SME Managed

Installing System Center Essentials in SBS 2003 R2 Standard Edition - Computer and Device Management Wizard

I thought about only documenting the Device Management portion because we have a scheduled task to pick up all Servers and Workstations at 3AM Daily, but because I need instant gratification I thought so would many others.

I don't actually have any other servers or desktops in the SCE Lodge right now so this would actually discover any computers but I want to follow the deployment process for installing a green field.

	Launch the System Center Essentials Console
	Click the Configure product features hyperlink
	Click Next
	Select Automatic computer discovery; Click Next >
	Select Use selected Management Server Action Account; Click Discover
	Because there are no additional Servers or Workstations in the network at this time Click Cancel

	Launch the System Center Essentials Console
	Click the Configure product features hyperlink
	Click Next
	Select Advanced discovery; Choose Networking Devices from the drop down menu; Click Next
	Enter a range of address that represent your network; Enter the Community String for your network devices; Click Discover
	When the Discovery Results are displayed click Select All; (Network Devices are not licensed so there is no reason not to manage everything UPDATE:You are limited to 50 Network Devices) Click Next
	Click Finish

Installing System Center Essentials in SBS 2003 R2 Standard Edition - Configure Product Features

Assuming you conducted the installation I described for SBS 2003 SP1 / R2 the launch of the Essentials console and subsequent run of the initial configuration process is cancelled so we can cleanup the certificates for the default web.

This is intended to be a quick walk through of the initial configuration steps.

	Launch the System Center Essentials Console
	Click the Configure product features hyperlink
	Click Next >
	Remember we are building on a SBS Standard Edition base with a single NIC we do not have a proxy server; Select No; Click Next >
	For me one of the essential features for management platforms is the ability to self deploy, Select Yes Configure GPO; Click Next >
	I really don't understand why if Automatic Installation of Agents is selected why anyone would not allow the firewall exceptions, Select Yes; Click Next >
	We prefer to use Logmein for remote desktop management (not currently the SCE 2007 Server), Select No; Click Next >
	Select Yes to collect Error Data (we collect this data on the Data Volume of our SBS Build E:\ErrorData); Click Next >
	Select Automatically forward all collected errors to Microsoft; Select Detailed (we want the feedback to be meaningful); Click Next >
	Select Yes to receive the Daily Health Report; Type the recipient address, (we have a dedicated reports address); Type in the details of the Exchange Server, this must be the FQDN; Click Next
	Select Yes to ensure you never miss a new server from management; Click Configure
	When complete Click Close

Installing System Center Essentials in SBS 2003 R2 Standard Edition

There has been a good deal of Community conversation about the suitability of System Center Essentials 2007 for installation on Small Business Server 2003 SP1 / R2 and while I maintain the opinion that all SCE 2007 installs in SBS 2003 Networks should be done on dedicated Windows 2003 R2 Standard Edition servers, this build has (so far) not shown to cause significant issues with the Features or Functionality of the SBS 2003 R2 Server.

UPDATE: 1/1/2008 Also Tested on Dual NIC behind a Local Router

This guide has been written with a Default Installation of an un-patched version of SBS 2003 R2 as the base. The configuration is Single NIC with Local Router.

This build does not meet all the prerequisites of a SCE 2007 Installation but does allow me to demonstrate the flexibility of the Install as this entire build was conducted with only one reboot and all items were guided by the Installation Process or the System Center Managed Forums without aborting the Installation.

	Launch Setup from a Patched SCE 2007 Installation Source
	The Installer detects the absence of MS XML Core Services 6.0 and Launches the install automatically
	Press Next
	Accept the License Agreement; Press Next
	Confirm the Registration Details; Press Next
	Press Install
	Press Finish
	The SCE 2007 Installer will continue automatically Press Next
	Select the Upgrade WSUS check box; Press Next
	The Installation Prerequisites will fail; Press the More button next to the .NET Framework 3.0 Components
	The Prerequisite Details dialog appears; Click the X86 version download Link
	When the download completes press Open
	Carefully read through the license agreement (go on humour me); Click I have read and ACCEPT the terms of the License Agreement; We all want to help make better products so check the Send anonymous information box; Click Install
	Press Exit
	Your feedback is automatically sent to Microsoft
	Click Recheck, Notice the .NET failure is now cleared; Press the More button next to the Checking for Pending Reboots item
	The resolution says to Reboot the Machine; In every SBS based build I have conducted this DOES NOT clear the issue
	Run Regedit.exe; Delete the HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\ Control\Session Manager\ PendingFileRenameOperations key
	Press Yes
	The Installation Prerequisites test now passes; Press Next
	Now I'm pretty sure you didn't read the .NET Framework EULA, Read this one and click "I have read, understood and agree to .."; Press Next
	Check the Name and Organisation Details are correct; Press Next
	Press Next
	Choose a Database location, I put mine with the other SBS Database data files; Press Next
	The Installation will now block due to the Self Signed Certificate on the Default web
	Select the Default web and Right Click Properties
	Select the Directory Security Tab; Click Server Certificate
	Click Next >
	Click Remove the current certificate; Click Next >
	Click Next >
	Click Finish
	Choose an Administration Account; Click Next >
	Select all three check boxes, (why not help improve this great product?); Click Next >
	Click Install
	The Installation continues, (not a cut lunch and a 6 Pack, but certainly go make coffee, you deserve it)
	Click I do not wish to check for updates, (I modify WSUS to use our upstream WSUS server to Sync the current updates before shipping, we set it back when delivered); Click Next >
	Click OK
	Uncheck Launch the Essentials Console and Complete the configuration process, (we need to put back the self signed certificate first); Click Finish
	Click No
	Select the Default web and Right Click Properties
	Select the Directory Security Tab;  Click Server Certificate
	Click Next >
	Click Assign and existing certificate; Click Next >
	Click Next >
	Click Next >
	Click Next >
	Click Finish
	Reboot the server

Known Issues

These are the Issues experienced post Installation

WSUS no longer gives a Green Check

Windows Small Business Server (Windows SBS) Update Services is not running because it automatically turns off if you customize Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). For a list of specific settings that cause Windows SBS Update Services to turn off, see the Microsoft Web site. Even if WSUS is managing updates for your network, the accuracy of the status in the Windows SBS monitoring report or on the Update Services home page cannot be guaranteed. To use Windows SBS Update Services, reverse the changes that you have made to WSUS or reinstall Windows SBS 2003 R2.

WSUS Synchronisation Fails

Content download has failed. BITS service is not starting or is stopping during downloads.

• Open a command window.
• Type sc config bits start= auto
• Type net stop bits & net start bits
• Type net stop wsusservice & net start wsusservice
• Start WSUS 3.0: Click Start, click Administrative Tools, then click Microsoft Windows Server Update Services v3.0.
• Click Synchronization Results.
• In the Action pane, click Synchronize Now

SCE 2007 Fault Finding: Post Release Hotfix Rollup

When I start an install task, I try to gather as many of the required tools and fixes as possible. I knew there were some hotfixes available and was pretty happy to see there was a rollup which would save me some time. So I grabbed the executable so I could apply the fixes before I ran the configuration wizard especially since I already had one false start and wanted to get a good vanilla install so I could document it.

Here's the thing had I read the release notes I would have known this rollup patches the Installation Source and is a pre-install fix.

Here is what gets fixed...

SCE 2007 Fault Finding: OpsMgr Health Service startup problem

I installed SCE 2007 in my lab today, and as I do with all my Lab Machines had installed Logmein Free so I could show people features or builds when out and about. After all you can only share so much RDP in a NAT'ed Config.

After the install, the configuration wizard launched and over 80% of the config items failed. I checked that all the SCE Services were running and found I could not start the OpsMgr Health Service. A quick Live Search and discovered an Issue with Logmein.

I removed the Logmein Remote Control Tool and all is well with the world again.

The only other thing that I think is worth mentioning is when using the Microsoft Managed News Groups it would be cool if people fed back the Solutions to close the case properly.