Books

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By Johan Arwidmark and Mikael Nyström


If your job is deploying Windows 10, this book is for you. In this book, you will find practical guidance based on our many years of real-world experience deploying Windows around the world. Deployment Fundamentals, Volume 6, provides you with detailed step-by-step instructions, as well as decision-making guidance and explanations that provide answers on the Whys and Hows around Windows 10 OS deployment using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 Update 2. The book also includes many real-world notes and troubleshooting tips and tricks. To get you going as quickly possible, the book sample scripts contain a fully automated build of the entire environment, the hydration kit. That includes a fully configured Active Directory environment, including DNS, DHCP, WSUS, PXE, DFS-R Replication, SQL Express, and more.

  • Install and configure MDT 2013 Update 2 for production deployments
  • Build the supporting infrastructure
  • Use the script repository included with this book in your own environment
  • Create production-ready reference images for Windows 10
  • Build a real-world deployment solution for Windows 10
  • Add and deploy applications
  • Perform real-world driver management
  • Apply advanced configurations for CustomSettings.ini and deployment automation
  • Extend MDT using application wrappers, userexit scripts, and PowerShell
  • Prestage deployment settings using the MDT databases
  • Perform advanced configuration using web services
  • Deploy Office 2016, including the Click-to-Run Office 365 version

By Kent Agerlund


Completely revised for System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager. This is the ultimate source for the working IT Professional who wants to design and implement System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager in a midsize- or small-business environment. Enterprise administrators also will find a lot of inspiration, as many of the features and scenarios discussed fit all three environments. The book is packed with real-world scenarios taken from 17 years of experience with SMS and ConfigMgr projects. By following the book from A-Z, you will end up with a ConfigMgr environment that is based on best practices and production ready.

  • Install and configure SQL Server so it is tailor-made for ConfigMgr 2012 R2
  • Install Service Packs and Cumulative Updates
  • Install and design a ConfigMgr primary site and secondary sites
  • Set up ConfigMgr cloud integration with Windows Azure and Windows Intune
  • Install and maintain clients, including non-Microsoft platforms like UNIX/Linux and Macintosh
  • Work with applications and packages
  • Plan for and implement a patch management solution including third-party updates
  • Plan and implement System Center Endpoint Protection
  • Deploy operating systems (Windows 7 and Windows 8.1) with ConfigMgr and MDT 2013
  • Migrate from ConfigMgr 2007
  • Handle backup and recovery
  • Apply basic and advanced troubleshooting techniques

By Niall Brady


Niall Brady has been putting out OSD guides for the community for more than ten years. In this book, you find completely rewritten and reengineered versions of his most popular guides, verified against current versions of MDT and ConfigMgr. Also included in the book is a rich repository of sample scripts, which not only help you get the various solutions implemented quickly, but also help you set up a proof-of-concept environment in which you can try the guides.

  • Set up the ConfigMgr 2012 R2 infrastructure
  • Enforce BitLocker with MBAM 2.5
  • Deploy Windows 8.1 to the Surface Pro 3
  • Set up ConfigMgr 2012 R2 integration with MDT 2013
  • Create custom boot images
  • Build reference images
  • Deploy a custom Start screen
  • Automatically sync time in WinPE
  • Pause a task sequence during deployment
  • Use devel mode
  • Implement MailLog, AssistMe, and ViewLog
  • Set up software updates and patch an image using offline servicing
  • Use the CM12 UEFI BitLocker HTA frontend

By Johan Arwidmark and Maik Koster


This is the ultimate source for the working IT Pro who wants to develop and customize deployment solutions based on MDT 2013 and/or ConfigMgr 2012 R2. This is a HOW TO GET IT DONE book, solely focused on customizing deployment solutions with roots in the real world. In addition to well-proven step-by-step guides, you also get access to sample scripts and source code, allowing you to quickly test the solutions in your own environment. As far as the title goes, we don't mean you should steal things, literally. In this book, stealing is a metaphor for not reinventing the wheel. We don't want you to waste time developing solutions that are already available for free.

  • Setup MDT 2013 and ConfigMgr 2012 R2 for OSD
  • Work with drivers in MDT 2013 and ConfigMgr 2012 R2
  • Customize MDT 2013 Lite Touch and ConfigMgr 2012 R2 OSD
  • Select the right development tools for OSD customizations
  • Advanced customization of the MDT 2013 Lite Touch wizard
  • Master the rules (CustomSettings.ini)
  • Configure user-driven installation (UDI)
  • Create and extend the MDT database, including frontends
  • Create and debug custom scripts and frontends
  • Create web services in both VB.NET and C#
  • Extend the MDT Monitoring feature

By Andreas Stenhall and Tim Nilimaa-Svärd


Enterprise Client Management is packed with everything you need to efficiently manage Windows 7 or 8.1 clients in an enterprise environment. The book takes you through a complete scenario, including all the necessary preparations, for preparing the infrastructure and then deploying, patching, configuring, securing, backing up, and managing the Windows clients (and other devices). In this scenario, you use management tools available in Windows Server 2012 R2 and the System Center 2012 R2 products, combined with Microsoft Intune. Real-world tips and tricks together with a vast number of step-by-step guides make this book a one-stop shop for client management in your existing enterprise environment.

  • Prepare your infrastructure for optimal enterprise client management
  • Manage group policies the enterprise way
  • Set up the infrastructure for System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager
  • Deploy Windows clients in an automated fashion
  • Implement Software Updates
  • Take advantage of new features and technologies for user profiles and data using for instance UE-V and Work Folders
  • Backup your data effectively using System Center 2012 R2 Data Protection Manager
  • Secure your clients using new and improved security features such as BitLocker with MBAM 2.5
  • Manage Windows and mobile devices using Microsoft Intune
  • Control remote access using managed VPN profiles and Windows To Go
  • Handle change and incident management using System Center 2012 R2 Service Manager
  • Manage clients using PowerShell

By Mikael Nyström and Johan Arwidmark


No way! Automating the deployment of the entire infrastructure? That can't be done! These are words we have heard many times, but the answer is: Yes, you can, with the step-by-step guides, sample scripts, and other resources found in this book. In the modern datacenter, everything is about automation, repeatable processes, and well-designed and documented infrastructure. This can be accomplished with PowerShell and MDT 2013. In this book, you learn how to install and configure the core infrastructure components in Windows Server 2012 R2. You start from absolutely nothing, and using the book and its sample scripts, build a complete real-world, production-ready infrastructure.

  • Set up MDT 2013 for production deployments
  • Use the script repository included in this book
  • Create production-ready reference images for Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Use PowerShell remotely for deployment and configuration
  • Create and configure Hyper-V switches and network teams using PowerShell
  • Install and configure AD, DNS, DHCP, WSUS, IPAM, and file and print servers using PowerShell
  • Use PowerShell to build new virtual machines
  • Create service accounts using PowerShell scripts
  • Set up and configure Work Folders using PowerShell
  • Remotely manage and configure basically every part of an infrastructure

By Steve Thompson


This book is for IT professionals who need to take their reporting to the next level. The focus of this guide is a practical approach to modify, create, and build reports within SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). Although intended for Configuration Manager 2012 Administrators, there are many concepts in this practical handbook that provide value for anyone who requires additional knowledge of SSRS. The reporting principles also apply to other versions of Configuration Manager. In addition to well-proven step-by-step guides, you also get access to sample scripts and source code, allowing you to quickly test the solutions in your own environment.

  • Set up Configuration Manager 2012 R2 for SSRS
  • Locate information in the Configuration Manager database
  • Compare and contrast report authoring tools
  • Customize existing reports with Report Builder
  • Create and modify reports with SQL Server Data Tools
  • Create advanced reporting solutions
  • Perform custom reporting on extended hardware inventories
  • Create linked reports
  • Report on databases other than Configuration Manager
  • Deploy a solution that tracks and reports on historical client data
  • Create and manage report subscriptions
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