In this blog I am sharing whats new in SCCM 2002. I will be talking on new features released in Configuration Manager, version 2002. This new update has been loaded with lots of important features.

Remove a Central administration site

If you have a hierarchy with CAS (Central administration site) with one child primary site. And if you no longer require CAS and wanted to get rid of it, now this is certainly possible to remove the CAS.

Task sequence as an app model deployment type

This is a pre-release feature, one of good feature which has introduced. Under any application, we have now ability to create Task Sequence as deployment type.  As this is a pre-release feature, make sure  to enable Consent to use Pre-Release features under Hierarchy Settings general tab.

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Also, Turn on the feature Task sequence as an app model deployment type install method under \Administration\Overview\Updates and Servicing\Features.

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The advantage of this behavior is to use an icon in Software Center for the task sequence which was not previously possible. Once we right the application and select Create Deployment type, we have now Task Sequence option available under Specify settings for this deployment type.

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There are few things to know about with this feature:

  • It doesn’t support OS deployment steps
  • Application cannot be deployed, we can only use packages.

I am pretty much sure with upcoming versions, this feature will get matured enough to support more scenarios.

Client log collection

From Configuration Manager console, it is now possible to upload the client logs to the site server.  Once you right click any device (with latest SCCM 2002 client version ie. 5.00.8968.1012), select Client Diagnostics and then click on Collect Client Logs. This will initiate Software Inventory Cycle on client system, we can view inventoryagent.log to verify this.

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Log files can be viewed by using Resource Explorer. Right click the client, click on Start and select Resource Explorer to launch it. Once launched, navigate to Diagnostic Files to see collect log file in zip format.

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Right click file and either select Open Support Center (if support center is installed) or click on View File to open the folder, we have option to save the logs as well.

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Improvements to Check Readiness task sequence step

This is one of my favourite feature which has been introduced. Check Readiness task sequence step step now has more device properties to verify such as:

  • Architecture of current OS
  • Minimum OS version
  • Maximum OS version
  • Minimum client version
  • Language of current OS
  • AC power plugged in
  • Network adapter is connected and not wireless
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Specifically, AC power plugged in & Network adapter is connected and not wireless is the feature very much important for In-place upgrade task sequence for verification purpose. Network adapter connected gives another option as well Network adapter is not wireless.

Improvements to task sequence progress

You can now display number of current step, total steps and percent completion. By default there won’t be any change in task sequence progress window. We need to add a step during beginning of task sequence with the name Set Task Sequence variable with Task Sequence Variable set name as TSProgressInfoLevel with either of the value 1,2,3.

  • 1 means current step vs total steps.
  • 2 means current step vs total steps, and percentage completion.
  • 3 means percentage completion.
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Here is the snippet of Task Sequence showing TSProgressInfoLevel variable step.

Whatsnew2002 TSProgressInfoLevel

Show boundary groups for devices

For troubleshooting purpose, we have now option available to view boundary group of a device. Once viewing any device collection, add Boundary Group(s) column to display this information

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Improvements to Microsoft Edge management

In this version Microsoft Edge Management dashboard has been released through which you can monitor following:

  • Devices with Microsoft Edge
  • Installed Browsers
  • Default Browser
  • Microsoft Edge versions

For this to work, we need to make sure following Prerequisites are met for Microsoft Edge Management dashboard. We need to enable following hardware inventory classes under Client Settings.

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  • Installed Software – Asset Intelligence (SMS_InstalledSoftware)
    • Software Code
    • Product Name
    • Product Version
  • Default Browser (SMS_DefaultBrowser)
    • Browser Program ID
  • SMS_BrowserUsage (SMS_BrowserUsage)
    • BrowserName
    • UsagePercentage