Last Friday at the Minnesota System Center Users Group I had the pleasure of seeing Wally Mead speak! His session lasted about three hours and he covered Config Manger 2012 SP1.
Configuration Manger 2012 – SP1 – probably won’t be released until Windows 8 is released.
Windows 8
No more WAIK.
WAIK is replaced by the ADK (Assessment and Deployment Kit) – ADK is a separate download
Adding support for UEFI-32 and 64 bit
This is the thing that happens between BIOS and CTRL-ALT-DEL or something like that!
Always on always connected (AOAC)
Newer slate devices have this
Helps preserve battery life
Configuration Mgr can no longer keep the OS from sleeping
Configuration Mgr client behavior was adapted to be a good citizen to act differently in these new states
On battery only
Configuration manager will not perform non-end user initiated tasks, unless those tasks were missed/overdue
On AC – normal Configuration Manger behavior
Network connected
No network – Configuration manger won’t attempt tasks that require network
Windows maintenance hour
Configuration Manger can take advantage of this new feature in Windows 8
New deployment type for METRO Apps.
Deep Links
End user goes to the Configuration Mgr 2012 Application Catalog. An application can be configured to download from the Windows Store
Thus, the SCCM admin does not need to repackage an application.
The downside is that instead of using a local DP for the content, the content will be hosted online.
Configuration Mgr SP1 can manage
Windows 8 Client Side Caching, Roaming User Profiles, Folder Redirection
Network Cost Support (only Windows 8 clients)
Configuration Manger can block network traffic if the Windows 8 machine is on a 3G or 4G network.
Windows To Go
Configuration Mgr can create and provision a Windows-To-Go device
New Platform Support
Supports more Nokia devices (E6, Nokia 701, Nokia C7, N8, Nokia 603)
Configuration Manger 2012 to Configuration Mgr 2012 migration
Scenario: you have two primary 2012 sites. You can only attach ONE of them to the new CAS. You would need to build another 2012 site and attach it to the CAS. Then you could migrate the standalone 2012 site to the newly attached one.
Scenario: lab to production
Granular control over SQL Server Replication
Server Infrastructure Support
Exchange connector support
E14 SP2
E15
SQL Server 2012 support (only for Configuration Mgr SP1)
End User Client UI improvements
Software Center supports multi-select
No more ActiveX control – it now depends on Silverlight 5
OS Deployment Improvements
Prestage media now supports additional content types
