Update Rollup 2 for System Center 2012 R2 released

Today Update Rollup 2 for System Center 2012 R2 is released. It contains 7 hotfixes for multiple System Center 2012 R2 components, except ConfigMgr. Cumulative Update 1 for ConfigMgr can be found HERE. You can choose between Microsoft Update installation or manually download the update packages.
 
To download the update packages from Microsoft Update Catalog, go to one of the following download websites, as appropriate:
-Data Protection Manager (KB2958100)
-Operations Manager (KB2929891)
-Orchestrator (KB2904689)
-Service Manager (KB2904710)
-Service Provider Foundation (KB2932939)
-Virtual Machine Manager (VMM Console: KB2932942)
-Virtual Machine Manager (VMM Server: KB2932926)

To install the update packages, run the following command from an elevated command prompt:
msiexec.exe /update <packagename>

For more information or download the update have a look here:
Microsoft Support

Installing System Center Orchestator Beta release

On june 17th 2011 the System Center Orchestrator Beta release has become available for public download. System Center Orchestrator Beta (formerly known as Opalis) is a new member of the System Center suite, and provides automation of processes and workflows between the various System Center products.

Let's download the new Beta release first on Technet Downloads: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26503 

Before installing both DotNet Framework 3.5 SP1 and 4.0 are needed on the server. The installation is done on a Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise x64 server. After that the installation can start. Choose "Install Orchestrator" for this.

Next in line after this screen are:

• Product registration - Product registration
• Getting started - Select features to install (Management Server, Runbook Server, Runbook Designer, Orchestration console and web service)
• Prerequisites - Setup will install these missing software prerequisites (Enable IIS role on this computer)
• Configuration - Configure the service account
• Configuration - Configure the database (SQL 2008 R2 server needed)
• Configuration - Configure Orchestrator management group 
• Configuration - Configure the port for the web service (default 81, 82)
• Configuration - Select the installation location
• Configuration - Installation summary
• Processing - Installating features (Management Server, Runbook Server, Runbook Designer, Orchestration console and web service)
• Finished - Setup completed successfully

After that the installation is done. In the start menu the following shortcuts are available for starting now:

• Data Store Configuration - The data store is the Oracle or SQL Server database where configuration information, runbooks, and logs are stored
• Deployment Manager - Is used to deploy runbook servers, Runbook Designers, and integration packs across your Orchestrator deployment
• Orchestration Console - A web-based console in which you can see which runbooks are currently running, view their real-time status, and start or stop your runbooks
• Runbook Designer - The tool that designers use to create, modify, and publish runbooks 

Finally a nice view of the Orchestration Console is seen. Next time I will explain what to do next and how to create and configure runbooks.