Earlier this year, I rewired my basement to create individual circuits for my garage and office. Before, the entire basement (including the garage) was all on one circuit. I decided I was tired of having my network go down every time I would trip a breaker in the garage – which, admittedly, happens all too…
Fix “SQL Availability Replica Disconnected”
If you are using Always On Availability Groups in SQL, you may encounter connectivity issues between nodes if there has been a change in configuration of the nodes. When I encountered this issue, the nodes in question had been transitioned from a commercial firewall application to Windows Defender Firewall, and traffic was not being allowed…
Generate Email List From CM Primary User Data
Let’s say you want to perform an ad-hoc test deployment. You build a small test collection and go to deploy, but wait – you ought to do your due diligence and notify the primary users of the targeted devices, right? You highlight primary user data in the console and attempt to copy it to a…
Parallel vs. Serial Execution – Improving PowerShell Script Performance
If you often use scripts utilizing Foreach loops, you’re going to want to read this. Serial execution of this sort of loop is commonplace. But, did you know, by utilizing workflows, you can execute a Foreach loop in parallel? By doing so, we can drastically reduce the execution time of a script because each item…
WQL Query Optimization & Collection Evaluation Run Time
As an engineer working with CM, it is likely you will find yourself running SQL reports to identify collections that may potentially be utilizing sub-optimal query-based membership rules. If these queries have been poorly written, it can waste valuable system resources. If you modify and optimize these queries, it would behoove you to validate (and…
Scripted Restart of Service – Azure Update Management
If you are using Update Management to handle patching of Windows VMs in Azure, you are bound to see devices display in the “Not Assessed” compliance state from time to time. To remedy this, one can restart the service “Microsoft Monitoring Agent (HealthService).” This service has a corresponding process as well, and I check the…
Formatting A Disk for OSD from CM – Error 0x8007000F
When performing an Operating System Deployment (OSD) from Configuration Manager (CM), it is a common occurrence to encounter error 0x8007000F- Failed to Stage WinPE. WinPE is the Windows Preinstallation Environment in which one will authenticate and select the desired Task Sequence. In the case of this error, you are able to use WinPE to complete…
Querying Systems for Specific Hotfix – Patching Pro Tips
Let’s say you’re patching Windows devices, and you install a cumulative update. But, while evaluating patching success, you find there is a required hotfix that was not made available to your devices until after the pending reboot is complete and the cumulative update applied. Now, you need a quick, convenient way to query a list…
Scripted ID of Remnant Objects in SCCM for Cleanup
Oftentimes, you will find that MECM (SCCM) will get cluttered over time. Forgotten objects that are no longer deployed will begin to pile up. In the name of good housekeeping, one may periodically wish to search for remnant objects that are no longer deployed. I have recently taken on this task, and I found Matt…
Nuances of Referencing Environment Variables from PowerShell
If you are installing an app such as a database client, you may encounter the need to reference environment variables. There are times where it is absolutely beneficial to do this from within a Powershell script rather than a batch file, and it may simply be that you want to manage other parts of your…