sccm 1806 new features€¦ · as always you know that updates and hotfixes are always available...
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This post is a step by step SCCM 1806 upgrade guide. SCCM 1806 is released and yes you can upgrade to SCCM 1806. You can readmore about this announcement here. The SCCM 1806 upgrade guide contains the steps to upgrade your configuration managercurrent branch to SCCM 1806. This is probably the 9th release of current branch and I admire the hard-work done by MS productteam.
There have been lot of features introduced with every release of configuration manager current branch. SCCM 1806 update alsocomes with some great features and fixes. You can read the official announcement here. To know what’s new in version 1806 ofConfiguration Manager current branch, check this post.
SCCM 1806 – Installation Info
As always you know that updates and hotfixes are always available right in the console. SCCM 1806 update is available as an in-console update. To install SCCM 1806 update, you must be running one of these versions of SCCM 1706, 1710, or 1802.
Note – Most of all if you’re running a multi-tier hierarchy such as CAS and primary sites, start at the top-level site in the hierarchy.First begin with CAS upgrade, and then you can begin the upgrade of each child site.
SCCM 1806 New Features
As mentioned earlier SCCM 1806 comes with new features. While it’s not only new features but it also includes enhancements orfixes reported in previous releases of current branch versions. I will list down some of the best SCCM 1806 features and we will thenproceed with installation steps.
Site server high availability featureUninstall application on approval revocationNew Custom tab for webpage in Software CenterCMPivotDeploy PXE-enabled distribution point without Windows Deployment ServicesCMTrace is now installed along with client agentConfiguration Manager Toolkit is now includedView Currently logged-on userFeedback can be submitted from consoleNetwork congestion control for distribution pointsPartial download support in client peer cacheFeature to configure remote content library for the site serverImprovements to phased deploymentsImproved WSUS maintenanceDeploy software updates without contentNew software updates compliance reportDeploy third-party software updatesImprovements to co-managementNew product life-cycle dashboard
SCCM 1806 Fast Ring vs Slow Ring
If you want to install SCCM 1806 update quickly, you can opt for fast ring method which uses a PowerShell script. You candownload this script from Microsoft. However the PowerShell script is available for limited time because after 2 weeks (I assume),the update becomes available to everyone. So initially if you don’t find the update in the console, you might have to run thePowerShell script once. If you wish to wait for a period of 2 weeks, the update shows up in the console without the need for runningany PowerShell script.
SCCM 1806 SQL and OS Supported Versions
Before you install SCCM 1806, ensure that you are running the supported version of SQL and operating system. For SCCM 1806supported operating system refer to this post. And for SCCM 1806 SQL server support, refer to this guide
SCCM 1806 Upgrade Guide
The SCCM 1806 upgrade guide contains the steps to upgrade your configuration manager current branch to SCCM 1806. Let me tellyou that I am installing SCCM 1806 update on my primary site server. The site server is running Windows Server 2016 standard OSand SQL server is SQL 2017 Enterprise.
Step 1 – SCCM 1806 Prerequisite Check
Open the SCCM console and go to Administration > Updates and Servicing. If you don’t find the update 1806, click Check forupdates button. Once the update is available, download the update. Once you see the update is downloaded, right click update andclick Run prerequisite check.
In the background prerequisite checks are done. Open the ConfigMgrPrereq.log file located on C: drive of site server. Look for theline at the end which reads Prerequisite checking is completed. That confirms the prerequisite check is passed/complete.
Step 2 – SCCM 1806 – Installing Update
Refresh the console now and you will see the status of update as prerequisite check passed. You can now proceed with installing theSCCM 1806 update. Right click SCCM 1806 update and click Install Update Pack. On the General page, click Next.
Choose the features that you want to enable. If you want to enable them later, click Next.
If you wish to validate client update on members of pre-prod collection, click Validate in pre-production collection. Else go withupgrade without validating and click Next.
License Terms – Click I accept these license terms and privacy statement. Click Next.
Click Next on Summary and Progress page. On Completion page click Close.
Step 3 – Monitor Installation Progress
Once you install the update pack, go to monitoring node. Click on Overview > Updates and Servicing Status. Select the update andclick Show Status. You can now see the detailed status for Configuration Manager 1806 installation.
Step 4 – Console Upgrade
Once the update is installed, either refresh or close and re-open the console. You will see the console upgrade box. Click OK to beginthe console upgrade. The old version of console 5.1802.1082.1800 will be upgraded to version 5.1806.1074.1200. The two helpfullogs for monitoring console upgrade would be ConfigMgrAdminUISetup.log and ConfigMgrAdminUISetupVerbose.log. Both ofthese are present on C: drive of site server.
Step 5 – Verify Update Installation
The console will re-launch. Check About Configuration Manager details.
Version 1806Console Version: 5.1806.1074.1200Site Version: 5.0.8692.1000
In addition viewing the site properties shows the versionand build number.
Version – 5.00.8692.1000Build Number – 8692
Step 6 – Upgrading SCCM 1806 Client Agents
Once you perform SCCM 1806 upgrade, the client agents in the hierarchy should also be upgraded. You can upgrade client agentsusing client upgrade feature. So go to Administration > Site Configuration > Sites. Click the Hierarchy Settings on top ribbon. SelectClient Upgrade tab. Ensure Upgrade all clients in hierarchy using production client box is checked. You also also choose to notupgrade servers. The client agents are upgraded to latest version withing 7 days. You can choose your settings here as per yourrequirements.
The upgraded client agent should display it’s version as 5.00.8692.1003.
