SCCM - What, when, why, how. Never used it before. licensing question.

[DCUK6]

Hi All,

 

I've always seen people praise SCCM but have never got around to looking into it.

 

Out antivirus is just about to run out and after reading several posts on here about using SCCM protection i think its time i had a look into it.

 

 

We have EES licensing from Microsoft in the school, Do we get the new 2016 version free with this?

 

What about SQL server, do/how do we get this, is it free also?

 

If anyone has any good guides/info about SCCM then i would really appreciate it!

 

Many thanks,

[DCUK6]

Hi All,

 

I've always seen people praise SCCM but have never got around to looking into it.

 

Out antivirus is just about to run out and after reading several posts on here about using SCCM protection i think its time i had a look into it.

 

 

We have EES licensing from Microsoft in the school, Do we get the new 2016 version free with this?

 

What about SQL server, do/how do we get this, is it free also?

 

If anyone has any good guides/info about SCCM then i would really appreciate it!

 

Many thanks,

[Oaktech]

SCCM desktop clients are included in your EES, Server clients have to be licenced as a server with SCCM client installed (i don't actually know if it makes a difference in price) and you get the SQL instance for free too as long as you only run the SCCM site database on it.

[Oaktech]

SCCM desktop clients are included in your EES, Server clients have to be licenced as a server with SCCM client installed (i don't actually know if it makes a difference in price) and you get the SQL instance for free too as long as you only run the SCCM site database on it.

[sparkeh]

• SCCM is awesome, try it out but don't be overwhelmed
  
• Licencing depends on how you setup your agreement. Client CALs are in the desktop pack. Servers need to be licenced separately.
  
• Rather than separate version with big upgrades, SCCM has moved to the SaaS model, so you need to be looking at SCCM Current Branch.
  
• You can run an instance of SQL for SCCM as part of the licencing (but only for use with SCCM).
  
• Here's a great resource to get you up and running: https://www.windows-noob.com/forums/topic/13288-step-by-step-guides-system-center-configuration-manager-current-branch/
  

Edited March 2, 2017 by sparkeh

[sparkeh]

• SCCM is awesome, try it out but don't be overwhelmed
  
• Licencing depends on how you setup your agreement. Client CALs are in the desktop pack. Servers need to be licenced separately.
  
• Rather than separate version with big upgrades, SCCM has moved to the SaaS model, so you need to be looking at SCCM Current Branch.
  
• You can run an instance of SQL for SCCM as part of the licencing (but only for use with SCCM).
  
• Here's a great resource to get you up and running: https://www.windows-noob.com/forums/topic/13288-step-by-step-guides-system-center-configuration-manager-current-branch/
  

Edited March 2, 2017 by sparkeh

[DCUK6]

Thanks both,

 

Gunna take a look into it tomorrow as im so knackered im struggling to work out even which one is the right one on the VLSC page

 

 

• Microsoft System Center 2016 Standard
  
  • Microsoft System Center Client Management Suite
    
    • System Center Config Mgr (current branch and LTSB 1606) - Going by sparkeh post, this looks like the one but unsure of the other
      

     

     

    Looks like they used to do it with SQL but now its separate.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

[sparkeh]

System Center Config Mgr (current branch and LTSB 1606)

That's the fella. Once installed you will see an update to take it to version 1610 (to get to latest version SCCM works with a base version then updates to that base, if you see what I mean).

If memory serves, you can install SQL during setup.

 

edit: Wait I just noticed this on the MSVLC "This license includes use rights to System Center Virtual Machine Manager " - didn't know that

Edited March 2, 2017 by sparkeh

[supawat1]

Core infrastructure suite 2016 combined Windows server 2016 and System Center 2016

[SHimmer45]

Core infrastructure suite 2016 combined Windows server 2016 and System Center 2016

 

not need to install as its already built in? just click and go to a point?

[Arthur]

not need to install as its already built in? just click and go to a point?

Only the licensing is combined. Nothing else.

[markwilfan]

9GA-00330- MICROSOFT CISSTESTDCORE LICSAPK 2LIC F 1Y AP

 

9GS-00160- MICROSOFT EDU CORE INFR SRV STE DAC

 

These are the part numbers. Top one is standard server with infrastructure cal. 2nd one is datacentre with infrastructure cal. Both are 2 core packs so you need to buy a minimum of 8 per server

[SHimmer45]

Only the licensing is combined. Nothing else.

 

would have been very wishful thinking to assume it might be ready to go

[Linfit]

I started on this from scratch beginning of Jan. I would advise you read any install/user guides you can find very carefully - read several of the on-line ones as some skip some parts or are not explicit enough. If you then follow accumulated information from the guides its straightforward, although time consuming, but miss a step and its a whole world of pain.

 

In particular, get the structure/config/spec of the server its going on correct before you start.

Be aware of the pre-requisites and make sure you install them all, in the right order, and all the relevant bits of SQL.

I did not install all the reporting bits and that broke it sufficiently that I had to start again.

[DCUK6]

Thanks all,

 

Just installing a new server to start trialling it out.

 

Have until the 10th to get at least the desktop protection up and running as our current AV is about to expire.

[Fazza]

We have been using SCCM for a few years now and it's brilliant!

 

We would have been using it sooner but were too busy to have a play at installing it but then we had no choice as we were having a DDOS attack coming from a computer internally so we installed SCCM over a couple of days and then deployed the client to everyone and soon we could see the AntiVirus/Malware results and could see which computer was performing the attack and the laptop (and user) was dealt with very swiftly.

 

We don't use SCCM to it's full potential, just for Endpoint Protection, imaging a computer via PXE and publishing software to the Software Centre so end users can install software on their computers themselves.

[DCUK6]

SQL, WSUS, and most prerequisites installed now.

 

Takes a while to get it going but hopefully once WSUS has finished doing its thing il run the SCCM installer and everything will be ok.

 

Spent a fair few hours just researching and installing though.

[Fazza]

SQL, WSUS, and most prerequisites installed now.

 

Takes a while to get it going but hopefully once WSUS has finished doing its thing il run the SCCM installer and everything will be ok.

 

Spent a fair few hours just researching and installing though.

 

What is WSUS doing? All you need to do is install it and you must not configure it else SCCM wont install as it configures it itself?

[DCUK6]

ah, may have done that bit wrong then.

 

Any way of rolling back wsus to preconfigured?

 

Looks like im going to have to uninstall the role, delete the DB and the contents folder.

Edited March 6, 2017 by DCUK6

[Fazza]

If it's a VM then did you take a checkpoint/snapshot you could fall back on?

 

If it was me and I didnt have a checkpoint/snapshot to fall back on then I'd start again to make sure you dont have any issues in the future.

 

Are you following any guides? If not then I can recommend this one: https://prajwaldesai.com/installing-wsus-for-configuration-manager-2012-r2/

 

[DCUK6]

Uninstalled the wsus role, deleted the contents and the database.

 

Then reinstalled the WSUS role.

 

Took a snapshot after doing this though.

 

SCCM is installing now, will see what happens. Currently at 40 minutes elapsed time.