library for January 2012
The following information lists the topics that contain significant changes since the July 2011 update.
Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Supported Configurations
- Updated for the following SQL Server versions: SQL Server 2008 SP3, and SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1. Windows Embedded support now includes Thin PC, Windows Embedded POSReady7, and Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1.
- Updated to clarify how Network Discovery finds the subnet mask.
How to Monitor Wake On LAN Activity
- As a result of community content, clarified that the reference to the Performance utility is the same as Performance Monitor. On some versions of Windows, and depending on how you access it, you will see just “Performance” and then “Performance Monitor” in the window title when you actually run it.
How to Install Configuration Manager Clients Using Group Policy
- As a result of community content, reworded for publishing rather than assigning the Configuration Manager client to users by using Group Policy.
Ports Used by Configuration Manager
- As a result of community content, added TCP port 53 in addition to UDP 53, for DNS.
Software Distribution Security Best Practices and Privacy Information
- Removed the reference to enabling Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) and RTSP over TLS (RTSPS) for application virtualization streaming–enabled distribution points. This protocol is not supported by Configuration Manager 2007.
What's New in the Documentation Library for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, January 2012
The following information lists the topics that contain significant changes since the December 2011 update.
Supported Configurations for Configuration Manager
- Updated the table in the Site and Site System Role Scalability section to include more site system roles, and to update the number of clients that site system roles at a secondary site can support.
Technical Reference for Accounts Used in Configuration Manager
- New topic that lists the groups and accounts that are used by Configuration Manager. Note that as a result of a publishing problem with angle brackets that denote a variable, the group names that end in _<sitecode> are currently listed in this topic as _[sitecode]. We hope to correct this soon.
What’s New in Configuration Manager
- Updated to clarify that NLB management points are no longer supported and this configuration is removed from the management point component properties.
Planning for Communications in Configuration Manager
- Updated with the new behavior of Internet-based clients that first try to download software updates from Microsoft Update when Configuration Manager detects these clients to be on the Internet. Only if this fails, do they then try to download them from Internet-based distribution points. The cross-forest table information is also updated to clarify the supported scenarios.
- As a result of customer feedback, updated the procedure for the web server certificate to clarify that when you specify a subject alternative name (SAN), the subject value remains empty. When a SAN is specified in a PKI certificate, Configuration Manager does not use the certificate subject, which is why it can remain empty.
Introduction to Client Deployment in Configuration Manager
- Updated with a new section “Considerations for Managing the Configuration Manager Client in a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure”, for customers who are using VDI.
Prerequisites for Client Deployment in Configuration Manager
- Added the information about the hotfix KB2552033 , which must be installed on site servers that run Windows Server 2008 R2 when client push installation is enabled. Also added the required security permissions to configure enrollment for mobile devices, and to manage enrolled mobile devices.
About Client Settings in Configuration Manager
- Updated to clarify that the client setting Agent extensions manage the deployment of applications and software updates applies to only software updates and required applications. This setting has no effect for available applications and users can still request them in the Application Catalog. This setting also does not apply to packages and programs, or task sequences.
How to Enroll Mobile Device Clients in Configuration Manager 2012
- Updated with the information that remote wipe from the Application Catalog uses user device affinity, which is automatically configured for mobile devices that connect to an on-premise Exchange Server computer. For mobile devices that connect to Exchange Online, you must manually configure the user device affinity.
Introduction to Application Management in Configuration Manager
- Updated with the clarification that when an application with multiple deployment types is deployed, each deployment type is evaluated in order. The deployment type with the highest priority that meets the specified requirements is installed.
How to Manage User Device Affinity in Configuration Manager
- Updated with the recommendation to configure the client setting of User device affinity threshold (days) to a value of at least 7 days. This minimum value helps to avoid situations where an automatically configured user device affinity might be lost while the user is not logged on, for example, during the weekend.
Operating System Deployment in Configuration Manager
- This section has been updated for the following topics:
- Supported Operating Systems and Hard Disk Configurations for Operating System Deployment
- Determine the Operating System Deployment Method to Use in Configuration Manager
- Planning Site System Roles for Operating System Deployments in Configuration Manager
- Planning for Boot Image Deployments in Configuration Manager
- Planning for Including Device Driver in Operating System Deployments in Configuration Manager
- Planning for Media Operating System Deployments in Configuration Manager
- Planning for Multicast Operating System Deployments in Configuration Manager
- Planning for Operating System Deployments in a NAP-Enabled Environment
- How to Manage the Driver Catalog in Configuration Manager
- How to Deploy Operating Systems to Unknown Computers in Configuration Manager
- Task Sequence Variables in Configuration Manager
- Task Sequence Scenarios in Configuration Manager
Introduction to Out of Band Management in Configuration Manager
- Added new section, “Extending Out of Band Management in Configuration Manager” for information about Intel support and their applications that extend out of band management for vPro computers.
Prerequisites for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
- Updated to clarify that the Endpoint Protection point site system role must be installed on a central administration site, or where there is no central administration site, on the primary site that is at the top of the hierarchy.
How to Configure Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
- Updated to clarify the schedule for definition updates.
Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Privacy Statement
- Minor updates and a new section for Setup Updates.
Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Privacy Statement - Mobile Device Addendum
- Updated with the notification that this end-user privacy information is now available in additional languages from the Microsoft Download Center .
Frequently Asked Questions for Configuration Manager
- Updated with new entries that include the following:
- Where is the documentation for Setup?
- How can I monitor and troubleshoot replication in Configuration Manager?
- How do clients find management points and has this changed since Configuration Manager 2007?
- What is the difference between DirectAccess and Internet-based client management?
- Where is the documentation for mobile devices?
- Can you change a simulated application deployment to a standard application deployment?
- What changes have been made in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager to manage superseded software updates?
- How are superseded and expired software updates removed in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager?
- What do the software update group icons represent in Configuration Manager?
- Are malware notifications faster in System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection than in Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010?
-- The Configuration Manager Writing Team
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.