This year has started very intense for me, have become a father and all that comes with that.
This week i taught the MS6451 – Planning, Deploying and Managing Microsoft Systems Center Configuration Manager 2007. Its a five day instructor led course with variation of theory and laborations. I find it a good course to get introduced to the product and a good start for your certification studies.
The Course Objectives are:
- Provide an overview of Configuration Manager 2007.
- Plan and deploy a single-site architecture.
- Plan and deploy Configuration Manager 2007 clients.
- Collect inventory and configure software metering.
- Query and report data.
- Prepare for and manage software distribution.
- Deploy operating systems using Configuration Manager 2007.
- Deploy and manage software updates.
- Work with desired configuration management in Configuration Manager 2007.
- Work with Configuration Manager remote tools and Wake On LAN features.
- Manage mobile devices using Configuration Manager 2007.
- Maintain and troubleshoot Configuration Manager 2007.
- Plan and configure a multiple-site hierarchy.
The Center for Information Technology published a report on how to bypass some hard drive encryption’s.I find this very interesting and I guess some of you might as well so below is an abstract from their site and a link to it for you to look at.
Abstract Contrary to popular assumption, DRAMs used in most modern computers retain their contents for seconds to minutes after power is lost, even at operating temperatures and even if removed from a motherboard. Although DRAMs become less reliable when they are not refreshed, they are not immediately erased, and their contents persist sufficiently for malicious (or forensic) acquisition of usable full-system memory images. We show that this phenomenon limits the ability of an operating system to protect cryptographic key material from an attacker with physical access. We use cold reboots to mount attacks on popular disk encryption systems — BitLocker, FileVault, dm-crypt, and TrueCrypt — using no special devices or materials. We experimentally characterize the extent and predictability of memory remanence and report that remanence times can be increased dramatically with simple techniques. We offer new algorithms for finding cryptographic keys in memory images and for correcting errors caused by bit decay. Though we discuss several strategies for partially mitigating these risks, we know of no simple remedy that would eliminate them.
http://citp.princeton.edu/memory/
Today I recceived my result for the 70-401 exam and I passed. 
The exam will be available for the public in March -08. If you want to take the exam the MOC 6451 is a good way to prepare for it. If you want to study yourself I have posted the link to the preparation guide below.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-401.mspx
Good Luck
The beta is now available for Configuration Manager SP1 and R2, its an open beta so its just to go to this link and register for it. Enjoy !
https://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=16
Windows Server update Services SP1 has been released as of yesterday, so now its possible to install WSUS on on Windows Server 2008.
Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Service Pack 1 delivers important customer-requested mangement, stability, and performance improvements, while incorporating further enhancements to local publishing of drivers and the Client Servicing API addition.
WSUS 3.0 SP1 delivers new features that enable administrators to more easily manage and deploy updates across the organization. This package installs both the WSUS 3.0 Server and WSUS 3.0 Administration Console components, for all Windows Server 2003 SP1 supported languages. Additionally, the WSUS 3.0 SP1 client is included in all supported client platform languages. You must install the server components on a computer running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later. You may install the Administration Console on a remote computer running Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003 SP1, or Windows XP SP2.
WSUS 3.0 SP1 Server Installation on Windows Small Business Server 2003
Download @ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=F87B4C5E-4161-48AF-9FF8-A96993C688DF&displaylang=en
Happy bug hunting
At the moment there are no plans to use the System Center Capacity Planner for Configuration Manager, instead you will have to use the online documentation. Some good reference links when planning our site will be found below.
Planning and Deploying the Server Infrastructure for Configuration Manager 2007
Configuration Manager Single Site Planning and Deployment
Configuration Manager Site Capacity Planning
Configuration Manager Site System Planning
You can still use the SMS 2003 Capacity Planner for some usage but you will have to count with that configuration Manager will require more hardware and bandwidth than SMS 2003. Of course depending on what new functionality you will be using in your environment for Configuration Manager 2007. But at least it will point you in a rough direction.
Yesterday the SMS 2003 Sp3 Asset intelligence update was released, this relase will keep the Asset Intelligence for SMS 2003 SP3 up to the same level as the RTM for Configuration Manager 2007 has.
It contains more software information and is ONLY intended for SMS 2003 SP3, keep in mind that there will be a update for Configuration Manager with the SP1 release.
Download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3653e00b-6a0f-4226-87d7-02d3df2147d7&displaylang=en
Config Mgr | stesch | 
February 29, 2008 17:00 | 
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