Manage your infrastructure, simplify your IT administration, and build advanced, practical concepts with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager
If you’re a systems administrator or a Windows administrator hands on SCCM 2016, this Learning Path is for you. Even if you do not have any prior knowledge of System Center Configuration Manager, do not worry. This Learning Path will address your need.
System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) is a flagship systems management product from Microsoft that provides a comprehensive management solution for computer systems. It enhances administrative tasks such as keeping your software and security policies up-to-date, managing PCs and servers, and monitoring systems for your organization.
SCCM: Building Concepts with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager is Packt’s Video Learning Path that is a series of individual video products put together in a logical and stepwise manner such that each video builds on the skills learned in the video before it.
This Learning Path will get you started with this powerful solution and eventually enable you to effectively manage your resources. We'll teach you how to install and configure ConfigMgr, manage your devices, deploy operating systems in the enterprise, and deploy and manage applications.
Then, you will learn to secure SCCM by configuring public key infrastructure, validating HTTPS mode, and configuring site roles to support HTTPS. Finally, you will learn to manage your Mac OS X using Configuration Manager, where you will be taught how to enroll your Mac device, deploy applications and settings, and explore different third-party applications.
By the end of this course you will be well versed with the various advanced, yet real-world scenarios that you may come across using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager.
The goal of this course is to help you manage your professional systems efficiently by exploring SCCM.
This Learning Path is authored by some of the best in the field.
- Gerry Hampson is an author, blogger and speaker. He is a senior consultant engineer with over twenty years of experience as an IT professional. He has worked for Ergo Group, based in Dublin, Ireland, for 12 years. Gerry specializes in designing and deploying Microsoft solutions, with a particular interest in System Center Configuration Manager and Intune. He was awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Enterprise Client Management for 2015.
- Peter Daalmans is a technical consultant and Enterprise Mobility Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) with a speciality in System Center Configuration Manager, Enterprise Mobility (Microsoft EMS) and Exchange Server.
- No prior knowledge of SCCM 2016 is required
- You need to have prior knowledge of system administration
- Learn Configuration Manager site planning and network design
- How to install and upgrade Configuration Manager
- Learn to use the Configuration Manager console
- How to create and manage collections
- Getting started with hardware and software inventory.
- Look into advanced application deployment and troubleshooting using SCCM
- Secure Microsoft SCCM by configuring public key infrastructure prerequisites
- Deploy applications and settings for your device using various third-party options
This video will give an overview of the entire course
This video is a Configuration Manager overview. You will get a basic understanding of what the product is about.
• Learn about Configuration Manager history and the naming convention
• Learn where to find the best practice information on Microsoft docs site: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ie/sccm/
• Learn about supported clients, ConfigMgr features and integration with other Microsoft technologies; also, discover some basic terminology
In this video, you will learn about Configuration Manager sites and hierarchies. We will also discuss site servers and roles and how the Configuration Manager environment can be integrated into Active Directory.
• Learn about the different site types and hierarchies.
• Learn about the supported configuration of each site hierarchy: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sccm/core/plan-design/configs/size-and-scale-numbers, Refer to the Microsoft documentation for site server sizing guidance: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ie/sccm/core/plan-design/configs/recommended-hardware
• Learn about the importance of publishing Configuration Manager sites to Active Directory.
In this video, you will learn about the various configurations that must be carried out before Configuration Manager can be installed.
• Learn about creating the System Management container and extending the Active Directory schema. Navigate to \SMSSETUP\BIN\X64 and execute extadsch.exe from the ConfigMgr media
• Learn about the SQL prerequisites. SQL collation must be SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS
• Learn about the required Windows Server roles and features: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sccm/core/plan-design/configs/site-and-site-system-prerequisites, Download and install the Windows ADK: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/windows-assessment-deployment-kit
In this video, you will learn how to install Configuration Manager Current Branch 1606 and create a site. You will also learn how to verify the installation.
• Learn about Configuration Manager base builds and Easy Setup
• Learn how to use the Configuration Manager installation wizard
• Learn how to verify the installation and Configuration Manager site deployment
In this video, you will learn how to upgrade Configuration Manager sites using the Easy Setup process. These upgrades are carried out in-console.
• Learn about base builds and in-console upgrades. Discover where the in-console upgrades can be found.
• Refer to the Microsoft upgrade checklist: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ie/sccm/core/servers/deploy/install/upgrade-to-configuration-manager#bkmk_checklist, Learn about TestDBUpgrade and the prerequisite checker.
• Learn how to upgrade the site. Also learn how to monitor the upgrade and verify it afterwards. The Service Connection tool can be used for offline upgrades: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sccm/core/servers/manage/use-the-service-connection-tool.
In this video, you will learn about the ConfigMgr console. You will see some of the components that make up the console. Finally, you will learn how to install a remote console.
• Learn that the console is the main point of ConfigMgr administration
• Learn about the workspaces, navigation pane, results pane, and ribbon
• Learn how to install a remote console
In this video, you will explore how PowerShell can be used to manage Configuration Manager sites. You will learn some PowerShell basics and how to connect to a ConfigMgr site using PowerShell. You will also get an introduction to some common PowerShell cmdlets for ConfigMgr.
• Learn some PowerShell basics. Microsoft has published a "Getting Started with Windows PowerShell" guide which can be downloaded from MSDN: https://msdn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/getting-started/getting-started-with-windows-powershell
• Learn how to connect to a ConfigMgr site using PowerShell
• Learn some common PowerShell cmdlets for ConfigMgr. Also, see how to keep the cmdlets up to date by installing the System Center Configuration Manager Cmdlet Library: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=46681
In this video, youwill start to configure the Configuration Manager site. You willlearn about the various discovery methods and see how to enable Active Directory System and Active Directory User Discoveries. You willalso learn about the various boundary types and see how and why youare added to boundary groups.
• Learn about the various discovery methods
• Learn how to configure boundaries
• Learn about boundary groups and how they are used for content management and site assignment
In this video, you will learn about the Configuration Manager client agent and how to configure some of the many client settings. We will also discuss the various methods in which the agent can be installed and monitored afterwards.
• Learn about the client agent (ccmexec.exe) and the supported devices. Refer to this document for supported devices: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ie/sccm/core/plan-design/configs/supported-operating-systems-for-clients-and-devices, See how to configure client settings
• Learn the different methods of installing the ConfigMgr client agent. Refer to this document for installation parameters:https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt489016.aspx
• Learn how to monitor the client status
In this video, you will learn about Configuration Manager collections. We will discuss how collections can be created using membership rules and also look at some considerations for updating collections.
• Learn about using collections to structure resources
• Learn about limiting collections and how to create static and dynamic collections using membership rules. WQL query for Windows 10 computers: Select SMS_R_System.ResourceId, SMS_R_System.ResourceType, SMS_R_System.Name, SMS_R_System.SMSUniqueIdentifier, SMS_R_System.ResourceDomainORWorkgroup, SMS_R_System.Client from SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM on SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId where SMS_R_System.OperatingSystemNameandVersion like "Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 10.0%."
• Learn about evaluating and updating collections
In this video, you will learn about Configuration Manager compliance. You will see how to implement compliance settings using configuration items and baselines and discover what devices can be managed in this way. You will also learn how to use ConfigMgr reports to track compliance.
• Learn what compliance settings can do and what devices are supported
• Learn how to create configuration items. Also, learn how to create and deploy configuration baselines
• Learn how to monitor compliance
In this video, you learn about hardware and software inventory with ConfigMgr. You willsee how to configure, extend and view hardware inventory before discussing software inventory and what that actually means.
• Learn that hardware inventory queries WMI on a client following a schedule. Know the difference between full and delta inventory. See how to extend the inventory in client settings
• Information on installed applications is actually collected by hardware inventory. Software inventory collects information on files. Learn how to view hardware and software information using resource explorer
• Learn that great care is required when configuring hardware and software inventory as they may cause performance issues in your devices and network
In this video, you learn some important security concepts. You will learn about the security issues to consider when implementing ConfigMgr. Youwill also see how ConfigMgr is actually used to manage security features in the environment.
• Learn about important security concepts such as Personally Identifiable Information
• Learn about the security issues to be considered during ConfigMgr design and planning
• Learn about the many important security services ConfigMgr provides in the infrastructure, such as software updates and endpoint protection
In this video, you learn about role-based administration in Configuration Manager.
• Learn about using Administrative Users, Security Roles and Security Scopes to implement a secure, least privilege solution
• See how to add an administrative user and assign a security role
• Learn how to create a custom security role and assign to an administrative user
In this video, you learn about additional ways to secure administrative access to ConfigMgr, including access to Active Directory and the site database. You will also see methods of securing the ConfigMgr infrastructure.
• Learn some techniques for the management of ConfigMgr user accounts and groups in Active Directory
• Learn how to secure the SQL database on ConfigMgr site systems
• Learn some controls that can be put in place to protect the ConfigMgr infrastructure from an attacker
In this video, you will learn how to implement reporting in ConfigMgr. Youwill see how reporting is based on SQL Server Reporting Services and requires the addition of the Reporting Services Point. You will also see how reports can be viewed and customized before discussing how to create report subscriptions.
• Learn about the advanced reporting capabilities of SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
• Learn how to add the Reporting Services Point
• Learn how to use reports and report subscriptions
In this video, you learn about backup and recovery procedures, which are the vital components in a disaster recovery plan. You will also learn about ConfigMgr site maintenance and monitoring.
• Learn how to configure the various backup methods and how to recover a ConfigMgr site from backup
• Learn about ConfigMgr site maintenance, including the built-in maintenance tasks, SQL and WSUS maintenance
• Learn about ConfigMgr site monitoring, including the Monitoring workspace and SCOM
This video will give an overview of entire course
The aim of the video is to learn about the components of the application model and some advanced scenarios while deploying applications
• Look at the application model workflow
• Look at the components of the application model, such as dependencies, global conditions and supersedence
• Look at the deployments and simulated deployments
The aim of the video is to learn how to use Powershell for creating your applications, configuring them, and deploying them
• Create the application object using the CMApplication cmdlet
• Add a deployment type by creating a different cmdlet for each deployment, and distribute the content through distribution points
• Distribute the application and start using it
The aim of the video is to learn how to create applications in Configuration Manager with the help of third-party tools
• Create a new application using the Setup Commander tool
• Install the RukZuk import for ConfigMgr, to download and create CM applications
• Verify successful application installments with the help of Powershell
The goal of the video is to learn how to use a console to troubleshoot and make use of the log files for troubleshooting
• Install an application using the Software Center
• Check the log files for any changes made after an application has been installed
• Check the status of deployment using 7-Zip Toolkit
The goal of this video is to understand why third-party management is needed
• Learn more about the history of trojan, virus, and worm attacks
• Explain why we need third-party patch management for keeping applications secure
• Know more about System Center Updates Publisher
The goal of this video is to configure and integrate the System Center Updates Publisher (SCUP)using the Configuration Manager
• Prepare the Configuration Manager for third-party updates
• Install and configure System Center Updates Publisher (SCUP)
• Prepare deployment
The aim of this video is to understand what we need to do when deploying third-party updates
• Add Partner Software Update Catalogs
• Import the updates and create rules
• Publish the updates
In this video, we will understand why we need to secure Configuration Manager
• Understand that, by default, most of the traffic to Management Points is via HTTP (port 80)
• Understand that, by default, most of the traffic to Distribution Points is via HTTP (port 80)
• To be able to support Internet-based Client Management
The goal of this video is to configure the PKI components for the Configuration Manager
• Learn how to install the prerequisites
• Configure certificate templates
• Configuring group policy
The aim of this video is to configure the Configuration Manager to support HTTPS
• Issue the certificates
• Configure the site to support HTTPS
• Configure the site systems to support HTTPS
The goal of the video is to validate that everything is correctly configured
• Check if the certificates are deployed
• Check if the Configuration Manager client is using HTTP
The aim of the video is to prepare the Configuration Manager for Mac OS X support
• Learn more about Mac OS X support in Configuration Manager
• Create a certificate template for Mac OS X support
The aim of this video is to configure the devices to enroll in the Configuration Manager for Mac OS X support
• Configure the site system role to support Internet-based client management
• Configuring the right site server roles
• Configure MP and DP to allow Mac support and configure the client settings
The aim of the video is to learn how to enroll Mac devices in the Configuration Manager
• Download the client from Microsoft
• Install the client through either of the two ways: Terminal-based and User-driven GUI in Configuration Manager
• Enroll the computer so that it can download the required apps
This video is about applications, inventory, and settings
• Deploy applications
• The inventory of Mac OS X devices
• Deploy the settings