deploying windows server 2012 r2 request for guidance

24 Sep 2016

      Hello.  I am totally blind, and am wanting to deploy windows server 2012
onto a machine that was running Ubuntu linix.  I am wanting to know what the
easiest and least painful way to get this accomplished without sighted
assistance, as it is hard for me to get it.  Any assistance or guidance
would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins
[mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of
blind-sysadmins-request@lists.hodgsonfamily.org
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2016 7:00 AM
To: blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org
Subject: Blind-sysadmins Digest, Vol 103, Issue 23

Send Blind-sysadmins mailing list submissions to
	blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
	blind-sysadmins-request@lists.hodgsonfamily.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
	blind-sysadmins-owner@lists.hodgsonfamily.org

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
"Re: Contents of Blind-sysadmins digest..."

Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Microsoft SCCM again. (matt.bsa@wh1t3.net)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2016 00:03:38 -0400
From: 
To: "'Blind sysadmins list'" 
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Microsoft SCCM again.

I spend a fair bit of time in the SCCM console; we are running 2012 R2 SP1,
possibly build 1606. I can confirm that this version is at times a pain to
use but is almost completely accessible at this point. I typically
administer SCCM from a Windows 7 workstation with the console installed
locally. My screen reader of choice is Window-Eyes. I should give NVDA a
shot though.

SCCM can certainly do the things you need. We have 3000 workstations and 700
servers in our environment and we handle software deployment, software
updates, compliance reporting, desired state configuration, etc. 

My team recently completed a migration from SCCM 2007 to 2012. 2007 was
definitely more accessible (except for reporting--that's much better with
SQL 2014/SCCM 2012).

Fortunately for me, our test environment was already in place, setup by
another part of our infrastructure team. My team got to go in, setup a new
SQL instance, install SCCM, test interoperability with SCCM 2007, and then
blow it away when done.
There are benefits to working in a larger IT environment==--sometimes.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins
[mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Ryan
Shugart
Sent: Thursday, 22 September, 2016 21:56
To: Blind sysadmins list 
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Microsoft SCCM again.

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-
2012-R2-SP1-with-SQL-Server-2014-SP1
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  on
behalf of Darragh ? H?iligh 
Reply-To: Blind sysadmins list 
Date: Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 1:18 AM
To: Blind sysadmins list 
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 
    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 
on behalf of Darragh ? H?iligh 
    Reply-To: Blind sysadmins list 
    Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 3:11 PM
    To: Blind sysadmins list 
    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
        _______________________________________________
        Blind-sysadmins mailing list
        Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org
        https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

    _______________________________________________
    Blind-sysadmins mailing list
    Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org
    https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins
    _______________________________________________
    Blind-sysadmins mailing list
    Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org
    https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

_______________________________________________
Blind-sysadmins mailing list
Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org
https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

------------------------------

Subject: Digest Footer

_______________________________________________
Blind-sysadmins mailing list
Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org
https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

------------------------------

End of Blind-sysadmins Digest, Vol 103, Issue 23
************************************************

Edgar Scott-Davilla

Billy Irwin

mattias jonsson

Billy Irwin

tags

participants (3)