Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Microsoft SCCM again.

23 Sep 2016


      Hi Darragh:
	I certainly understand where you’re coming from as I’ve been faced with the same issue.  It definitely is a time issue and I can see that.  If it helps at all, when I had to do that very thing, I was able to build a Windows Server 2012R2 VM on my laptop, download all the SCCM install bits onto it (including the client prereqs it asks about during the install.)  I then removed all network access from the VM, promoted it to a domain controller, installed SQL server and then the version of SCCM.  Again I won’t lie, it did take about a day to do, but at the time it was my best option, so I just had to shrug and do it.
	One option you might look at is the Hydration Kit for Configuration Manager.  It is basically a way to build a lab through automated deployment scripts.  This is not an MS solution but I know it has been used quite successfully by several people:
http://deploymentresearch.com/Research/Post/485/Hydration-Kit-for-ConfigMgr-...
You’ll need two VMs, either Hyper-V or VMWare.  But this should do everything for you from install the base OS to create the domain and then install Config Manager.  It does require some eyes to start with but then can be left alone. 
I know MS does offer some pre-built VMs of trial software, but I think that’s mainly operating systems, I don’t know of Config Manager is included.  Who did you talk to at MS before about this request?
Ryan

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins <blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> on behalf of Darragh Ó Héiligh <d@digitaldarragh.com>
Reply-To: Blind sysadmins list <blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org>
Date: Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 1:18 AM
To: Blind sysadmins list <blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org>
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Microsoft SCCM again.

    Thanks for getting back to me Ryan, 
    
    It isn't all that straight forward to run up a test environment.   I would need to do the following which constitutes a major use of time and resources. 
    
    1.  Make the benefits of SCCM known to the IT director. 
    2.  Provision test servers.  Our test and dev platform is undergoing a major redesign at the moment. 
    3.  Implement a test domain.  Again, we don't have this at the moment. The plan for the implementation of this is under way. 
    4.  Install SCCM and integrate it with AD. 
    5.  Test SCCM for accessibility. 
    
    All this work would take a minimum of a full day.  I don't have the capacity to undertake this yet. 
    
    I have asked MS before if a VM with a test SCCM machine could be made available for testing accessibility enhancements between versions as this is not a tool that you can just spin up when you want to test it.  Especially if you are just looking at implementing it for the first time into an environment. 
    
    Regards
    
    
    
    Darragh
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Shugart
    Sent: Thursday 22 September 2016 04:30
    To: Blind sysadmins list <blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org>
    Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Microsoft SCCM again.
    
    Hi Darragh:
    	The latest (1606) build of SCCM has gotten a lot better in terms of accessibility.  I am not going to lie and say its perfect, there’s still a lot of work to do, but you can now navigate lists and the tree, and you can get to areas you couldn’t before.  The ribbon needs a lot of work, but I’d suggest throwing up a test environment and seeing how it works for you.
    Ryan
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Blind-sysadmins <blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> on behalf of Darragh Ó Héiligh <d@digitaldarragh.com>
    Reply-To: Blind sysadmins list <blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org>
    Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 3:11 PM
    To: Blind sysadmins list <blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org>
    Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Microsoft SCCM again.
    
        Hello,
        
        I'm in a position where I should recommend SCCM as it would fulfil a number of needs.
        
        
        ·        Silent software deployment
        
        ·       On demand software deployment
        
        ·       Replacing WSUS
        
        ·       Software inventory
        
        ·       Replacing some group policies.
        
        Can anyone with SCCM installed tell me if the latest version will allow me to independently administer these areas please?
        
        Novell Zenworks is the currently used deployment system but I'm encountering a few things that it just won't do as well or won't do at all.
        
        There's about 10000 workstations and about 500 servers.   About 40% of the servers are Linux based.
        
        Suggestions very welcome.
        
        Thanks
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