What solution are you guys using for OS deployment these days?

[kellybrooks86]

What are you using for creating app-v packages?

[kellybrooks86]

Has anyone used chocolatey? Personally, I stick to SCCM.

[sparkeh]

@localzuk What did you decide in the end? To stick with or ditch SCCM?

 

Contrary to my earlier post, I have been having a 'mare with sccm and am considering dropping it too. The last couple of updates have caused issues with OSD and Windows 10 updates are driving me up the wall (though this might not be entirely sccm's fault, not sure yet). It used to make my life easier, now its just giving me so many headaches.

[localzuk]

I looked at a variety of ideas, but for what we need it seems SCCM is the only real option that we can afford. If we were a single site, I'd be happy using PDQDeploy and Fog, but as we have a half dozen sites, with different domains etc..., they don't seem quite up to the task - (Well, Fog is, but PDQDeploy isn't really).

 

Throw in the remote support part of SCCM and that'd be something else we'd have to replace too.

 

So, SCCM it is for us, wrinkles and all.

[mikeyd101]

Using fat image WDS / MDT here, but thinking about trying to move to SCCM mainly to replace our management software solarwinds n-central but nervous about it. I'm also starting to looking into MDT Database to hold machine names and deployment options for as close to zero touch as I can get.

 

Was watching some ignite sessions and now doubting move to SCCM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jULZkDUG6Rs&t=1933s

[mullet_man]

@mikeyd101 am using MDT with a fat image created in a VM. It works well but I've now started to move my app deployments from GP to SCCM and am going to try and trim down my fat image to include as little apps as possible. Probably just CS6 and Office 2016. I know I'd could push them out with SCCM too but CS6 takes an age to install so would add a pretty big delay in imaging.

[cpjitservices]

MDT / WDS and Acronis.

[ozydave]

SCCM here

[ReadTheNetwork]

Another SCCM user here. Thin images with just the OS and updates and push all software out pending on the machine etc (I realise it's not as quick but makes my life easier in the long run). Most applications are APP-V. Occasionally have a few niggles with a couple of machines but overall, not had many problems.

 

Otherwise WDS and FOG are my alternative deployments. Not used FOG for a long time, so not sure how much it has improved.

 

Maybe there should be a new thread just for SCCM? So people can post problems and fixes etc.

[NB9457]

Is SCCM easy enough to set up?

[ReadTheNetwork]

I struggled to begin with, it took me a while to get used to it. I followed WindowsNoob guide https://www.windows-noob.com/forums/topic/4045-step-by-step-guides-system-center-2012-r2-configuration-manager/

[sparkeh]

Yes the Windows Noob guides are invaluable.

 

Personally I found the set up easy, its when things go wrong its a PITA.

[ozydave]

As others have said the Noob guides are great.

From memory the only real pain was getting all the install prerequisites.

[sted]

As others have said the Noob guides are great.

From memory the only real pain was getting all the install prerequisites.

 

and remembering to install sql in a non default roman mode iirc (not deployed it mdt does fine for me but tested on vms)

[sparkeh]

and remembering to install sql in a non default roman mode iirc (not deployed it mdt does fine for me but tested on vms)

Ah yeah good tip.

 

Another I recommend is to limit the size of the report DB log. Just had to deal with 60gb log eating up free space. I usually change the report db backup mode to simple as well.

[ReadTheNetwork]

Another I recommend is to limit the size of the report DB log. Just had to deal with 60gb log eating up free space. I usually change the report db backup mode to simple as well.

 

Good point!

[Blue_Cookeh]

I'd say that SCCM is fantastic at what it does, but as others have said when something goes wrong, it generally really goes wrong. I think one thing to bare in mind is that businesses that use SCCM generally have teams of people dedicated to just SCCM, for example MDM admins, application packagers, OS deployment specialists etc.

 

That said, for the Edu pricing on it I can't recommend it to schools enough. A teacher recently asked me to install Scratch on all our netbooks, spent half an hour packaging and deploying it as ASAP and our machines had all picked it up within 30 mins of being turned on. It also allows me to deploy Win10 and all our apps (two of them are 20 and 30GB each...) to 45 netbooks in roughly 2 and a half hours. It's an entirely zero touch deployment (apart from new machines which prompt for a computer name and staff/pupil role) and a clean WIM that has all our applications and tweaks installed as part of the task sequence. This makes any new OS upgrades dead easy since I can just swap the WIM out.

 

If you're doing deployments to IT suites etc I would highly recommend taking the time to setup Multicast deployment in SCCM and on your switches since that speeds it up loads too.

Edited May 6, 2017 by Blue_Cookeh

[mukz]

Completely agree with Blue_Cookeh about setting up multicast.

 

Also if you are dell house, use the sccm integrations to do drivers, bios n all other sorts