Top new features in SCCM 2203

Configuration Manager version 2203 has recently released with lots of new features and improvements. In this post I will be talking about one of the important features which I like most about this version.

List of new features in Configuration Manager version 2203

For complete list you may proceed with What’s new in version 2203 of Configuration Manager current branch. To take the full advantage of new features, make sure the configuration manager client is also updated on endpoints (workstations or servers).

Following are the new features available in Configuration Manger version 2203:

Dark Theme Configuration Manager console

Configuration Manager now available in a dark theme. I am a big fan of having different themes applied for various console so that I can distinguish between Non-Prod vs Production environment. For example, using Non-Prod as default theme and Production environment with Dark theme, there will be no confusion where I am working.

How to enable Dark theme console for configuration Manager

Dark theme is a pre-release feature. Hence, you have to enable it first.

Open Configuration Manager console and navigate to \Administration\Overview\Updates and Servicing\Features.

You will be able to see list of all features. Right click Console dark theme (which is current in status off) and select Turn on.

But wait, I can’t Turn on Pre-release feature, it is greyed out. How to enable Pre-release feature ?

By default Pre-release features are not turned on. You have to enable this option. Navigate to \Administration\Overview\Site Configuration\Sites, select the site and click on Hierarchy Settings

Under Hierarchy Settings Properties General tab, check the box Consent to use Pre-Release features. Once we enable this option, it cannot be undone.

Navigate back to Updates and Servicing \ Features. Enable the Console dark theme by right clicking and selecting Turn on.

Close the Configuration Manager console and launch it again. On Top Left Drop down menu, we can see option Switch console theme, select it.

Here you go, you are represented with Dark theme mode for Configuration manager console.

Visualize content distribution status

We can now view content distribution status in a graphical format. To view the content status navigate to \Monitoring\Overview\Distribution Status\Content Status, select the software, right click and select View Content Distribution.

Content distribution status will be visible with various legend shown in right along with icon which is easy to visualise as we can see:

• Limited
• Unlimited
• More
• Success
• In Progress
• Error
• Unknown

Hence, we can see the distribution status showing as success with green tick which used unlimited bandwidth for distribution.

Delete collection references

With previous version, when you try to delete a collection which is a dependent collections, you used to get the error because the collection was used as limiting collections for other collections.

With version 2203, when you try to delete the collection, you get an option called View Relationships which makes easy to verify the relation between Dependent Collection and Immediate Parent collection. Within same window, you not only viewing the relationship between collection but can also take action on deleting the collections then and there only making SCCM admins life very easy to action in a single go by verifying the info.

I have a collection All Workstations which is used a limiting collection for various other collections. Let’s try to initiate the deletion of collection.

I am represented with Delete Collection Error window with all Referring Collection. Click on Details to get another view of View collectiosn dependent on “All Workstations”.

This will list all dependent collection whether it is having a relationship type of Limiting or Include. Once we are ok with the info provided, we can action immediately by clicking on Delete all listed collections.

Pre-download content for available software updates

Pre-download content for software updates is new option available. Previously this option was only available for required deployments ie. with deadlines, now this option is included for available deployments as well which will reduce the installation wait times as content will be start downloading immediately once the endpoint receives the policy.

Added folder support for Software Updates node

This is a very nice move by Microsoft. We now have option to create folders under Software Updates node. We can create folders under:

• All Software Updates
• Software Update Groups
• Deployment Packages

This feature was already available for applications, packages, task sequence etc but previously not available for Software update. This will help categorising the similar items together.

Escrow BitLocker recovery password to Configuration Manager during Task Sequence

We can configure Enable BitLocker task sequence step to store recovery key in the Configuration Manager database. Previously we only had option to store the recovery key in Active Directly only.

This option will save BitLocker recovery key in Configuration Manager database which can be later recovered when needed.

Custom icon support for task sequences and packages

Starting onwards version 2203, we can set custom icon for task sequences and packages. Previously this option was just limited to applications. Now we have option to change the default icon for these 2 items as well. Icon selected will be visible under Software Center.

How to apply custom icon for task sequences

Right click the task sequence and select properties. Go to tab More Options, under “Select custom icon to be shown in Software Center on client” browse for the icon. Make sure to select the icon size less than 512px or else you will get error “The maximum size of an icon is 512px X 512px”. Maximum fle size limit is 256 KB.

Supported icon file types are:

• .exe
• .dll
• .ico
• .png, .jpeg, .jpg

Login to the device and verify that icon is visible under Software Center > Operating Systems.

Customize maximum run time for other software update types

We have option to customize maximum run time for various other software update types such as:

• Windows feature updates
• Windows non-feature updates
• Office 365 updates

Third -party updates are also configurable for maximum run time.

Go to any update’s property, click on tab Maximum Run Time and specify the value in minutes.

Important Links

What’s new in version 2203 – Configuration Manager | Microsoft Docs