Workshop Powershell for System Center Configuration Manager

You can run Configuration Manager cmdlets and scripts by using the Configuration Manager console or by using a Windows PowerShell session. When you run Configuration Manager cmdlets by using the Configuration Manager console, your session runs in the context of the site. 

You can load the module directly in the SCCM Console.
You can also Remotly access the module with Enter-Pssession

The Powershell Module is in : CD 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Configuration Manager\AdminConsole\bin' 
Go on this folder and type : Import-Module .\ConfigurationManager.psd1

Configuration Manager Cmdlets : https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/configurationmanager/?view=sccm-ps

Resource discovery detects and acquires information about network resources. By using resource discovery, you can search a network for resources that you can use and manage with Configuration Manager.

A resource is an object that is discovered by one of the available Configuration Manager discovery methods. During resource discovery, resource information can come from a variety of sources, including:

·        Active Directory objects such as users, groups, and computers

·        Site systems

·        Routers

·        Printers

·        Other IP-addressable devices on your network

You can use the discovered resources to create custom queries and to organize resources into collections that you can use for management tasks, such as software deployments.

We will use CmdLET like Get-CMDiscoveryMethod, Set-CMDiscoveryMethod  and Invoke-CMSystemDiscovery.....

Second Part of the discovey Methods, We will see how to customize system discovery and add special OU.

We will use CmdLet like Set-CMDiscoveryMethod -ActiveDirectorySystemDiscovery, New-CMSchedule  ....

Creating and using collections is a fundamental aspect of Configuration Manager. Within Configuration Manager, collections represent resource groups that consist of devices, such as computers and mobile devices, or users and user groups from all of the hierarchy’s sites.

You can use collections to accomplish several management and configuration tasks, including:

Organizing resources into manageable units to create an organized and logical structure of resources.

Organizing collections of target resources to simultaneously perform Configuration Manager operations on multiple resources. Configuration Manager operations can include application deployments and the installation of software updates.

Targeting groups of computers with specific configurations, such as:

• Client settings.

• Power management settings.

• Maintenance window settings.

• Organizing computers based on their compliance status, with a specific baseline.

• Integrating with role-based administration to specify collections that a specific administrative user can access.

We will use CmdLet like New-CMDeviceCollection, New-CMUserCollection, New-CMDeviceCollection ....

A site boundary is a network location that contains one or more devices you want to manage or resources you want to provide to clients. Often, your network infrastructure is separated into several network locations, each of which contains network clients.

Boundary groups assemble boundaries into logical groups for management. All combined boundaries within a single boundary group are assumed to have a high-speed connection between them. Boundary groups provide Site assignment and locate the DP, SUP, State migration and MP

In this lecture, we will how to manage Boundaries and how to manage Managing Boundary Group.

We will use CmdLet like New-CMBoundary, Get-CMBoundary, Set-CMBoundary, Remove-CMBoundary...

Client push installation. This method pushes the Configuration Manager client software to client computers.
You can automate this deployment method so that client installation occurs on systems assigned to the site, or you can manually initiate a client push installation to any discovered system supported for client installation.

This method uses a client push installation account which is configured in the Configuration Manager console. Client push installation also requires exceptions to the Windows Firewall. If the site server cannot contact the client computer, or the setup process cannot be started, it will repeat the installation attempt every hour for up to 7 days.

We will use Cmdlet like get-CMClientPushInstallation, Install-CMClient ....

The client settings are features that you enable or not on your collections.

You configure the Default Client Settings object with settings that will apply to all clients. The Default Client Settings object always has a priority of 10,000, and you cannot change this setting.

The Default Client Settings object is applied first and custom settings overrides the default settings when you assign them to collections. You can configure custom settings for any of the categories—or a combination of those categories—found in the Default Client Settings object.

We will use CmdLet like Get-CMClientSetting, New-CMClientSetting, Set-CMClientSetting, Remove-CMClientSetting ....

SCCM client makes regular calls to its MP to download policies to tell to the client what feature will be enable or disable.

These calls are made at 60 minute intervals . You can run a invoke command to download updated policy rather than going on the device and run a refresh action

Configuration Manager provides content to clients through distribution points. Before you can use Configuration Manager to deploy software to a client device, you must have at least one distribution point that the client can access. You then can implement additional distribution points as necessary to provide efficient access to content as client devices install deployed software.

Distribution points host content files for Applications, Packages, Software updates and Operating system deployments

Configuration Manager distribution points store files that Configuration Manager clients use. A Configuration Manager client needs access to at least one distribution point. You can deploy distribution points to computers that run server operating systems, such as Windows Server 2016, to computers that run client operating systems, such as Windows 10, and to Microsoft Azure with your Azure subscription.

The content library hosts content files. These files include software updates, operating-system deployment images, and files related to packages and applications. Each site server and distribution point hosts a content library.

We will use CmdLet like New-CMSiteSystemServer, Add-CMDistributionPoint  .....