Category Archives: SCCM 2012

Do not use Windows 2008 x86 as Pull Distribution Point

If you’re considering upgrading or using existing Windows 2008 (any Service pack) Servers as Pull Distribution Points, make sure the’re 64-bit, and not 32-bit. If you do, they will not be able to pull large files (over 4 GB) from their assigned source Distribution Points. All other files will Transfer without issue.

You’ll see the following error in the debug eventlog for the Bits-Client: Continue reading Do not use Windows 2008 x86 as Pull Distribution Point

Installing a Windows 2003 Distribution Point

Ideally, when deploying Distribution Points, you really want to use Windows 2008 R2 or higher, as this OS supports autoconfiguration of WDS, IIS, etc.

But of course, in some situations this isn’t feasible.

First, install all Service packs, the machine should be fully up to date.

Then, add the SCCM Server or install account to the local Administrators on the Windows 2003 machine

Then, install IIS and WDS (if using PXE).

Then, install the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Support Tools

Reboot

Add the Server to the hierarchy in sccm and Monitor dismgr.log Continue reading Installing a Windows 2003 Distribution Point

SCCM Updated for Intune and Windows 10

If you’re using System Center Configuration Manager 2012 and have integrated it with Intune or are planning to pilot Windows 10, this is the time to update your hierarchy!

I’ve been stumped and irritated several times by the flimsy integration between SCCM and Intune, seems I wasn’t the only one. Both products have such a huge potential! With the service pack that was just released, this seems to be changing, read all about it in this blogpost by Microsoft’s Brad Anderson.

And for the techies, this article has a list of all the new features.

Content validation issues in SCCM 2012

Sometimes, distribution points have packages in their WMI repository that don’t exist any longer on the site server. When the distribution point goes through a content validation cycle, it will fail and change its status to ‘Warning’.

The error you’ll see in the Distribution Point Configuration Status overview is “Failed to validate content hash”.

Then something along the lines of “Failed to retrieve the package list on the distribution point. Or the package list in content library doesn’t match the one in WMI. Review smsdpmon.log for more information about this failure.”

So far it all sounds easy, and when we look at smsdpmon.log we do indeed see an error, 0x80070002 and the package ID in question. When we look up the package ID on the site server, it doesn’t exist.

To delete this package from the WMI repository Continue reading Content validation issues in SCCM 2012

Scripted Deployment of Distribution Points in SCCM 2012 including rate scheduling

Somewhat quick and dirty, but I’m sure it’ll be of use to anyone doing a larger scale rollout of distribution points.

The following script can interactively roll out distribution points for you, saving a huge amount of clicking around in the SCCM console. The code can easily be adapted to run everything from functions and bulk import a list of distribution points from CSV to SCCM.

#Add distribution point with State Migration and Pulse Rate limitation and scheduling
#Author: Jos Lieben, OGD
#Copyright: Free to Use and Distribute
#Credits: David O’Brien (david-obrien.net) for WMI class interaction
#notice: you must have the required console updates for some of these commands to work with SCCM 2012 SP1

####GENERAL CONFIGURATION####
#If you clear any config, the script will prompt you for it, config simply helps you simplify deployments if for example, you only have one site
#Path to your PSD files
Import-Module “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Configuration Manager\AdminConsole\bin\ConfigurationManager.psd1″
#Your site code
$site_code = “EU1″
#Name of your distribution point (Fully Qualified Name required!)
$server_name = “”
#Drive letter for your primary content library, use Automatic if you wish SCCM to manage this for you
$driveletter_plibrary = “”
#Drive letter for your primary content share, use Automatic if you wish SCCM to manage this for you
$driveletter_pshare = “”
#If you wish to add a state migration point to the DP, set this to $true
$add_statemigrationpoint = $false
#Path to data on the state migration point
$state_migrationpoint_localpath = “”
#Distribution Point Group Membership can be configured with this variable
$distributionpointgroup = “”
####END OF GENERAL CONFIGURATION####
####SCHEDULING CONFIGURATION####
#Set to False if you do not wish to configure transfer schedules for your DP ($false recommended)
$add_schedule = $true
#size of each block sent, leave at 0 to prompt, only used when add_schedule=$true
$block_size = 0
#delay between each block sent, leave at 0 to prompt, only used when add_schedule=$true
$block_delay = 0
#Array containing 24 elements, one for each hour of the day. This property specifies the type of usage for each hour.
# 1 means all Priorities, 2 means all but low, 3 is high only, 4 means none
#this example allows only high priority sendings from monday till friday between 8AM and 8PM and everything outside that timeframe
$HourUsageScheduleWeekdays = @(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,1,1,1,1)
$HourUsageScheduleWeekend = @(1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1)
####END OF SCHEDULING CONFIGURATION#####
#standard variables
$ja = new-Object System.Management.Automation.Host.ChoiceDescription “&Yes”,”help”
$nee = new-Object System.Management.Automation.Host.ChoiceDescription “&No”,”help”

Clear-Host
if($site_name -eq “”) {
$site_code = Read-Host “Enter your site code (for example: EU1)”
}
if($server_name -eq “”) {
$server_name = Read-Host “Enter the FQDN of your new distribution point (for example: dp01.ogd.local)”
}
if($driveletter_plibrary -eq “”) {
$driveletter_plibrary = Read-Host “Enter the driveletter for the primary content library (for example: E)”
}
if($driveletter_pshare -eq “”) {
$driveletter_pshare = Read-Host “Enter the driveletter for the primary content share (for example: E)”
}
if($add_statemigrationpoint -eq $true -And $state_migrationpoint_localpath -eq “”){
$state_migrationpoint_localpath = Read-Host “Enter the path your state migration point should use to store data (use quotes, for example: “C:\USMT”)”
}
if($distributionpointgroup -eq “”) {
$distributionpointgroup = Read-Host “Enter the name of the group you wish your distribution point to be a member of (for example OGD Production Site)”
}
if($add_schedule -eq $true){
if($block_size -eq 0){
$block_size = Read-Host(“Specify the maximum block size in KB for the Pulse Rate (min 1, max 256)”)
}
if($block_delay -eq 0){
$block_delay = Read-Host(“Specify the delay between blocks (min 1, max 30)”)
}
if([int]$block_delay -gt 30) {[int]$block_delay = 30}
if([int]$block_delay -lt 1) {[int]$block_delay = 1}
if([int]$block_size -gt 256) {[int]$block_size = 256}
if([int]$block_size -lt 1) {[int]$block_size = 1}
}

#bind to correct site
Set-Location $site_code”:”
#summarize
Write-Host “”
Write-Host “”
Write-Host “We have enough information to proceed, the following will take place:”
Write-Host ” * A distribution point will be added to site $site_code”
Write-Host ” * The FQDN is $server_name”
Write-Host ” * A Content Library will be placed on drive $driveletter_plibrary”
Write-Host ” * A Content Share will be placed on drive $driveletter_pshare”
Write-Host ” * The DP will be added to the $distributionpointgroup group”
if($add_statemigrationpoint -eq $true){
Write-Host ” * A state migration point will be added”
Write-Host ” * State Migration Point Storage Path: $state_migrationpoint_localpath”
$folders = New-CMStorageFolder -StorageFolderName $state_migrationpoint_localpath -MaximumClientNumber 100 -MinimumFreeSpace 100 -SpaceUnit Megabyte
}else{
Write-Host ” * A state migration point will NOT be added”
}
if($add_schedule -eq $true){
Write-Host ” * Rate Limitation will be set to $block_size KB per $block_delay seconds according to schedule in config”
}else{
Write-Host ” * Rate Limitation will NOT be configured”
}

Write-Host “”
$options = [System.Management.Automation.Host.ChoiceDescription[]]($ja,$nee)
$prompt = $host.ui.PromptForChoice(“”,”Do you wish to proceed?”,$options,0)
Write-Host “”
if($prompt -eq 1) {
Write-Host “Cancelled…”
Exit
}

new-CMSiteSystemServer -ServerName $server_name -SiteCode $site_code

add-CMdistributionpoint -SiteSystemServerName $server_name -SiteCode $site_code -CertificateExpirationTimeUtc “Monday, January 2, 2017 1:00:00 AM” -MinimumFreeSpaceMB 5000 -InstallInternetServer -PrimaryContentLibraryLocation $driveletter_plibrary -PrimaryPackageShareLocation $driveletter_pshare -EnablePxeSupport -AllowRespondIncomingPxeRequest -EnableUnknownComputerSupport

add-CMDistributionPointToGroup -DistributionPointName $server_name -DistributionPointGroupName $distributionpointgroup
if($add_statemigrationpoint -eq $true){
add-cmstatemigrationpoint -EnableRestoreOnlyMode $false -sitesystemservername $server_name -sitecode $site_code -storagefolders $folders -TimeDeleteAfter 7 -TimeUnit Days -AllowFallBackSourceLocationForContent $false
}

if($add_schedule -eq $true){

$Percent = 100
$UsageAsBackup = @($true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true,$true)

$RateLimitingSchedule = @($Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent,$Percent)

$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS = “SMS_SCI_ADDRESS”
$class_SMS_SCI_ADDRESS = [wmiclass]””
$class_SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.psbase.Path =”ROOT\SMS\Site_$($site_code):$($SMS_SCI_ADDRESS)”

$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS = $class_SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.CreateInstance()
# Set the UsageSchedule For Weekdays
$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule = “SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule”
$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule_class = [wmiclass]””
$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule_class.psbase.Path = “ROOT\SMS\Site_$($site_code):$($SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule)”
$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule = $SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule_class.createInstance()
$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule.Backup = $UsageAsBackup
$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule.HourUsage = $HourUsageScheduleWeekdays
$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule.Update = $true

# Set the UsageSchedule For Weekend
$SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend = “SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule”
$SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend_class = [wmiclass]””
$SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend_class.psbase.Path = “ROOT\SMS\Site_$($site_code):$($SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend)”
$SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend = $SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend_class.createInstance()
$SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend.Backup = $UsageAsBackup
$SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend.HourUsage = $HourUsageScheduleWeekend
$SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend.Update = $true

$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.UsageSchedule = @($SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend,$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule,$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule,$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule,$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule,$SMS_SiteControlDaySchedule,$SMS_SiteControlDayScheduleWeekend)

$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.RateLimitingSchedule = $RateLimitingSchedule

$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.AddressPriorityOrder = “0”
$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.AddressType = “MS_LAN”
$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.DesSiteCode = “$($server_name)”
$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.DestinationType = “1”
$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.SiteCode = “$($site_code)”
$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.UnlimitedRateForAll = $false

# Set the embedded Properties
$embeddedpropertyList = $null
$embeddedproperty_class = [wmiclass]””
$embeddedproperty_class.psbase.Path = “ROOT\SMS\Site_$($site_code):SMS_EmbeddedPropertyList”
$embeddedpropertyList = $embeddedproperty_class.createInstance()
$embeddedpropertyList.PropertyListName = “Pulse Mode”
$embeddedpropertyList.Values = @(1,$block_size,$block_delay) #second value is size of data block in KB, third is delay between data blocks in seconds

$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.PropLists += $embeddedpropertyList

$embeddedproperty = $null
$embeddedproperty_class = [wmiclass]””
$embeddedproperty_class.psbase.Path = “ROOT\SMS\Site_$($site_code):SMS_EmbeddedProperty”
$embeddedproperty = $embeddedproperty_class.createInstance()
$embeddedproperty.PropertyName = “Connection Point”
$embeddedproperty.Value = “0”
$embeddedproperty.Value1 = “$($server_name)”
$embeddedproperty.Value2 = “SMS_DP$”
$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.Props += $embeddedproperty

$embeddedproperty = $null
$embeddedproperty_class = [wmiclass]””
$embeddedproperty_class.psbase.Path = “ROOT\SMS\Site_$($site_code):SMS_EmbeddedProperty”
$embeddedproperty = $embeddedproperty_class.createInstance()
$embeddedproperty.PropertyName = “LAN Login”
$embeddedproperty.Value = “0”
$embeddedproperty.Value1 = “”
$embeddedproperty.Value2 = “”
$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.Props += $embeddedproperty

$SMS_SCI_ADDRESS.Put() | Out-Null
}
#In case your executionpolicy is restricted and you can’t modify it, paste these lines before calling the script
#Copyright Oisin Grehan
#START (remove #’s)
#function Disable-ExecutionPolicy {
#($ctx = $executioncontext.gettype().getfield(“_context”,”nonpublic,instance”).getvalue($executioncontext)).gettype().getfield(“_authorizationManager”,”nonpublic,instance”).setvalue($ctx, (new-object System.Management.Automation.AuthorizationManager “Microsoft.PowerShell”))
#}
#Disable-ExecutionPolicy
#END