ConfigMgr

Ready to move that database to my new SQL instance which I have installed on my Site Server, I start off the exercise SCCM Server: On the SCCM server I proceed with stopping the SCCM services. I am doing this just to try and ensure that the data will be as close to unchanged as possible during the exercise. Remote SQL: Next, on the SQL server instance currently hosting the active database, I proceed to use the SQL Server Management Studio to back up my Database to a File This process will take some time depending on the database size, and disk speeds, etc. SCCM Server: Now, on my new SQL server (which again I already installed on my SCCM Site Server), I will copy over the backup I just created from the shared SQL Server, to the Backup...

As the journey proceeds to move the databases off my shared SQL to local copies, I had the pleasure of yet another fantastic SQL related issue; this time really out to drive me nuts. Once more, My SCCM environment has chosen not to start, so back in my trusted SMSEXEC.LOG I have another fun message   Starting SMS_EXECUTIVE...     Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager v5.00 (Build 7711)     Copyright (C) 2011 Microsoft Corp.    SMS_EXECUTIVE    8/20/2012 4:12:09 AM    2544 (0x09F0) Running as a Win32 service.     Process ID: 2320     Worker thread ID: 2544     Certificate (0x398530) is Exportable     Initialize COM Security.     InitializeCOMSecurity: RegOpenKeyEx for appid key...

After my earlier venture in the troubled waters of SQL database loss, I figured that I had survived the worst that could come. That is until my SQL and Storage guys let me know that due to some on-going concerns with the Cluster, that they planned to destroy and rebuild. Gasping with the memories, I embraced the situation and opted to proceed with a local SQL 2008 R2 SP1 CU6 installation to be co-hosted on the same servers which are running my CAS and PRI sites. And being the ever so careful personally checked that I had database backups along with Server Backups (VM Snapshots in my case) of both my site servers. At this point I then proceeded to install SQL2008 R2 SP1 CU6 on each of the two systems, which was pretty event free… That was until I checked my...

If you followed some of my earlier posts you will be aware that I recently deployed my first SCCM 2012 environment into production, and as part of the process I made a number of decision’s regarding the architecture and roles: I opted to utilize a remote SQL Cluster to host both my instances for SCCM And chose to deploy both a Central Administration Site (CAS) and Primary Site (PRI) in my environment. Over the last number of weeks, I have being considering what additional value I actually got from implementing the CAS, and questioning whether I would take this same approach if I needed to redeploy again… and honestly, I was trending towards the keeping it simple option, as I expect I will never hit the limits of a single primary side in terms of scale. ...

In this post I am going to cut back on screen shoots, and just focus on the main points, if you need deep dives, use the comments and ill try to help, and of course I can strongly recommend the top class guides by fellow MVP Niall Brady which are very technical with tons of great hints and tips. We will  hit the bullets that offer the road map to what I am installing on the servers, and why. At the end of this post we should have the basics all in place across the globe to start getting some work done and focusing on the objective. Server Prep Before I get on the the Configuration Manager installations, this is a little house keeping which needs to be taken care of first, nothing to technical. This should be installed on the 3 servers, just for kicks, and to...

As already presented, I am going to be implementing a Central Administration Site, along with a single primary site in my production environment. This initial build will use two instances from the pre-existing SQL Cluster, and 3 machines, one dedicated to the Central Site and the others for the Primary site. As this is production, the Active Directory and Certificate Services are already in place, however we will need to extend the Schema for Configuration Manager, and create its Container in the System OU. All my servers are created with Windows 2008 R2 Server with SP1 and current Hot Fixes installed, and functioning members of the production domain. AD Permissions As the primary site will be leveraging my Domain controllers which are located in each of the...