Search icon CANCEL
Arrow left icon
Explore Products
Best Sellers
New Releases
Books
Videos
Audiobooks
Learning Hub
Conferences
Free Learning
Arrow right icon
Microsoft System Center Powershell Essentials
Microsoft System Center Powershell Essentials

Microsoft System Center Powershell Essentials: Efficiently administer, automate, and manage System Center environments using Windows PowerShell

eBook
$17.99 $25.99
Paperback
$32.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m

What do you get with a Packt Subscription?

Free for first 7 days. $19.99 p/m after that. Cancel any time!
Product feature icon Unlimited ad-free access to the largest independent learning library in tech. Access this title and thousands more!
Product feature icon 50+ new titles added per month, including many first-to-market concepts and exclusive early access to books as they are being written.
Product feature icon Innovative learning tools, including AI book assistants, code context explainers, and text-to-speech.
Product feature icon Thousands of reference materials covering every tech concept you need to stay up to date.
Subscribe now
View plans & pricing
Table of content icon View table of contents Preview book icon Preview Book

Microsoft System Center Powershell Essentials

Chapter 2. Administration of Configuration Manager through PowerShell

Now that we have the platform set up with Configuration Manager installed in our environment, it's time to understand how the collaboration of Configuration Manager and PowerShell can boost administration activities. We can always use the Configuration Manager console for administration activities (such as the traditional way of administration). However, there is another better and more efficient way for the GUI administration and that is through PowerShell. When we are required to automate a few activities in Configuration Manager, we need to use any of the scripting languages, such as VB or PowerShell. PowerShell has its own advantages over other scripting languages.

In this chapter, we will cover:

  • The introduction of Configuration Manager through PowerShell
  • Hierarchy details
  • Asset and compliance
  • Software distribution
  • Operation system deployment
  • Software update management

Introducing Configuration Manager through PowerShell

The main intention of this chapter is to give you a brief idea of how to use PowerShell with Configuration Manager and not to make you an expert with all the cmdlets. With the goal of introducing Configuration Manager admins to PowerShell, this chapter mainly covers how to use PowerShell cmdlets to get the information about Configuration Manager configurations and how to create our own custom configurations using PowerShell. Just like you cannot get complete information of any person during the first meet, you cannot expect everything in this chapter.

This chapter starts with an assumption that we have a well-built Configuration Manager environment. To start with, let's first understand how to fetch details from Configuration Manager. After that, we will create our own custom configurations. To stick on to convention, we will first learn how to fetch configuration details from Configuration Manager followed by a demonstration of...

Hierarchy details

This section will concentrate on how to get the Configuration Manager site details and how to craft our own custom hierarchy configurations using PowerShell cmdlets. This involves knowing and configuring the site details, user and device discovery, boundary configurations, and installation of various site roles.

Site details

First and foremost, get to know the Configuration Manager architecture details. You can use the Get-CMSite cmdlet to know the details of the Configuration Manager site. This cmdlet without any parameters will give the details of the site installed locally. To get the details of the remote site, you are required to give the site name or the site code of the remote site:

Get-CMSite 
Get-CMSIte –SiteName "India Site"
Get-CMSite –SiteCode P01

Discovery details

It is important to get the discovery details before proceeding, as it decides the computer and the users that Configuration Manager will manage. PowerShell provides the Get-CMDiscoveryMethod...

Asset and compliance

This section will mainly concentrates on gathering information and how to get details of devices, users, compliance settings, alerts, and so on. It also demonstrates how to create custom collections, add special configurations to collections, create custom client settings, install client agents, approve agents, and so on.

Collection details

Getting the collection details from PowerShell is as easy as using the console to get the details. You can use the Get-CMDeviceCollection cmdlet to get the details of the available collection. We can use the basics by using Format-Table with the autosize parameter to get the neat view:

Get-CMDeviceCollection | Format-Table –AutoSize

We can also use the grid view to get the details popped out as a grid. This will give us a nice grid that we can scroll and sort easily:

Get-CMDeviceCollection | Out-GridView

We can use Name or CollectionID as the parameter to get the information of a particular collection:

Get-CMDeviceCollection &...

Software distribution

This section provides detailed knowledge of how to get information of software distribution components (including information on packages, programs, applications, and so on) and how to create your own package, program, and applications using PowerShell cmdlets. This section will also cover how to distribute and deploy packages and applications using PowerShell.

Handling packages and applications

PowerShell allows you to get details of one or more packages in Configuration Manager. You can use the package name and package ID as parameters to the cmdlet. If no parameters are specified, the cmdlet will retrieve all the packages available in Configuration Manager:

Get-CMPackage –Name "Adobe Reader"

We can use Get-CMApplication to get the details of all the applications available in the Configuration Manager database. If no parameters are specified, the cmdlet will retrieve all the applications available in the database:

Get-CMApplication

For any reason, if...

The operating system deployment

This section will shed light on how to view details of the operating system deployment process and configurations, such as the boot image, operating system image files, task sequence, and so on.

An operating system image

Operating system images are the .wim files that are used for the operating system capture and deployment process. PowerShell will provide you the mechanism to extract the available operating system image files in Configuration Manager. We can use the Get-CMOperatingSystemImage cmdlet to list all the images.

Without parameters, the cmdlet will list all the images available in Configuration Manager. You can pass the image name or ID as a parameter to get details of a particular image:

Get-CMOperatingSystemImage –Name "Boot image (x86)"

We can add a new operating system image to Configuration Manager by using the New-CMOperationSystemImage cmdlet. At a minimum, we are required to provide the name of the image file and the path to...

Introducing Configuration Manager through PowerShell


The main intention of this chapter is to give you a brief idea of how to use PowerShell with Configuration Manager and not to make you an expert with all the cmdlets. With the goal of introducing Configuration Manager admins to PowerShell, this chapter mainly covers how to use PowerShell cmdlets to get the information about Configuration Manager configurations and how to create our own custom configurations using PowerShell. Just like you cannot get complete information of any person during the first meet, you cannot expect everything in this chapter.

This chapter starts with an assumption that we have a well-built Configuration Manager environment. To start with, let's first understand how to fetch details from Configuration Manager. After that, we will create our own custom configurations. To stick on to convention, we will first learn how to fetch configuration details from Configuration Manager followed by a demonstration of how to...

Hierarchy details


This section will concentrate on how to get the Configuration Manager site details and how to craft our own custom hierarchy configurations using PowerShell cmdlets. This involves knowing and configuring the site details, user and device discovery, boundary configurations, and installation of various site roles.

Site details

First and foremost, get to know the Configuration Manager architecture details. You can use the Get-CMSite cmdlet to know the details of the Configuration Manager site. This cmdlet without any parameters will give the details of the site installed locally. To get the details of the remote site, you are required to give the site name or the site code of the remote site:

Get-CMSite 
Get-CMSIte –SiteName "India Site"
Get-CMSite –SiteCode P01

Discovery details

It is important to get the discovery details before proceeding, as it decides the computer and the users that Configuration Manager will manage. PowerShell provides the Get-CMDiscoveryMethod cmdlet to...

Left arrow icon Right arrow icon

Description

If you are a Microsoft System Center administrator who manages System Center environments and utilizes the console for management, then this book is ideal for you. This book is also for System Center users who now want to learn to manage systems using PowerShell.

Who is this book for?

If you are a Microsoft System Center administrator who manages System Center environments and utilizes the console for management, then this book is ideal for you. This book is also for System Center users who now want to learn to manage systems using PowerShell.

What you will learn

  • Set up an environment to effectively use PowerShell for SCCM, SCOM, and SCSM
  • Understand the advanced usage of all the available cmdlets with realtime examples
  • Administer and maintain a System Center environment with PowerShell
  • Create both simple and advanced functions for different cmdlets with PowerShell
  • Get an insight into realtime System Center applications that you can automate using PowerShell
  • Get to grips with scenariobased scripting for efficient System Center administration and maintenance
  • Discover PowerShell tricks and best practices

Product Details

Country selected
Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Apr 28, 2015
Length: 140 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781784397142
Vendor :
Microsoft

What do you get with a Packt Subscription?

Free for first 7 days. $19.99 p/m after that. Cancel any time!
Product feature icon Unlimited ad-free access to the largest independent learning library in tech. Access this title and thousands more!
Product feature icon 50+ new titles added per month, including many first-to-market concepts and exclusive early access to books as they are being written.
Product feature icon Innovative learning tools, including AI book assistants, code context explainers, and text-to-speech.
Product feature icon Thousands of reference materials covering every tech concept you need to stay up to date.
Subscribe now
View plans & pricing

Product Details

Publication date : Apr 28, 2015
Length: 140 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781784397142
Vendor :
Microsoft

Packt Subscriptions

See our plans and pricing
Modal Close icon
$19.99 billed monthly
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Simple pricing, no contract
$199.99 billed annually
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just $5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts
$279.99 billed in 18 months
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just $5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts

Frequently bought together


Stars icon
Total $ 136.97
Microsoft System Center Powershell Essentials
$32.99
Mastering Windows PowerShell Scripting
$54.99
Active Directory with PowerShell
$48.99
Total $ 136.97 Stars icon

Table of Contents

9 Chapters
1. Setting up the Environment to Use PowerShell Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Administration of Configuration Manager through PowerShell Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Scenario-based Scripting for SCCM Administration Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Administration of Operations Manager through PowerShell Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Scenario-based Scripting for SCOM Administration Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Administration of Service Manager through PowerShell Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Scenario-based Scripting for SCSM Administration Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Best Practices Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
(1 Ratings)
5 star 0%
4 star 0%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 100%
Supersniper Jul 21, 2021
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
Very little that's important in here in terms of how PS can be used in efficient SCCM administration. My purchase is a loss
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Get free access to Packt library with over 7500+ books and video courses for 7 days!
Start Free Trial

FAQs

What is included in a Packt subscription? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

A subscription provides you with full access to view all Packt and licnesed content online, this includes exclusive access to Early Access titles. Depending on the tier chosen you can also earn credits and discounts to use for owning content

How can I cancel my subscription? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

To cancel your subscription with us simply go to the account page - found in the top right of the page or at https://subscription.packtpub.com/my-account/subscription - From here you will see the ‘cancel subscription’ button in the grey box with your subscription information in.

What are credits? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Credits can be earned from reading 40 section of any title within the payment cycle - a month starting from the day of subscription payment. You also earn a Credit every month if you subscribe to our annual or 18 month plans. Credits can be used to buy books DRM free, the same way that you would pay for a book. Your credits can be found in the subscription homepage - subscription.packtpub.com - clicking on ‘the my’ library dropdown and selecting ‘credits’.

What happens if an Early Access Course is cancelled? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Projects are rarely cancelled, but sometimes it's unavoidable. If an Early Access course is cancelled or excessively delayed, you can exchange your purchase for another course. For further details, please contact us here.

Where can I send feedback about an Early Access title? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

If you have any feedback about the product you're reading, or Early Access in general, then please fill out a contact form here and we'll make sure the feedback gets to the right team. 

Can I download the code files for Early Access titles? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

We try to ensure that all books in Early Access have code available to use, download, and fork on GitHub. This helps us be more agile in the development of the book, and helps keep the often changing code base of new versions and new technologies as up to date as possible. Unfortunately, however, there will be rare cases when it is not possible for us to have downloadable code samples available until publication.

When we publish the book, the code files will also be available to download from the Packt website.

How accurate is the publication date? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

The publication date is as accurate as we can be at any point in the project. Unfortunately, delays can happen. Often those delays are out of our control, such as changes to the technology code base or delays in the tech release. We do our best to give you an accurate estimate of the publication date at any given time, and as more chapters are delivered, the more accurate the delivery date will become.

How will I know when new chapters are ready? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

We'll let you know every time there has been an update to a course that you've bought in Early Access. You'll get an email to let you know there has been a new chapter, or a change to a previous chapter. The new chapters are automatically added to your account, so you can also check back there any time you're ready and download or read them online.

I am a Packt subscriber, do I get Early Access? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Yes, all Early Access content is fully available through your subscription. You will need to have a paid for or active trial subscription in order to access all titles.

How is Early Access delivered? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Early Access is currently only available as a PDF or through our online reader. As we make changes or add new chapters, the files in your Packt account will be updated so you can download them again or view them online immediately.

How do I buy Early Access content? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Early Access is a way of us getting our content to you quicker, but the method of buying the Early Access course is still the same. Just find the course you want to buy, go through the check-out steps, and you’ll get a confirmation email from us with information and a link to the relevant Early Access courses.

What is Early Access? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Keeping up to date with the latest technology is difficult; new versions, new frameworks, new techniques. This feature gives you a head-start to our content, as it's being created. With Early Access you'll receive each chapter as it's written, and get regular updates throughout the product's development, as well as the final course as soon as it's ready.We created Early Access as a means of giving you the information you need, as soon as it's available. As we go through the process of developing a course, 99% of it can be ready but we can't publish until that last 1% falls in to place. Early Access helps to unlock the potential of our content early, to help you start your learning when you need it most. You not only get access to every chapter as it's delivered, edited, and updated, but you'll also get the finalized, DRM-free product to download in any format you want when it's published. As a member of Packt, you'll also be eligible for our exclusive offers, including a free course every day, and discounts on new and popular titles.