Skip to main content

SCCM PXE Task Sequence

Step 1

1 Check DHCP scope has option 66 with the SCCM server name set as the value.
2 WDS service is installed and running.
3 Under site Systems select the SCCM server and make sure "ConfigMgr PXE service point" role is installed
3.1 For a lab environment. Enable "Allow this PXE... to repond to incoming PXE requests" and "Respond to PXE request on all network interfaces".
4 Create a Collection called "Bare Metal OSD deployment"

Step 2

5 Click on "Computer Asscocation"  > "Import computer Information" > Import single computer
5.1 Enter Computer name and MAC address to define system > Add to "Bare Metal OSD deployment" collection
6 Under the node OSD in SCCM click on "Task Sequence"> Select the TS you want to deploy to the collection > Right click and "Advertise", specify the "bare metal OSD deployments".
6.1 Set as mandatory assignemtn. Tick "Ignore maintenance windows when running program and "Allow system restart outside maintenance Window.
6.2 Select "access content directly from a DP ...."

Summary

Setup WDS, DHCP scope, PXE point service, Advertised Task Sequence, Imported system via MAC address and added to collection. SCCM is ready next step is to restart the computer defined for a network boot, typically F12.

The computer will advertise that it is looking for a PXE service, the DHCP server will point it to the SCCM server that will then pick up the computer and push a Win PE image following the TS options.

Deployment

7 While SCCM WinPE  is deploying the WIM file it is possible to press F8 to bring up a DOS window and exam the SMSTSLog directory.

\\Map network drive: enter credentials
x:\> net use z: \\sccm\c$\tempsmslog

\\Copy all logs files to z:\
x:\> copy z:\ *.log

Now on your SCCM server\c$\tempsmslog folder you will find a smsts.log file.  Open with trace32 to troubleshoot.

7.1 Alternatively within SCCM select the Reporting Node and run the "Deployment status of all task sequence advertisements".  This report details the last action, exit code and Action output.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Windows 7 Offline files will not go Online when connected to network

Issue Several laptop users move between networks, domain, home, etc and when they attempt to access DFS shares explorer status is working offline.  The issue only resolves it self after a reboot. Connecting directly to the share works and i am able to ping network resources.  This behavior occurs for VPN users as well. Possible Causes "slow-link mode". In win7 (with default settings) a client will enter slow-link mode if the latency to the server is above 80ms. In slow-link mode all writes are made to the local cache and a background sync only happens every 6 hours.  Depending on your connection the default slow link detection speed is 64,000 bps On client computers running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, a shared folder automatically transitions to the slow-link mode if the round-trip latency of the network is greater than 80 milliseconds, or as configured by the "Configure slow-link mode" policy. After transitioning a folder to the slow-link mode, Offline Fil...

SCCM Unknown computer not able to see Task Sequences after installing Current Branch 1702

Soon after installing SCCM CB 1702 we were unable to see Task Sequences deployed to the unknown collection. This issue was identified as a random system taking the GUID of the 'x64 Unknown Computer (x64 Unknown Computer)' record. As a result it was now a known GUID; as we were only deploying Task Sequences to the Unknown collection none were made available. 'x64 Unknown Computer (x64 Unknown Computer)' record 'x86 Unknown Computer (x86 Unknown Computer)' record To get the GUID of your unknown systems open SQL management studio and run the following command: --Sql Command to list the name and GUID for UnknownSystems record data select ItemKey, Name0,SMS_Unique_Identifier0 from UnknownSystem_DISC Using the returned GUID (SMS_Unique_Identifier0) we can find the hostname that has been assigned the 'x64 Unknown Computer (x64 Unknown Computer)' GUID by running the query below. --x64 Unknown Computers select Name0,SMS_Unique_Identifier0,Decommissioned0 from Sys...

Sharepoint documents will not open in Word/Excel

Sharepoint documents will not open in Word/Excel Today I have been dealing with a very interesting Office 365 / SharePoint issue. It was reported that the Edit in Application button within SharePoint i.e. “Edit in Excel” “Edit in Word” is not working correctly and results in an empty Spreadsheet or empty Word document. Viewing and Editing within the browser is fully functional and the behaviour varies depending on computers within specific OU in active directory.  It is worth noting at this point the estate consisted of Office 2013 ProPlus installations running on Windows 8.1. The fact that identical systems with identical software versions patch to the same level, resulted in different behaviour could only mean Group Policy was different between them. I was quickly able to find the offending policy; " Block signing into Office: Enabled ". The screen shot above details a systems policy with the issue. With the Standard Workstation GPO's the policy "Block signing into...