Introduction - Mastering System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager (2014)

Mastering System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager (2014)

Introduction

The Microsoft System Center product group has completed one of the most successful management products of all time. This group of people works very hard to ensure the product meets the highest standards and is always looking for feedback about it.

This book is written by a group of individuals who have endured the growing pains of this product, some even from day one, and who have even helped Microsoft improve Configuration Manager with countless hours of real-world use and testing.

Welcome to Mastering System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager. We have provided information for you to become a master in the System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager product; you will get the knowledge that is needed to unlock ConfigMgr 2012 R2 to its full potential.

The Mastering Series

The Mastering series from Sybex provides outstanding instruction for readers with intermediate and advanced skills in the form of top-notch training and development for those already working in their field and provides clear, serious education for those aspiring to become pros. Every Mastering book includes the following:

· Real-world scenarios, ranging from case studies to interviews that show how the tool, technique, or knowledge presented is applied in actual practice

· Skill-based instruction, with chapters organized around real tasks rather than abstract concepts or subjects

· Self-review questions, so you can be certain you’re equipped to do the job right

What This Book Covers

Mastering System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager covers Microsoft’s System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager. We detail the changes to Configuration Manager since 2007.

These new features include, but are not limited to, the following:

· A completely new mechanism for content distribution — focusing on the needs of the user while retaining the ability to distribute to systems as well

· A user self-service catalog for content deployment

· Updates to software update management and operating system deployment

· The ability to manage mobile devices, including Windows Phone, iPhones, iPads, Android, and more

· A robust alerting mechanism

· A redesigned infrastructure to increase scale and reduce complexity

· The ability to manage profiles with Compliance Settings

· Integration with the cloud, using Windows Azure and Intune

What You Need to Get the Most Out of This Book

To be able to follow the step-by-step instructions in this book, it is recommended that you have a minimum of Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 and SQL Server 2008 R2 with all the applicable updates installed; read more on this subject in Chapter 2. Also, make sure you have the media for Configuration Manager 2012 R2, because we will go through installing this software in the first few chapters. Your computer also needs an Internet connection so you can download updates in various parts of the installation process. Evaluation versions of any of this software are fine for our purposes.

How We Structured This Book

To help you understand the features of Configuration Manager, we have structured this book to match the names of features as they are listed in the Configuration Manager administrative console wherever possible, with a few exceptions.

1. Chapter 1, “Overview of Service Management,” covers general management concepts, such as ITIL and MOF, and how System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager supports those concepts.

2. Chapter 2, “Planning a Configuration Manager Infrastructure,” covers site roles, how they are leveraged, and their application in your enterprise.

3. Chapter 3, “Migrating to Configuration Manager 2012,” covers the process of moving from ConfigMgr 2007 to ConfigMgr 2012 and from one ConfigMgr 2012 installation to another ConfigMgr 2012 installation. Discussions include planning the migration, using the new migration tool, and more.

4. Chapter 4, “Installation and Site Role Configuration,” covers the details of site role installation, configuration, and troubleshooting.

5. Chapter 5, “Cloud Integration,” covers the integration of ConfigMgr 2012 R2 with Windows Azure and Intune to manage your devices or BYOD.

6. Chapter 6, “Client Installation,” covers client installation aspects in relation to Configuration Manager 2012, such as the various installation methods found within Configuration Manager 2012.

7. Chapter 7, “Client Health,” covers the new mechanism ConfigMgr 2012 uses to help ensure clients remain healthy.

8. Chapter 8, “Application Deployment,” provides a comprehensive look at planning, configuring, and using the new application deployment model in ConfigMgr 2012, including elements such as deployments, deployment types, dependencies, rules, and relationships.

9. Chapter 9, “Software Updates,” gives you a step-by-step guide of this completely redesigned feature that is now based on Windows Server Update Services.

10.Chapter 10, “Operating System Deployment,” gives you an in-depth look at how Configuration Manager 2012 allows an administrator to deploy a single operating system to multiple types of machines.

11.Chapter 11, “Inventory and Software Metering,” focuses on the heart of Configuration Management Server 2012, one of the core features that most other features tie into.

12.Chapter 12, “Asset Intelligence,” covers the mechanism ConfigMgr 2012 uses for tracking assets, including hardware, software, and licensing.

13.Chapter 13, “Reporting,” discusses probably the most used aspect of Configuration Manager by users outside the IT department. It gives other users the ability to report on various parts of Configuration Manager.

14.Chapter 14, “Compliance Settings,” offers an in-depth look at setting up a predefined level of standards for all your devices and how Configuration Manager 2012 will ensure your clients are maintained at that standard.

15.Chapter 15, “System Center Endpoint Protection,” details the use of ConfigMgr to manage malware protection throughout the computing environment.

16.Chapter 16, “Mobile Device Management,” gives you an inside look at mobile devices and how Configuration Manager 2012 can manage these types of devices.

17.Chapter 17, “Role-Based Administration,” covers the new approach to security in ConfigMgr 2012. Role-based security is used to assign the access needed for specific job functions.

18.Chapter 18, “Disaster Recovery,” provides the information necessary to protect your Configuration Manager databases by backing them up properly so that you can use those backups to recover from a disaster if it strikes.

19.Chapter 19, “Troubleshooting,” shows how to ensure your Configuration Manager 2012 environment stays healthy and gives you a baseline of where and what to look for if problems arise.