My contributions on the Microsoft TechNet Gallery

Besides of sharing my knowledge on Microsoft TechNet Forums (most on ConfigMgr OS deployment), I want to share some handy scripts too. Therefore I did some contributions on the Microsoft TechNet Gallery. Hope you like them as I do.

Set Computername during deployment
Show Computername during deployment
Match SCCM content library with WMI

When handy, leave a comment and give a rating please ;)

My TechNet profile: Henk_Hoogendoorn

Download System Center Technical Preview Today!

Great news! System Center Technical Preview is available now! It can be download on Microsoft TechNet if you have a TechNet or MSDN subscription. Lucky me I have one because of my Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) status. Let's have a look at the downloads available:

-Windows 10 Technical Preview
-Windows 10 Technical Preview for Enterprise
-System Center Technical Preview (Data Protection Manager, Orchestrator, Operations Manager, Virtual Machine Manager, Service Manager) > No Configuration Manager this time!
-Windows Server Technical Preview
-Windows Server Datacenter Technical Preview
-Microsoft Hyper-V Server Technical Preview

Just connect to Microsoft TechNet and download the bits!

Windows 8.1 Enterprise RTM Now Available To Volume License Customers

One thing that we’ve made clear over the last few months, beginning with TechEd North America, TechEd Europe, WPC and in conversations with customers: Windows 8.1 is designed with businesses in mind. Windows 8.1 Enterprise RTM comes with a host of new capabilities only available in the Enterprise edition, as well as new industry-leading security features.

Beginning today, TechNet and MSDN subscribers will now have access to Windows 8.1 Enterprise RTM. This also includes access for Volume License (VL) customers with an active Software Assurance (SA) agreement, as you receive a TechNet subscription as part of SA.

Source: Windows

Still happy with my MS TechNet subscription for MCT's! :)

Continue TechNet or create an affordable alternative to MSDN subscriptions

Two weeks ago i posted a blog that Microsoft is going to stop the TechNet Subscription service. What I didn't posted yet is that a petition is available. If you think Microsoft has to continue TechNet or create an affordable alternative to MSDN subscriptions, You can sign this petition to let Microsoft know you're not happy with their decision. Are you happy with it?

 

The petition can be found here!

Reaching 5,000 signatures would be a HUGE for us! There has to be a way we can make it happen. Help to push us over the top. I'd offer to get a mo-hawk except I know we'll reach 5,000 and I'd have to do it!

Update 10-7-2013: I just signed the petition "Create an affordable alternative to MSDN subscriptions comparable to TechNet." on Change.org.

Update 24-7-2013: If you feel compelled to act, please write Microsoft. Start with Steve Ballmer. His email address should be steveb@microsoft.com. Outline in your own words reasons for keeping TechNet open and its importance to you. We need your help gathering email addresses. If you find any please share them. (message from Cody Skidmore, Change.org)

Update 25-7-2013: If you receive a reply from Microsoft please let us know. Email us at SaveTechNet@gmail.com.

Update 2-8-2013: We have a new email discussion list thanks to Rod Trent and Susan Bradley. I can't express enough gratitude for what they've done. The discussion list opens up communication so everyone can help guide the direction of our effort to save TechNet. You can subscribe to the list or its RSS feed by visiting http://bit.ly/1cbcJro.

Microsoft is going to stop the TechNet Subscription service

Yesterday I received the following message from Microsoft.

By developing trends in IT and changes in the dynamics of companies Microsoft has let it be to offer IT professionals Microsoft technologies and services to get to know, evaluate and implement evolve. In recent years, a shift from paid to free evaluations and information. Therefore, Microsoft has decided to stop the TechNet Subscriptions service and sale on August 31, 2013 to terminate.

Subscribers with active accounts continue to have access to the benefits of their program until the end of their current subscription period.

We are committed to customers in this transition phase to help and we continue to focus our attention on providing free access to IT professionals in a wide collection TechNet materials that IT professionals around the world need.

Better free offer for IT professionals including:

• TechNet Evaluation Center: Free evaluation software without disabilities, available for 30-180 days. With valuable evaluation resources and TechNet Virtual Labs, which you can evaluate without having to install locally. Anything software
• Microsoft Virtual Academy: Free site for online learning, with over 200 expert-led technical courses over 15 Microsoft technologies. Every week new courses at.
• TechNet Forums: Free online technical forums where IT professionals can ask questions and receive answers from members of the community quickly.

Note: MSDN Subscriptions provide a pay range that is available to anyone who needs access to evaluation software that goes beyond what the above free materials to offer.

We thank you for your understanding now we more focus on expanding our free offer and invest more in order to respond better to the needs of the community of IT professionals.

- The TechNet Subscription team

Additional Information:
More background information about Microsoft's decision to stop the TechNet Subscription service and the implications for existing subscribers can be found on the FAQ page on cessation of the TechNet Subscription service.

Note for Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT)
My MCT agreement expires on March 31, 2014. Will I continue to have access to TechNet benefits though that date?
Subscribers with active accounts may continue to access their program benefits until their current subscription period concludes. For MCTs, this date is March 31, 2014.

Personal note: It's very pity that the TechNet Subscription stops. With the software it was ideal to test products and set up lab environments. Hope there will be an aternative offering in the future!

Common mistakes during ConfigMgr installation

During my daily work I do a lot of ConfigMgr installations. Because every installation is different (because the design and infrastructure is different) it's still fun to do! Most of times all go well, but there are sometimes a few challenges to pass. In this blogpost I will mention some common mistakes and how to solve them.
 
First of all, make sure preperation is done well! An installation isn't that hard, but both ConfigMgr and SQL needs a good preperation. You can find other posts about prerequisites HERE and HERE. It depends also if ConfigMgr and SQL are installed on the same server or different servers. And it depends if a SQL default instance or named instance is used, if SQL clustering is used, and so on.
 
Common mistakes I experienced last months are: 

1. ConfigMgr Setup requires that the site server computer has administrative rights on the SQL Server and management point computers. SQL Sysadmin permissions are needed also. Just make sure that the needed permissions are in place. More information about possible issues can be found HERE.
2. Make sure that McAfee Access Protection is not active during ConfigMgr Setup, because boot images won't be created or updated. More about that HERE and HERE.
3. When the Windows Firewall is active on the ConfigMgr and/or SQL server, access must be configured as soon as possible. More about that on "Configure the Windows Firewall to Allow SQL Server Access" (MSDN).
4. When using a SQL named instance instead of a default instance, (all) dynamic ports must be removed. This because dynamic ports are not supported in ConfigMgr. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager for that and change the (used) dynamic port to a TCP fixed port.
5. As long as boundaries in ConfigMgr are not added to a boundary group, they won't be active. Systems must be part of boundaries to manage them. Best choice for boundaries is to use IP-ranges, and not IP-subnets.
6. When User Account Control (UAC) is active on the ConfigMgr and/or SQL server, things will go wrong during Setup. This because needed permissions are not there, and will mess up all. A good example for this is WSUS (no synchronization possible) and Reporting Services (no ConfigMgr user roles available).
7. IE ESC for admins is a bad thing also. Just disable the setting quickly in Server Manager.
8. When installing Reporting Services for ConfigMgr integration, it's possible that no reports shows up in the ConfigMgr console. This because a domain user (as recommended) is used, and no additional permissions are set on that account. More about that can be found HERE.
9. When installing a Distribution Point (DP) during ConfigMgr installation, it will be placed on the disk with the most free diskspace. When you install it afterwards a selection of disks can be choosed. Even better is to place a NO_SMS_ON_DRIVE.SMS file on all drives where you don't want a DP. They will be excluded next time.
10. And last for now is the SQL Server Browser service. This is disabled by default. When the error "The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL server is configured." is displayed during installation, just start the service to make it functional again.

Just use ConfigMgr logfiles and event viewer a lot during troubleshooting. Most information can be found there. That's all for now, hope you found something useful in this blogpost.

Microsoft Community Contributor Award

Today I received the following message:

Congratulations! We’re pleased to inform you that your contributions to Microsoft online technical communities have been recognized with the Microsoft Community Contributor Award.

The Microsoft Community Contributor Award is reserved for participants who have made notable contributions in Microsoft online community forums such as TechNet, MSDN and Answers. The value of these resources is greatly enhanced by participants like you, who voluntarily contribute your time and energy to improve the online community experience for others.

For more information about my contributions to Microsoft online technical communities check this site: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/profile/henk%20hoogendoorn/?type=forum

Thanks Microsoft!