SCCM - Which OS & SQL version?

[sidewinder]

I would like to get SCCM up and running in the school, mainly because our Sophos subscription runs out next month and it would be good to take advantage of Forefront and also everything else that SCCM offers

However as it looks like SUCH a pain in the arse to setup, if I have to do it I'd rather only have to do it once for quite a while.

 

So:

 

Server 2008 R2 or 2012?

SQL 2008 R2 or 2012? And I've read that SCCM is fussy about specific versions of SQL too?

And go with SCCM 2012 SP1 or just wait for 2012 R2?

 

I've been looking over the Windows Noob guides but its hard to know since the original guide is quite old now, and there is an SP1 upgrade guide but not a new installation guide that I can find

 

Or for a school with 150 computers is it just not worth the effort?

[FN-GM]

There isn't much (if any) between the RTM and SP 1 installer. If you plan to use OSD i would go for Server 2012 as that will support UEFI PXE booting.

 

To be honest i would go with Server 2012 and SQL 2012 anyways.

[synaesthesia]

It's fine to set up if you follow a good set of instructions - windows noob will do you just fine.

Wait for Windows 2012 R2 (very, very soon) and use that. SQL 2012 with the latest service pack and cumulative update.

 

150 machines isn't many but for the cost, if you've got EES anyway is probably worth it. You'll have the benefits of the forefront management, wsus, deployment etc built in so not many reasons not to.

[sidewinder]

Thanks for the replies. Will try with 2012 and SQL 2012 then.

[free780]

Then you'll come back when you forget bits/rdc/wds/ad extend schema/wsus/sql collation . Dont fotget the culmative updates if u just do 2012sp1 instead or r2. Is pretty cool waking a pc building it without having to touch it.