1. TechEd 2013
12/3/2018 4:27 PM
© 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

2. WCA-B327 Karthik Jayavel Dharmendra Thotakura
12/3/2018 4:27 PM
WCA-B327
Microsoft IT: How We Upgrade Microsoft System Center - Configuration Manager Hierarchy (Almost) Every Month Using Orchestrator Automation
Karthik Jayavel
Dharmendra Thotakura
© 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

3. Session Objectives and Takeaways
Explain the business benefits of automation in the client management realm
Demonstrate Orchestrator Runbooks to automate Configuration Manager tasks
Key Takeaways
How automating Configuration Manager can help you to save time and cost
Share examples of how Microsoft IT uses System Center Orchestrator for Configuration Manager
Some great examples and pointers to ready-made installation scripts for Configuration Manager

4. THIS SESSION IS DESIGNED FOR
Someone familiar with System Center 2012 Orchestrator and is familiar with Runbooks
Someone who has a good understanding of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
Someone who loves automation and wants to avoid manual errors

5. SOLUTION OVERVIEW Challenges Solution Benefits
Cuttlefish: System Center Orchestrator based task execution solution
Generic scripts to handle majority of repetitive scenarios
System Center 2012 Orchestrator
System Center Virtual Machine Manager
Visual Studio Team Foundation Server
PowerShell
Regular Configuration Manager Upgrades & Builds
Difficulty in standardization of deployment activities
Changing products & pre-requisites
Post deployment errors
Repeatable task list based solution
Use of scripts & templates to enable standardization
Can leverage common scripts
Free of manual deployment errors
Reduction in man hours and release time
What is Cuttlefish? – Cuttlefish is our internal code name for our automation solution and our engineer chose this name because Cuttlefish are aquatic animals that adapt to their environments by changing their skin color swiftly; which aligns with our objective of building a dynamic automation solution that can adapt to our changing environment without much effort.

6. CUTTLEFISH – SOLUTION COMPONENTS
UI & Workflow
Input configuration files (task list, config list)
< >
Task execution engine (Orchestrator)

7. SP1 R2 UPGRADE HIGH LEVEL APPROACH AT MSIT
Used Orchestrator Runbooks
Almost zero touch upgrade experience:
To kick off & monitor execution units (tasks) on target servers to be upgraded
To leverage existing scripts & create new ones
Task Configuration File
Run (Task Location, Command, Parameter Variables), Expected Output, Run Order, Success Criteria
One time creation of automation types / versions of product (CM12 SP1 Upgrade, New CM07 Infra w/WSUS 3.0 SP2, New CM12 SP1 Infra)
Used Configuration Files as Input for Runbook
< >
Build Configuration File
Where to run, Parameters, Start Task ID, Stop Task ID, Execute (Yes/No)

8. REAL WORLD SCENARIOS AND DEMOS
Scenario 1: Site Upgrade
Scenario 2: Build New Site System Role
Scenario 3: Change Site Configuration

9. Scenario 1: Site Upgrade

10. SCENARIO 1: SITE UPGRADE
Business Case
Benefits
Leverage new features
Stay current with latest version
Minimize service disruption
Seamless upgrade process
Reduction in man hours and upgrade time
Post upgrade steps to validate functionality

11. Site Upgrade Upgrade a site from ConfigMgr 2012 RTM to ConfigMgr 2012 SP1
Dharmendra Thotakura

12. UPGRADE TASKS AUTOMATED…
Task Type
Description
Test DB Upgrade
Backup DB, Copy & Restore DB
Run Test DB Upgrade
Upgrade
Backup old CM Logs
Copy Source Bits
Run QC Checks
Disable SQL Agent Jobs
Upgrade CAS, Primary, Secondary Sites
Import MOF Customizations
Re-Enable Application Catalog Performance Counters
Re-Apply Custom Share Permissions
Run Post QC checks
Common
Monitor Logs
Execute SQL Script files

13. In Depth Look at The Runbook. Orchestrator Runbooks
In Depth Look at The Runbook Orchestrator Runbooks Task & Build Config Custom UI for XML edit
Dharmendra Thotakura

14. Scenario 2: Build new Site System Role

15. SCENARIO 2: BUILD NEW SITE OR ROLE
Business Case
Benefits
Business expansion needs new site role such as Distribution Point
Multiple configuration steps
Time consuming and error prone
Orchestrate pre-requisite check, installation, and validation
Avoid human errors and improve reliability

16. Build New Site or Role. Pre-requisite Configuration
Build New Site or Role Pre-requisite Configuration DP role installation
Karthik Jayavel

17. Scenario 3: Change Site Configuration

18. SCENARIO 3: CHANGE SITE CONFIGURATION
Business Case
Benefits
Repeatable administrative tasks
Runtime configuration changes
Click button changes with high risks associated
Automate changes to eliminate need for accessing console
Enforce peer review and audit process
Stitch multiple changes together

19. Change Site Configuration. Client agent settings change
Change Site Configuration Client agent settings change Boundary configuration Software Update Point settings change
Dharmendra Thotakura

20. NEW SITE TASKS AUTOMATED...
Task Type
Description
VMs
VM Creation using SCVMM Templates
New Builds
Install & Configure CAS, Primary, Secondary
Install & Configure New Site System Roles – MP, SUP, DP, FSP, Application Catalog, etc.
Configure Firewall
Configure IIS – Authoring Rules, Log Size Setup, Log Cleanup
Install ADK, Uninstall Programs from ARP
Install & Configure WSUS – vDir Configuration, Auto Approval Rules, Content Directory Changes
Add & Remove Boundary & Boundary Groups
Configure Default Client Agent Settings
Create Custom Client Agent Settings

21. End to End Automation Workflow

22. Automation Workflow

23. RESULTS ACHIEVED AT MICROSOFT IT
Use Cases
Before Tool
After Tool
ConfigMgr Upgrades (SP1: CTP2, Beta, RC, RTM) 7 Primary and 14 Secondary Sites
Manual Upgrades – Inconsistent & Error prone deployments. Whole process took days and sometimes a week.
Automated Upgrades – Consistent deployments
Entire hierarchy upgraded in 24 hours.
ConfigMgr Environment Builds in LAB including VM Creation (SCVMM)
Multiple tasks
Mix of manual & automated configuration
Prone to Errors
Single task list
Automated installs
Error free installs
Addition of ConfigMgr Roles (DP, MP, SUP) in Production
Error prone
Simplified workflow
Error free additions
ConfigMgr Test Environments for Intune Testing (w/ DC, CAS, 2 PS)
15 – 20 hours per environment
4-6 hours per environment

24. LESSONS LEARNED Process only as good as people following it
Follow scripting and logging best practices
Test thoroughly before implementing in production

25. RESOURCES
Link for all ~20 scripts used in automating Configuration Manager available on below location:
If you love automation, then don’t forget to check out 400+ Configuration Manager SP1 PowerShell Cmdlet available here
New updated toolkit for SP1 for additional add on such as content library transfer etc. download from here:

26. IN REVIEW Session Objective Key TakeAways
Explain the business benefits of automation in the client management realm
Demonstrate Orchestrator Runbooks to automate Configuration Manager tasks
Key TakeAways
Start automating Configuration Manager tasks to save time and cost
Use shared ready-made installation scripts from how Microsoft IT uses System Center Orchestrator for Configuration Manager

27. TechReady 16
12/3/2018
Related Content
WCA-B307 - How Microsoft IT Uses System Center Configuration Manager
WCA-B304 - Application Delivery with Microsoft System Center SP1 - Configuration Manager and Windows Intune
WCA-B348 - What's New in Infrastructure: Microsoft System Center 2012 SP1 - Configuration Manager Infrastructure Improvements and Hierarchy Design
© 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

28. System Center in Action Site
FOR MORE INFORMATION
System Center in Action Site
Technical Case Study: How Microsoft IT Deployed System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
Technical Case Study: User-Centric Client Management with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager in Microsoft IT
Shitanshu Verma’s Blog

29. Resources Learning TechNet msdn http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd
12/3/2018 4:27 PM
Resources
Learning
Sessions on Demand
Microsoft Certification & Training Resources
TechNet
msdn
Resources for IT Professionals
Resources for Developers
© 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

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© 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

31. 12/3/2018 4:27 PM
© 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.
© 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.