Windows Phone 7 - Mango Update

Yet again, going off on a tangent, but I couldn't help posting this since I'm looking at getting a new phone.

I had a WP7 phone in my previous role, but an iPhone for my new role.

Since I miss my WP7 so much I started looking around for a good deal, but the recent WP7.1 (Mango) update news snippets coming out of MIX2011 and live press conference they had on the 24th have me wondering whether to hold off buying now or wait and see if any new handset models are released this autumn along with the mango update.

Until then, these videos caught my eye.

System Center Updates Publisher 2011 Released

Tuesday the 24th saw System Center Updates Publisher 2011 sneak out the stable door.

You can find the download here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=083f45ca-1ede-4f7a-be74-77854c3a9b01&displaylang=en

The TechCenter is here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/systemcenter/bb741049.aspx

From the TechCenter:
New in System Center Updates Publisher 2011

• An improved user interface that allows better control of managing software updates.
• A new automatic publication type with which Updates Publisher 2011 can query Configuration Manager to determine whether the selected software update or software update bundle is published with full content or only metadata.
• A new Software Update Cleanup Wizard that you can use to expire software updates that exist on the update server, but are not in the Updates Publisher 2011 repository.
• The ability to create Software Update bundles
• The ability to define prerequisite updates and superseded updates as part of a software update definition

ConfigMgr Hotfix - KB2509007 - Many updates causing task sequences to stop

I've had this problem before, but only occasionally, so always thought it was just a hiccup at that moment in time during an OSD.

However, MS released a couple of weeks ago a hotfix to resolve this issue:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2509007

This is a client patch that you install on the site server and then edit your task sequences that have the client install step to add the following to the Installation Properties section:
PATCH="C:\_SMSTaskSequence\OSD\<Package_ID>\i386\hotfix\KB2509007\sccm2007ac-sp2-kb2509007-x86-enu.msp"

Where <Package_ID> should be replaced with the ID of your SCCM client install package.

One thing to note is the client version is increased to 4.00.6487.2188, so any reports/queries/health scripts you have that reference the client version should be updated to reflect this hotfix.

User State Virtualisation (a.k.a. Folder Redirection & Roaming Profiles)

While researching into User State Virtualisation to gain a better understanding into how Folder Redirection & Roaming Profiles, specifically under Windows 7, can help deliver a much more dynamic desktop I came across the following resources:

Best Practice Guide for USV:
http://www.grouppolicy.biz/2010/08/best-practice-roaming-profiles-and-folder-redirection-a-k-a-user-virtualization/

This brilliant blog post picks apart all the different terminology and processes, as well as giving some implementation examples, video overviews and the recomendations towards best practice.

Reduce logon times by removing bloat:
http://blog.stealthpuppy.com/virtualisation/reduce-logon-times-by-excluding-the-bloat/

This post points you in the right direction for excluding data from roaming profiles that otherwise would be needlessly sync'd to the servers, causing profile bloat.

Make Office 2010 User Customisations Roam:
http://blog.stealthpuppy.com/applications/roaming-local-settings-in-office-2010/

Again, another useful blog post from Aaron Parker that reminds admins that the Office 2010 GPO setting for "Allow roaming of all user customizations" needs enabling to ensure the customisations are stored in the roaming profile rather than the Local AppData folder.

Script to make desktop gadgets "roam":
https://windowsmasher.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/windows-sidebar-gadgets-and-roaming-profiles/

Files and Settings Guide for Outlook:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/filesandsettings.htm

Ever wondered where a file or setting for Outlook is stored and whether it can be made to roam or migrated?  Chances are it's listed here.


Video Series on User State Virtualistion

Part 1 Gives an overview about how Roaming Profiles and Folder Redirection gives you User State Virtualisation.



Part 2 Shows an example of how Roaming Profiles can be used to give your users a better experience.



Part 3 Goes though an example that explains how Folder Redirection can help your roaming user access their files from various desktops and laptops.

SCCM Clients failing to install windows updates

Quick nod in Wayne's direction for this one:
http://ixrv.blogspot.com/2011/05/sccm-failing-to-install-windows-updates.html

Problem:
Windows updates not deploying to SCCM Clients

Cause:
Proxy value set in registry here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Connections\WinHttpSettings
Resolution:
Deleted the value WinHttpSettings

More information on the WinHttpSettings registry setting and how the Windows Update client determines which proxy server to use to connect to the Windows Update Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900935

Updated RSAT tools for Windows 7 SP1

Not exactly System Center related, but worth knowing as undoubtedly anyone administering System Center products will also have the Remote Server Administration Tools installed
Also I hadn't noticed they had been updated to reflect the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 release.

Download Here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=7d2f6ad7-656b-4313-a005-4e344e43997d

Description of Available Tools:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958830/en-gb

From the download site:

**Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 with SP1 can be installed ONLY on computers that are running the Enterprise, Professional, or Ultimate editions of Windows 7 or Windows 7 with SP1.**
Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 with SP1 enables IT administrators to manage roles and features that are installed on remote computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 (and, for some roles and features, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003) from a remote computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows 7 with SP1. It includes support for remote management of computers that are running either the Server Core or full installation options of Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2, and for some roles and features, Windows Server 2008. Some roles and features on Windows Server 2003 can be managed remotely by using Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 with SP1, although the Server Core installation option is not available with the Windows Server 2003 operating system.

This feature is comparable in functionality to the Windows Server 2003 Administrative Tools Pack and Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Service Manager 2010 SP1 - Cumulative Update 2 (CU2)

I've been away for a few days and I've just come back to find that CU2 has been released!

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2542118

You must already have Service Pack 1 installed, but you can upgrade either direct from SP1 or from CU1 if you already have that installed.

Main points of update/improvement are:

Included in this update are fixes for the following issues:

• Exception when you move between views in the UI
• Console stability fix while you switch between views
• Knowledge search performance improvements
• Console performance improvements
• Improvements to grooming
• A fix to the notifications infrastructure
• Added ability to see affected incidents in portal
• Active Directory Connector improvements