Update on Windows 10 Servicing in ConfigMgr Current Branch

Last month I did a blogpost about Windows 10 Servicing options in ConfigMgr Current Branch. Within the 1511 release it was kind of useless, but in the 1602  release it's functional indeed.

When enabling the Upgrades classification, you must install WSUS hotfix 3095113 on all software update points in the hierarchy. Only Windows Server 2012 and later servers running WSUS support the Upgrade classification of updates. Ensure that this hotfix is installed before enabling the Upgrades classification, otherwise the Windows 10 Servicing feature will not properly function.

Instead of synchronizing 256 upgrades, there will be only displayed 32 items now. Besides of that Servicing Plans contains a tab named Upgrades now, which contains filters for Language, Required and Title. Much better this way.

Still Windows 10 Servicing isn't working as expected. This for the following reasons. Devices aren't moving from Release ready to Business ready by default and delay can't be set to 12 months. Let's further explore this.

When you want to move devices from Release ready to Business ready you can start the following actions:
-Set 'Defer Upgrades' in Group Policy
-Create Service Plans in ConfigMgr (it's safe now)
-Start new Right Click Tools

 

New Right Click Tools are available from ConfigMgr 1602 only. Just select a device, choose Client Notification, and multiple actions are seen now. Great that Microsoft has chosen for that!

Delay can be set to 120 days only. When using Business Ready (4 months delay), this means new upgrades must be installed after 8 months. This is not as expected, because delay should be possible for 12 (4+8) months as mentioned on Windows 10 servicing options for updates and upgrades. Why not using a counter for 240 days or 8 months here?

I did ask on twitter, but got the message: Any ConfigMgr CB build will be supported with security fixes for 12 months after release. So 12 months to upgrade to a newer build.

Hope to receive more information on this soon!