System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Quizzes

Microsoft has published a new set of quizzes on May'12 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (like the one we already have for ConfigMgr 2007 @ http://quizapp.cloudapp.net/default.aspx?quiz=configmgr2007). There are 14 quizzes in the release on which each quiz asks ten questions and regardless of whether we answer correctly or incorrectly, provides the correct solution and links to the online documentation.

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Quizzes @ 

http://quizapp.cloudapp.net/default.aspx?quiz=configmgr2012

Microsoft has also increased the difficulty level on these quizzes by adding new features, which include the following:

• Quizzes now have multiple choice questions in addition to questions with simple Yes or No answers 
• Many quizzes now have a larger pool of questions from which ten are randomly chosen (no more memorizing the order of answers!)

The order in which questions are presented is now randomized:

1. Application Management Quiz
2. Client Deployment and Assignment Quiz
3. Collections and Queries Quiz
4. Compliance Settings Quiz
5. Documentation Quiz
6. Endpoint Protection Quiz
7. Fundamentals Quiz
8. Inventory and Software Metering Quiz
9. Migration to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Quiz
10. Operating System Deployment Quiz
11. Power Management Quiz
12. Remote Control Quiz
13. Site Administration Quiz
14. What’s New in Configuration Manager Quiz

The quiz application will run on Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 and will download the correct version of Silverlight if it is not installed.

Ref: http://quizapp.cloudapp.net/default.aspx?quiz=configmgr2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj126254.aspx

Package/Task Sequence - Created, Modified or Deleted

Last week I had created 3 Task Sequences on our SCCM 2007 Primary server and had also taken snapshots of them for documentation. Today when i logged in the SCCM server, the Task Sequences were found missing. Guess me or someone has mistakenly deleted it.

Question:
How to find details about a created, modified or deleted Packages or Task Sequences.??

Answer:

In the SCCM'07 Primary Server, under System Status, choose the built-in "Status Message Queries" option.

On the right-side pane click choose and run the "Packages Created, Modified, or Deleted" query.

This report will be useful to monitor Changes to Task Sequences or Packages.

"Status Message Queries" is a good feature that i rarely used. No doubt I'll make use of this good option here-after..
 

Reference link to all find list of all default ConfigMgr 2007 Status Message Queries:

http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/dhite/archive/2008/05/18/default-configmgr-2007-status-message-queries.aspx

Identify Discovery Methods in SCCM 2012

When you plan to use discovery in Configuration Manager, you must consider where to run each discovery method.

After Configuration Manager adds discovery data to a database, it is quickly shared between all sites in the hierarchy. Because there is no benefit to discovering the same information at multiple sites in your hierarchy, consider configuring a single instance of each discovery method that you use to run at a single site instead of running multiple instances of a single method at different sites. 

The following table identifies at which sites you can configure the different discovery methods:

Discovery method	Supported locations
Active Directory Forest Discovery	Central administration site Primary Site
Active Directory Group Discovery	Primary site
Active Directory System Discovery	Primary site
Active Directory User Discovery	Primary site
Heartbeat Discovery	Primary site
Network Discovery	Primary site Secondary site

Secondary sites cannot configure Heartbeat Discovery but can receive the Heartbeat DDR from a client.

When secondary sites run Network Discovery, or receive Heartbeat Discovery DDRs, they transfer the DDR by file-based replication to their parent primary site. This is because only primary sites and central administration sites can process discovery data records (DDRs)

Ref.: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg712308.aspx

Windows Blue - Good, Bad or Ugly ??

Windows Blue is the rumored up-coming operating system by Microsoft to succeed Windows 8. With Windows 8, Microsoft changed the release cycle of Windows (similar to the one Apple uses), so "Codename Blue" is supposedly already in development. 

Rumours found on-line indicate Windows Blue is to be a minor update to Windows 8 (possibly offered as a free upgrade). The relation between Windows Blue and Windows 9 is known, but it is possible that 9 will follow Blue as a major update. 

Windows "Blue" build 9220 - it is unclear whether this is Windows 8 post-RTM build or a very early build of Blue. 

I personally do not have much idea about the product as Microsoft has not officially announced about it as of now. Hence i listed down here few other sites which seems to have got some news for us.

Some Reference Links:

• http://www.windowsbleu.com/search/label/Windows%20Blue%20News
• http://www.neowin.net/news/analysts-windows-blue-will-hurt-the-enterprise
• http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-windows-blue-may-have-just-hit-milestone-1-7000011514/
• http://www.techspot.com/news/51740-windows-blue-to-feature-ie11-bing-search-public-summer-preview.html

Ref.: http://www.betaarchive.com/wiki/index.php?title=Windows%3ABlue