Eswar Koneti's Blog

Configuration Manager Queries SQL Server views in the Configmgr site database when retrieving the information displayed in reports .Configmgr database contains large information about computer,User related resource and other components as well.

If you are looking for some particular information while creating reports and if you are not sure which table the information has,you will stuck there else you will have guess the table/view to get what is desired.

SQL views contain the information you need for your reports to make reporting easier.

I cont find any document or related resources for SCCM 2012 SQL views .

Russ from Microsoft replied on the forums to get SQL views in SCCM 2012.

Here is the SQL query to get list of views with its columns Available in Configuration Manager 2012 Database.

Select distinct table_name,COLUMN_NAME From Information_Schema.columns

where table_name LIKE (‘v_%’)

Order by table_name

Download the excel sheet exported with Pivot Table from here

Creating Custom Reports By Using Configuration Manager 2007 SQL Views http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=22052

If you are planning to migrate your SCCM 2007 environment to SCCM 2012,you may have to think about your packages,collections,OSD and other stuff.

you cannot migrate all collections from SCCM 2007 to SCCM 2012.Couple of things to note before you migrate them.

Points to note  on collection migration:

1. Collection can contain only either devices or users but not both.

2.  Every collection must have Limitation.

3.   Sub collections are no longer exists instead you have folders.

blogged couple of posts on archiving/removing packages not been used for X days that will help you to not migrate them to CM12.

In this blog,will show you how to identify the collections that has both users and computers member of it  to look at the collections if you want to take of users/Computers query before you go on migration.

Configmgr Report:

select
fcm.CollectionID ‘Collection ID’,COLL.Name
from
v_FullCollectionMembership fcm,v_Collection COLL
where fcm.CollectionID=coll.CollectionID
group by
fcm.CollectionID,COLL.Name
having
count(distinct fcm.ResourceType) > 1

Old post but useful to share from J.C.HornBeck .We all know there are some hidden files(they are kind of secret files) which are available since Since Many years( I would think from SMS 2003 or may be from 2.0) in order to activate or deactivate some features in SMS/SCCM 2007 /SCCM 2012 (now) on client side or server side, such as preventing Software Inventory for a particular folder or preventing the installation of ConfigMgr files on a machine. Here’s some information on some of those files and how you might use them to control your Configuration Manager environment. The files are as follows:

• NO_SMS_ON_DRIVE.SMS
• ARCHIVE_REPORTS.SMS
• SKPSWI.DAT

So what do these files do?

SKPSWI.DAT

This file can be used for skipping the Software inventory Process for a partition or for a folder. If you want to prevent software inventory on a drive/partition or folder you can create a hidden file named SKPWI.DAT and place it on the root of the drive/partition/folder.

When do you, or can you use it?

In order to avoid the overhead of running software inventory on large disks with a large number of files that you do not need collected, you can create a hidden file named Skpswi.dat and place it in the root folder of each disk drive that you want excluded from software inventory. From that point forward, no software inventory will occur for those drives or folders unless the Skpswi.dat file is removed.

The Skpswi.dat file can also be used to avoid a software inventory collection rule. For example, if you have a rule to inventory "\WINDOWS", that entire folder tree will be skipped on any Configuration Manager client that has a Skpswi.dat file in the \ WINDOWS folder. Disks with a Skpswi.dat file are not scanned to find files that are to be collected.

You can also place this file in the root of any folder structure you want to exclude from software inventory. This procedure can be used to disable software inventory on a single workstation or server client, such as a large file server. Software inventory will not inventory the client drive again unless this file is deleted from the drive on the client computer.

For more information see the following:

How to Exclude Folders From Software Inventory: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632671.aspx

ConfigMgr (SCCM) – Skip Software Inventory : http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/6568.configmgr-sccm-skip-software-inventory.aspx

ARCHIVE_REPORTS.SMS

This is a client side file and is used when hardware/software inventory troubleshooting needs to be done.

When troubleshooting ConfigMgr client software or hardware inventory, you might want to retain the XML files that contain details on what the latest scan discovered (regardless whether the scan was a full scan or just a delta). In order to do this, we have to create a file named “archive_reports.sms” within %systemroot%\system32\ccm\inventory\temp\ or within %systemroot%\SysWOW64\ccm\inventory\temp\ depending if the machine is x64 or x86. Normally, on a regular client this would be as follows: C:\WINDOWS\system32\CCM\Inventory\temp\

Read the rest of the post http://blogs.technet.com/b/configurationmgr/archive/2012/09/17/controlling-configuration-manager-2012-using-hidden-files.aspx

SCCM Configmgr 2012 SP1 is already out to All Customers (General Available) brining several cool features ,several fixes, improvements. However, due to a recent problem (Installation error 0x800b0101 and binary installation Endpoint Protection for Linux and iOS.) on this component,Microsoft just review the ISO SCCM 2012 SP1 and launched it again, duly corrected. So if you downloaded the ISO before the day 25.01.2013,It would be recommend to download again.

If you already in Production with Configmgr 2012 SP1 media released before the date,you should have already applied the fix to correct the issue and there is no need to Deploy this new media.

But is there any  information to fix issue with Endpoint protection for linux and Ios except downloading the New ISO ?

Download the New SCCM Configuration Manager 2012 SP1 ISO via below links :
·         Microsoft Volume Licensing Services (MVLS)
·          TechNet Subscriptions (Must have subscription)
·          MSDN Subscriptions (Must have subscription)
·          TechNet Evaluation Center (For Evaluation)

Configuration Manager 2007 gives you an option to create New folder (kind of Custom reports folder ) with New Category to create your Own reports what you required But in Configuration Manager 2012,i don’t see way to create New folder to create all the custom reports for your reference.

Creation of Custom folder is not available in configuration Manager 2012 ,the only option left out is to go with Category .

How do you create New Citatory ? If you right click on reports node from Configuration Console,you don’t get such option to create one.

You will have to go with web reports with enough rights to create it.

Open IE with SSRS report manager website : http://SCCMServername/reports

Click on the Report Folder (Configmgr_Sitecode)

Click on New Folder which is actually a Category to create reports underneath.

give A Name what you would like with some Description and click ok

the custom category what we created You see it below :

Now open the Console and go to monitoring node—>reporting–>reports

Now we can create our Custom reports in Custom Folder But how ? you don’t get an option to create new report under Custom Category.

Right click on reports node and select Create Report

Enter the right name for the report and then select the path where you want to store the report under ?

Once you are finished with the report,you will be prompted with Report Builder to enter the SQL query and more customizations.

Hope it Helps!

The way SCCM Configmgr 2012 object information stored is changed from CM07 with respect to tables/views.

In SCCM Configmgr 2012,Status of content stored in dbo.vSMS_DistributionDPStatus view.This view basically contains information about packageID,content status,objectTypeID like what type of package is it(boot image or package/Application etc) and status message ID.

These status Message IDs and State Message IDs are translated here in more description way which will help you to take necessary action to fix them.

What is status messages and State Messages : status messages provide information about component behavior and data flow, whereas state messages provide a snapshot of the state of a process at a specific time. To know more about state messages,read here

Based on these status Message IDs,you can write customized SSRS report to know the status of package. (note: package can be treated as application,Boot images,SU packages etc).

You can use Case Statement while using these Status Messages Ids to put the description filed in reports.

Message State IDs from dbo.vSMS_DistributionDPStatus  :

 here is the case statement for the status Message ID’s:

select PackageID, Name, StatusMessage =
CASE MessageID
WHEN ’2384′ THEN ‘Content hash has been successfully verified’
WHEN ’2330′ THEN ‘Content was distributed to distribution point’
WHEN ’2303′ THEN ‘Content was successfully refreshed’
WHEN ’2323′ THEN ‘Failed to initialize NAL’
WHEN ’2324′ THEN ‘Failed to access or create the content share’
WHEN ’2354′ THEN ‘Failed to validate content status file’
WHEN ’2357′ THEN ‘Content transfer manager was instructed to send content to Distribution Point’
WHEN ’2360′ THEN ‘Status message 2360 unknown’
WHEN ’2370′ THEN ‘Failed to install distribution point’
WHEN ’2371′ THEN ‘Waiting for prestaged content’
WHEN ’2372′ THEN ‘Waiting for content’
WHEN ’2380′ THEN ‘Content evaluation has started’
WHEN ’2381′ THEN ‘An evaluation task is running. Content was added to Queue’
WHEN ’2382′ THEN ‘Content hash is invalid’
WHEN ’2383′ THEN ‘Failed to validate content hash’
WHEN ’2391′ THEN ‘Failed to connect to remote distribution point’
WHEN ’2398′ THEN ‘Content Status not found’
WHEN ’8203′ THEN ‘Failed to update package’
WHEN ’8204′ THEN ‘Content is being distributed to the distribution Point’
WHEN ’8211′ THEN ‘Failed to update package’
ELSE ‘I dont know this MessageID’
END, LastUpdateDate, Status_at_LastUpdateDate =
CASE MessageState
WHEN ’1′ THEN ‘Success’
WHEN ’2′ THEN ‘In Progress’
WHEN ’4′ THEN ‘Failed’
ELSE ‘I dont know this MessageState’
END
from dbo.vSMS_DistributionDPStatus
ORDER BY PackageID;

—-Reference Via danrichings Blog

Just saw an Email update from Myitforum list about the Release of Configuration Manager 2012 Automation RC is out now.

Few months back,he announced the release of Configmgr 2012 Automation Beta here.

To know more about what does the scripts do, http://wmug.co.uk/wmug/b/dotraphael/archive/2012/09/28/project-cm12-automation-beta-is-coming.aspx

To Download the scripts http://cm12automation.codeplex.com/releases/view/100135

Raphael is working on uploading the videos on YouTube on this also he will update his blog page once everything is there…

Hope you like it !

There was a useful email exchange recently about a list of reasons for moving from SCCM 2007 to 2012.
so here are some of the Reasons to move Move from SCCM Configmgr 2007 to SCCM Configmr 2012

• User device affinity is introduced, a method of associating a user with one or more devices. Software distribution in Configuration Manager 2012 is primarily user-based; applications are targeted to the user rather than the device
• Assignment of Client Agent settings, Inventory collection, and Remote Control settings by collection offers increased flexibility in configuration
• The Configuration Manager client agent now includes a Client Health check to identify and remediate agent issues
• The Desired Configuration Management client feature has been enhanced as Compliance Settings, allowing for both identification of non-compliant systems and automatic remediation if desired
• The new Role-based Administration feature flattens the complex hierarchies once required to isolate access to Configuration Manager features
• The new state-based Application Model replaces the conventional Configuration Manager Package and Programs, incorporating dependencies and requirements for more granular software distribution
• Software update groups and automatic deployment rules greatly streamline the management of deploying software updates to clients
• Ability to “inject” new Windows Updates into existing WIM files used for Operating System Deployment by leveraging Component-Based Servicing
• Remote Control, removed from Configuration Manager 2007, is re-introduced in Configuration Manager 2012 with complete multi-monitor and Aero interface support
• The need for Secondary Sites and Proxy Management Points has largely been removed, as Distribution Points can now have rate limits
• New Alerts feature allows enhanced monitoring of operations and conditions within Configuration Manager
• New Content Library feature features Single Instance Store technology, removing redundant files found in multiple applications, packages, software updates, etc
• Native mode has been eliminated, greatly simplifying the requirements for Internet-based client management
• The Application Catalog server role has been introduced, granting end users the ability to request software.
• Endpoint Protection integrated into the CM Console
• Deploying Windows 8 / Server 2012 come SP1.

Thanks to the following for helping with this: Andrew Berges, Joe Thompson, Niall Brady, Christopher Catlett.

Via http://www.myitforum.com/forums/Reasons-to-move-from-SCCM-2007-to-2012-m237011.aspx

App-V Sequencer creates applications that can be run in a virtual environment. It monitors the installation and setup process for an application, and it records the information necessary for the application to run in a virtual environment.These applications does not interact with OS as they runs in virtual environment.

 
You can deploy the sequenced applications using SCCM 2012 to User based computers in more suitable way using Global conditions.

Somaning has shared his experience in sequencing SCCM Configmgr 2012 Admin Console using App-V 4.6 SP1 tool for Windows 7 64-Bit Service Pack 1.

For best practices how to sequence an application : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd351420.aspx

Complete Post via http://blogs.technet.com/b/appv/archive/2013/01/08/how-to-sequence-the-microsoft-system-center-2012-configuration-manager-admin-console-with-microsoft-app-v.aspx

would like to know how to Sequence SCCM 2007 R3 admin console ,Please refer http://blogs.technet.com/b/appv/archive/2012/03/20/how-to-sequence-the-system-center-configuration-manager-2007-r3-admin-console-with-microsoft-app-v.aspx

Note:If you are deploying the sequenced applications to clients using sccm 2012,ensure you have the Right version of App-V client on Target computers.The Supported version is App-V 4.6 SP1 cu5 !

If you are running issues like app-v service receives an exception and then crashes ,the service cannot be started because of the lost of the file system,You may have to install the hotfix available here on http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2693779

With the Release of SCCM Configmgr 2012 SP1 RTM,When you deploy Secondary Site from its Parent site ,it will install SQL Server Express 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) but as you can see from below snap (SQL server Requirements),the minimum required cumulative update is CU6 which you will have to install it manually.

Read more on http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2688247/en-us?sd=rss&spid=1060:SQL