System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Folder Creation Automation

I have created a script that will automate folder creation in SCCM 2012.  It is a simple script with no parameters.  You just run the script and follow the instructions.  If you want to bulk folder create the text file must be in the format where the folder names is per line.

Example.

folder name 1
folder name 2
folder name 3
folder name 4
.....

Here is a walk through.

Get Help:

Get-Help.

Single Folder Creation:

Single folder creation. 

Bulk Folder Creation:

Bulk folder creation. 

Click the download link to give it a try.

CM2012 Node Folder Creation v2.0

Enterprise Help Desk Dynamic Local Administrator

This application takes two strings and creates a calculated and complex password based on the input.   Now the local administrator’s password will be unique to each computer.

Here it is at screen launch:

A. The organization’s asset identification string.
B. The organization’s custom identification number.  Up to 10 digits long.
C. The selected password length for added complexity.
D. After all input is entered the user generates the complex password.
E. The result of the calculation.

Result:

The best part of this application is also supports it being used in the console.  This gives the application the ability to be scripted during an OSD build, deployed enterprise wide, or required update. Below is the console help menu and a PowerShell script I wrote to automate the process.  This is included in the *.zip file.

Enterprise Help Desk Dynamic Admin - Version 1.0.0.1

User Driven Installation (UDI) - Side-By-Side Migration

I have been working developing with the UDI editor in my test environment. As it stands right now I see no point in creating HTA files anymore.  The UDI wizard is awesome looks like .net framework windows, and you can customize the heck out of it. 

Here is my demo of my Side-By-Side migration.  

  

                                         

SCCM Team Blog: Introducing the Pull-Distribution Points

If you are one of the victims of bottle neck distribution points with a simplified hierarchy with no secondary sites then you are in luck. 

With Cumulative Update 1 to System Center Configuration Manager the added Pull-Distribution points corrects this issue. 

Read the explanation here:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrteam/archive/2013/06/06/introducing-the-pull-distribution-points.aspx

Visualizing Success

When approaching any new project what you will need to do is visualize your organization's success.  It doesn't matter if it is a internal project, external project, outsourcing project, multiple business unit change, you will need a road map for your success. 

Communication should be a key part of that success.  Everyone knows change affects people / groups in different ways.  Your worst enemy is the water cooler talk in any project.  This is where rumors get started and can lead to a very negative feeling on what the organization is trying to accomplish.  As a consultant this is something we need to grasp with the organization.  You will approach it lightly and see the customer's response.  If they have a good track record of organization wide communication then they will be driving force. If this is something new, you as the project / technical expert need to be that driving force.  

In you project team / group's meetings / sessions you will need to convey a communication road map that aligns with your success road map.  You will need a strong leader in the business to share the visualized success with their employees, as these can become you worse enemy when trying to visualize, implement, and train them on the new way of doing things. 

What do I hear most when talking with employees who's management is not leading the communication of road map, "Well, this how we have always done it".  This is not a good attitude when changing for the good.  As you can see by just that one statement the success road map is not being communicated. 

Have a motto, create posters, send out weekly / bi-weekly / semi-monthly updates, and just be pro-active.  

When you start with the visualization get all the success criteria documented.  But with change there will be always a negative impact somewhere in the business.  Don't shelter it, be forthcoming and communicate this also.  

"Success Cannot Be a Success Without Change Being In the Equation"  

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Low Level Overview

After searching high and low, and even asking Microsoft for a Visio diagram, and my searches ending in zero; I have created a generalized overview of the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager using Visio.

You can either save this JPG for you consumption or click below to download the PDF version.