Mastering System Center 2012 Configuration Manager [Paperback]

Steve Rachui (Author), Kent Agerlund (Author), Santos Martinez (Author), Peter Daalmans (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2012 | ISBN-10: 1118128982 | ISBN-13: 978-1118128985 | Edition: 1

Expert coverage of Microsoft's highly anticipated network software deployment tool

The latest version of System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) is a dramatic update of its predecessor Configuration Manager 2007, and this book offers intermediate-to-advanced coverage of how the new ConfigMgr boasts a simplified hierarchy, role-based security, a new console, flexible application deployment, and mobile management. You'll explore planning and installation, migrating from ConfigMgr 2007, deploying software and operating systems, security, monitoring and troubleshooting, and automating and customizing ConfigMgr 2012 with scripts.

• Features an unparalleled team of authors, two of whom are insiders at Microsoft and have worked with ConfigMgr since nearly its inception
• Provides in-depth coverage and offers a hands-on approach to learning all there is to know about ConfigMgr
• Explores why ConfigMgr 2012 is the most significant update in its 16-year history

Packed with real-world scenarios to show you how to use ConfigMgr in various contexts, Mastering System Center 2012 Configuration Manager covers all aspects of this powerful and complete network software deployment tool.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

An Expert, Hands-on Guide to ConfigMgr 2012

If you're responsible for Microsoft's new System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr), you'll want this detailed guide on hand. It offers intermediate and advanced coverage of the topics you need most—planning and installation, migrating from ConfigMgr 2007, deploying, setting up security, monitoring and troubleshooting, and automating and customizing ConfigMgr 2012 with scripts. Hands-on exercises and practical advice from the expert author team bring real-world scenarios into sharp focus, helping you master skills you can put to use right away.

Coverage includes:

• Developing a plan for configuration and deployment

• Asking the right questions to make sure you cover all the bases

• Getting up to speed on a new hierarchy, console, and security

• Migrating, installing, and site role configuration

• Converting legacy packages to the new Application Model

• Distributing, deploying, and updating software

• Reporting, compliance settings, and inventory

• Securing your devices with Endpoint Protection

• Managing non-Windows mobile devices and virtual machines

• Troubleshooting and setting up disaster recovery

Master Microsoft® System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

Plan, Install, Deploy, Monitor, and Troubleshoot an Installation

Roll Out Patches and Updates and Manage Inventory

Meet the Needs of the PC Configuration Lifecycle Management (PCCLM) Market

Learn in the Context of Real-World Scenarios and Tasks

About the Author

Steve Rachui, Premier Field Engineer for Microsoft, has supported System Center products at Microsoft for 13 years, working with Systems Management Server/System Center Configuration Manager since version 1.2. Steve blogs at blogs.msdn.com/steverac.

Kent Agerlund is Senior IT Consultant, Trainer, and Cofounder of System Center User Group in Denmark. He is also an MVP for ConfigMgr and has been working with it since SMS version 1.2. Kent blogs at blog.coretech.dk/kea.

Santos Martinez, Premier Field Engineer for Microsoft, has been working with ConfigMgr since it was known as SMS. Before joining Microsoft, he was also awarded an MVP for ConfigMgr two years in a row and has been a SQL Server MVP four times. Santos blogs at blogs.technet.com/smartinez.

Peter Daalmans, MCTS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuration, is a Senior Technical Consultant at IT-Concern, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner in the Netherlands. He is also a MVP for ConfigMgr and has been part of the Community Evaluation Program for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, evaluating early versions of the product since 2010. Peter blogs at systemcenterblog.nl.

Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; 1 edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1118128982
• ISBN-13: 978-1118128985
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.7 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Computers & Technology > Networking > Networks, Protocols & APIs > Networks
  • #37 in Books > Computers & Technology > Home Computing & How-to > Microsoft How-to > Networking
  • #75 in Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Telecommunications

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Filled with just the stuff you need July 13, 2012

By Chris Lee Mullins

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've no idea where the "filled with extra stuff" comments are coming from. Fact is, many people buying this book are going to be **very** concerned with the differences between CM7 and CM12. Where migrating from SMS 2003 to ConfigMgr 2007 wasn't particularly difficult (yeah, lots of additional features in CM7 vs SMS, but it looked the same, and aside from the SUP vs ITMU, you could afford to ignore the additions if you had to), CM12 is an almost totally different animal.

As a System Center engineer for the last 5 years, I've found this book to be invaluable in planning our CM7 to CM12 migration. It lists the gotchas. It details the differences between the two versions because...it needs to. The hierarchy model has changed. Application delivery has changed. FEP integration has changed. How you assign DPs and create Boundaries have both changed drastically. And unlike SMS to CM7, you can't just run the CM12 installer to run your migration.

This book will guide you through all that drama.

After ConfigMgr 2007's release nearly 5 years ago, I was disappointed by the quality of the first two CM7 text books. It wasn't until ConfigMgr 2007 Unleashed that they finally got it right. But here, an extremely useful and cogent text book was released right from the get-go. You can tell that Steve, Kent and the rest of the authors have been involved with CM12 for quite some time.

Way to go guys. Thanks a ton. Seriously.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview But Lacking Some Depth May 15, 2012

By Justin Howell

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I picked up this book after already working with a new Config Manager 2012 deployment when I got tired of getting lost in the Technet library. It lays things out much more simply and gives real world scenarios and honest advice. A lot of the sections are pretty heavy on just stepping through wizards, but it's the nature of the beast when Microsoft actually puts out a product with intuitive wizards.

I will agree that it's not super in-depth. Very critical procedures are barely scratched upon - for example, building collections. That's something that can make or break your infrastructure, and it is barely covered. They even mention making these custom collections in their 'real world' scenarios, but did it ever show me how to make an All Servers collection, or an All Laptops collection, short of just making it manually?

I think this is great start, especially for people like me that dove right into Config Manager 2012 and were quickly lost and/or confused. Is it a definitive reference? Nope.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great For Noobs!!! May 15, 2012

By B. Aberle

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I must admit that I'm no pro when it comes to the likes of SCCM. I dabbled with SCCM 2007, vNext and the Beta versions of 2012 so I had a general grasp on the software, but implementing it in production was proving to be a real hassle. Basic installation went OK thanks to the help of www.Windows-Noob.com but I kept getting monitoring errors. These were due mostly in part to my lack of experience with the software and its requirements.

This book is great, and a lot more help than I thought it would be! The information is helpful and very descriptive. I guess I fell/fall into the noob category here, and it has been quite a blessing for me. It's worth the $30 if you plan on making SCCM 2012 a part of your organization.