WSUS: Update Classifications Explained...

I'm in the process of setting up A Software Update Point (SUP) with SCCM 2012. When I was settung up the "Update Classifications" portion I have to admit I was a little bit confused about what some of the classifications actually meant. I did a little digging, found what each one dies and I thought I'd post it here for reference:

• Critical updates:
  Broadly released fixes for specific problems addressing critical, non-security related bugs.


• Definition Updates:
  Updates to anti-malware or other definition files.


• Feature Packs:
  New product functionality usually included in the next full product release.


• Security Updates:
  Broadly released fixes for specific products, addressing security issues.


• Service Packs:
  Cumulative sets of all hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates created since the release of the product. Service packs might also contain a limited number of customer-requested design changes or features.
• Tools:
  Utilities or features that aid in accomplishing a task or set of tasks.


• Update Rollups:
  Cumulative sets of hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates packaged together for easy deployment. A rollup generally targets a specific area, such as security, or a specific component, such as Internet Information Services (IIS).
• Updates:
  Broadly released fixes for specific problems addressing non-critical, non-security related bugs.

Hope this helps someone!

Books: 'The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea' by Michael Harney

I got a copy of this as a gift recently. If you'd like to learn more about the varieties of tea in the world, where they come from, how they are made, the history behind them, etc then this is the book for you. Michael Harney does a very good job breaking down each type of tea and even introduced me to a few I had never heard of. Michael also outlines the history of each type of tea he covers along with providing lots of his own personal anecdotes and experiences as he journeys to other countries in search of the perfect "cuppa". If you're a tea snob I highly recommend getting copy of this book. Be warned though. Michael has lived and amazing tea-centric life. If you're like me you'll be very jealous of his experiences and want to plan your own expeditions to foreign lands in search of tea...

The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea @ Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Harney-Sons-Guide-Tea/dp/1594201382

SCCM 2012: “*** *** Unknown SQL Error!” entries in SCCM log files

I had some major issues with this last error on our new SCCM 2012 server week. I worked on it for two solid days before I cried uncle and finally called Microsoft. Turns out the issue was caused when one of our database guys moved my SCCM database to a separate drive for "performance tuning". Since it was such a tough nut for us to crack I thought I'd post about it. According to the person I spoke with at Microsoft the SCCM database owner should *ALWAYS* be the "sa" account. Moving databases in SQL Server can cause the database ownership to change from “sa” to the user account of the person performing the move. If this happens the SCCM database owner *must* be changed back to "sa". A symptom of this issue is a constant string of “*** *** Unknown SQL Error!” entries in the SCCM log files every time it tries to write to the database.

Also when you need to make database configuration changes its a good idea to log into the SCCM server using your SCCM service account (which you should have set up prior to installing SCCM) and make all changes under that account so that if ownership does change at least the ownership will be designated to the SCCM service account and not your personal user account. This will ensure that your user-specific domain account is not accidentally given ownership of some SCCM-critical database related item. Plus (while it may not work every time) there’s a good chance that even if the SCCM service account somehow gets ownership of the item you change there’s it *could* continue to function just fine (as this account should have been set up by you as a local admin on your  SCCM Server and also as a SysAdmin on your SQL Server).


Here's a couple of useful SQL queries to help troubleshoot this issue (run from SQL Server Management Studio):

-- Check Database ownership:
EXEC sp_helpdb

-- Change a Database owner to 'SA'
USE <myDatabaseName>
GO
EXEC sp_changedbowner 'sa'


System Center: 2012 Product Families released!

I've not posted in a while because I've been int he thick of a Configuration Manager 2012 rollout at work. I've had some interesting experiences with setting this up and I plan to blog about them in the near future. For now here's some links if you are planning to get started on this yourself:

Microsoft Server & Cloud Platform Products & Solutions Site:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Survival Guide:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/7075.system-center-2012-configuration-manager-survival-guide-en-us.aspx

Good luck getting started! Just remember its a beast if you don't set things up properly out the gate so take your time, plan-plan-plan and test-test-test!

Vinacafe: Not Tea, but still darn good...

I was big into coffee before switching to tea, not su much anymore.  However I do like the occasional cup of what i now refer to as the "lesser brew" from time to time. Being a tea snob you'd think I'd demand some sort of custom roast in my coffee, but actually I typically prefer just a standard medium roast with a little cream and sugar (darker roasts just taste burned to me). I did always demand that it be freshly brewed at least. Perish the thought of every trying "instant coffee". Needless to say I was amazed when a coworker of mine introduced me to what has to be the best instant coffe on the planet, Vinacafe:

http://www.vinacafeusa.com/

Each pack of Vinacafe consists of a bunch of smaller satchels of dehydrated espresso, cream and a bit of sugar. Just empty one satchel into a standard-size coffee mug, add water and you have a nice hot coffee beverage that tastes like it was *literally* brewed seconds ago. I was utterly amazed at how something so quick and easy to prepare could be so utterly delicious! I recently stocked up on these (they are gloriously cheap) and plan to keep them on-hand in the future if I ever get an urge for coffee. Given them a try! They are wonderful!

SCCM SQL Query: Disk Usage Reports

I can't take credit for all the SQL in this report, but I did tweak it enough to make it my own. Just change "FCM.CollectionID = 'SMS000DS'" to reflect the Collection ID of whatever Collection you want to run the report against. In my case I'm using the built-in collection for all servers:

 List all servers with Disk Usage Summary:

SELECT DISTINCT FCM.Name AS 'Computer Name', LDSK.DeviceID0 'Drive Letter', LDSK.Description0, LDSK.VolumeName0, LDSK.FreeSpace0 AS 'Free Space (MB)', LDSK.FreeSpace0/1024 AS 'Free Space (GB)', LDSK.FreeSpace0*100/LDSK.Size0 AS 'Free Space (%)', LDSK.Size0/1024 AS 'Total Space (GB)' FROM v_FullCollectionMembership FCM JOIN v_GS_LOGICAL_DISK LDSK on FCM.ResourceID = LDSK.ResourceID JOIN v_R_System SYS ON FCM.ResourceID = SYS.ResourceID WHERE LDSK.DriveType0 = 3 AND LDSK.Size0 > 0 AND FCM.CollectionID = 'SMS000DS' ORDER BY FCM.Name, LDSK.DeviceID0

SCCM SQL Query: List all systems by 'Computer Description'

Upper management made the decision to create a standardized convention for computers on our network based on the Computer Description field in Windows. They wanted a quick report to show what was already there for everything on the network. This query did the trick :

SELECT DISTINCT CS.Name0 AS 'Computer Name', CS.UserName0, OS.Description0 AS 'Computer Description' FROM v_GS_OPERATING_SYSTEM OS, v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM CS WHERE CS.ResourceID = OS.ResourceID ORDER BY CS.Name0
Hope you find it useful.

Tea: Hao Ya 'A' is a *fantastic* morning brew

If you are a morning coffee drinker looking to make the switch to tea then you just can't beat a good Keemun. These teas actually hail from a Chinese city called 'Keemun' and tend to produce a really intense cup with a nice amber liquor. Its these qualities that make them suitable coffee replacements for any morning routine. I've even had a friend go as far a adding half & half to a good Keemun, but I prefer mine with plain old sugar and milk. My favorite Keemun is the Hao Ya 'A' from Harney and Sons:

http://www.harney.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=3880&category=0&secondary=867