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have you added any connection capability in your boot wim ? you need to add the optional component (Winpe-mdac) ?

I wonder if there is any update available for your vmware server solution ? can you tell us what version you are running ?

Introduction System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager supports a wide variety of operating systems including alternative operating systems such as the following:- Mac Client: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) UNIX/Linux Client: AIX Version 7.1, 6.1, 5.3 Solaris Version 11, 10, 9 HP-UX Version 11iv2 , 11iv3 RHEL Version 6 , 5, 4 SLES Version 11, 10, 9 CentOS Version 6, 5 Debian Version 6, 5 Ubuntu Version 12.4 LTS, 10.4 LTS Oracle Linux 6, 5 Note: A list of supported clients is available on Technet here. In this post I will show you how to install the Linux client on a popular Linux operating system (Centos 6.4) and do some basic actions like hardware and software inventory in System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager. This guide assumes you have already installed your Linux server and are ready for the next step. If you have not installed it yet just download the Live CD from here and boot from it, choose the option to Install to hard drive once the os has booted to the desktop. Step 1. Download the Alternative Client files Note: The download required will be different depending on which version of Configuration Manager you are using. Download the correct version matching the version you are running, so if for example you are running the Configuration Manager 2012 R2 CU1 use these updated clients. When you started the System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager installation you probably didn't notice that there was a link to download alternative clients on the splash screen highlighted in the screenshot below If you did click on the link it would bring you here so go ahead and download those client files. Update: check the following link for updated supported clients and click here for R2 SP1 or Current Branch clients. Step 2. Extract the Linux client files on a Windows computer On the computer you downloaded the alternative client files, locate the Linux client exe file and extract the contents somewhere local by double clicking on the ConfigMgr Clients for Linux.exe file. extract the files to somewhere useful. the files are extracted.. Step 3. Copy the linux client files to your linux server Logon as a testuser on the Centos server, click on the Computer icon, and click on File, then Connect to server enter the details required to connect to a server that has the client files downloaded from Step 1 above and click on connect (notice I chose windows shares in the service type drop down menu) then click on Connect you may be prompted for a password, enter it Locate the extracted files and copy them to your desktop Step 4. Install the Linux client To install the client we need the right permission, and the permission needed is that of root. We will install the Linux client using the command line. Start a terminal by clicking on Applications, System tools and choosing Terminal. become root (the Linux equivalent of Administrator) by typing su - This will prompt you for a password, enter the password for root. change directory (cd) to the directory that holds the client installation files. Linux is case sensitive so keep that in mind. make the installer executable by typing the following chmod +x install and then install the client using the following command (for an X64 server os, use the corresponding X86 file if it's 32 bit). Change the management point FQDN and sitecode to match your infrastructure. ./install -mp sccm.server2008r2.lab.local -sitecode P01 ccm-Universalx64.1.0.0.4580.tar After some moments you'll see Installation Complete, if you get a "Pre-Install validator failed. Please check the version of OpenSSL with CM installation requirements" try the -ignoreSHA256validation switch as specified here. You can review what's happening realtime via the log file using the following command tail -F /var/opt/microsoft/scxcm.log Tip: to uninstall the client use /opt/microsoft/configmgr/bin/uninstall Step 5. Change logging options Logging for the Linux based client is pretty much all done in one log file called scxcm.log contained in /var/opt/microsoft/. How that log file gets written to is governed by the following configuration file /opt/microsoft/configmgr/etc/scxcm.conf. Below is what the conf file looks like by default:- FILE ( PATH: /var/opt/microsoft/scxcm.log MODULE: WARNING MODULE: scx.client WARNING ) using vi or your favorite text editor in Linux, change it so that it now reads as follows FILE ( PATH: /var/opt/microsoft/scxcm.log MODULE: TRACE MODULE: scx.client TRACE ) save the changes and stop and then start (or simply restart) the Linux client To start the client: /etc/init.d/ccmexecd start To stop the client: /etc/init.d/ccmexecd stop Tip: The default logging mode for the scxcm.log file is WARNING which Indicates possible problems for the client operations. TRACE mode logs verbosely. As the log file is not trimmed in any way, when you are finished doing your diagnosis it is recommended to change it back to WARNING mode and restart the client daemon. Step 6. Approve the Linux client In the Configuration Manager console, locate the new linux client in Devices, and right click choose Approve. answer yes when prompted the client is now listed as Approved in the console Step 7. Request a machine Policy as root issue the following command /opt/microsoft/configmgr/bin/ccmexec -rs policy in the log file above you can see the word TRACE repeated over and over, this confirms that our change to the logging options were indeed processed and it's now in Trace mode. Step 8. Perform a hardware inventory Hardware inventory on a Linux or UNIX server runs according to the schedule you configure in client settings. By default, this is every seven days. The client for Linux and UNIX supports both full inventory cycles and delta inventory cycles. You can also force the client on a Linux or UNIX server to immediately run hardware inventory. To run hardware inventory, on a client use root credentials to run the following command to start a hardware inventory cycle: /opt/microsoft/configmgr/bin/ccmexec -rs hinv as root issue the following command /opt/microsoft/configmgr/bin/ccmexec -rs hinv on your Configuration Manager server, you can check the MP_HINV.log and look for the HINV details from our Centos computer coming in... now's a good time to start Resource Explorer in the console to see what info it has got and here is what the installed applications look like and that's it, you've installed the Alternative client on our Centos server and performed a Hardware Inventory and got the information uploaded to your Primary server. You can even install RPM packages using Packages (and programs). I'll deal with that in a separate post. until then, adios niall. Related Reading How to Install Clients on Linux and UNIX Computers in Configuration Manager - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj573939.aspx Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager - Clients for Additional Operating Systems - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39360# Hardware Inventory for Linux and UNIX in Configuration Manager - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj573945.aspx ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 and UNIX/Linux Clients – Part 1: Introduction and Client - http://blogs.technet.com/b/manageabilityguys/archive/2013/04/11/configmgr-2012-sp1-and-unix-linux-clients-part-1-introduction-and-client.aspx ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 and UNIX/Linux Clients - Part 2: General Operations and Inventory - http://blogs.technet.com/b/manageabilityguys/archive/2013/05/03/configmgr-2012-sp1-and-unix-linux-clients-part-2-general-operations-and-inventory.aspx Get help with Linux - http://www.linux-noob.com

great, it works because the default client settings apply to everything in the hierarchy

are all of you using vmware ? have you checked for any updates to vmware to support the newer boot images ?

change it in the Default Client settings, then update your boot image(s) to your distribution points.

ok thanks, i've filed a bug on connect and pointed to this post, thanks for your information and troubleshooting

isn't that expected behaviour ? what were you expecting to happen ?

Hi David and Topher, can you please tell me what your patch statement said and where you had it defined (client installation properties ?), did both of you have Automatic client upgrade selected ? I'm raising a bug on connect for this issue cheers niall

I mean use scanstate in USMT to capture the data and then loadstate in usmt to restore it.

well what do your logs tell you (c:\configmgrsetup.log etc...)

those are WinPE4. They should look like this. 6.3.9600.16384

it's not supported to 'upgrade' the operating system, so the supported method would be to do a refresh, ie, capture user data, wipe the hdd and then install Windows 8.1 before restoring the data

my boot images were updated just fine to WinPE 5 in my R2 upgrade, what version are yours listed at in the console ?

Introduction Microsoft released System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager on October 18th, 2013 as planned (General Availability) and now we all have the ability to test the new features in the finished product. I've installed it in my lab and wanted to test the New operating system deployment features, one of which is the ability to create a VHD from a task sequence right from the Configuration Manager console. Before getting started however you'll need to have at least one host capable of running HyperV (such as Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012R2) with the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager console installed. Tip: You'll need System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager installed, here's a step by step guide to get your started. Step 1. Create a new task sequence Note: Perform the following on any computer with the System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager AdminConsole installed as SMSAdmin. Open the Admin console, expand Software Library, Operating System Deployment and right click on Task Sequences, choose Create Task Sequence. choose the third option, install an existing image to a virtual hard disk choose a suitable name for your task sequence and select a boot image In this task sequence I am deploying Windows 8 X64 Enterprise using the Install.wim file from the DVD, I also select to enable the Administrator account and I specify a password select to Join a domain and fill in appropriate domain join credentials and install the configuration manager client, you can add switches here if needed and select to install some applications if you wish click next through to the completion message You can now edit the task sequence if you wish and add/remove steps, note the last step is a shutdown command, this is a special step and is 'looked for' by the wizard later on so that it knows the task sequence is complete and to generate the VHD. Step 2. Create a Virtual Hard Disk Note: Perform the following on a HyperV host computer with the System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager AdminConsole installed as SMSAdmin. Method #1 - Do it using the AdminConsole In the Admin console Expand the Task Sequences node in Operating System Deployment and right click on Virtual Hard Disks. If this is greyed out it's because you are not running the console on a Hyperv Enabled host (I've tested it on Server 2012 running Hyperv with the R2 admin console installed). To make it clear, i'm including two screenshots of the same action, one on a hyperV host, the other is an adminconsole with no hyperV hosts locally installed. Note: the below screenshot is on a host without hyperv installed or enabled. Note how the Create Virtual Hard Disk action is greyed out. Note: the below screenshot is on a hyperv host Now that we've started the create virtual hard disk wizard, fill in some details about our virtual hard disk. next select our task sequence that we created in Step 1 and depending on how complicated the task sequence was it will take some time to generate a list of task sequence referenced content select a distribution point that has all the packages on it (XX of XX) and click your way through the wizard, at this point you'll see be prompted to allow access to your host computer (to create the file) and shortly after the magic begins The task sequence media creation is logged in the CreateTSMedia.log file located on the hyperv host running the adminconsole (Typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Configuration Manager\AdminConsole\AdminUILog) The user you are logged in as will have it's AppData\Local\Temp dir used as a temporary scratch space, so make sure you have lots of space if needed or use the link at the bottom of this page to change your TMP environment variables to point to a drive with more free space. and off it goes creating the virtual hard disk (look at this video to see the process in more detail, watch above the hyperv4 vm to see the new virtual machine being created, this video has no audio yet, it's coming hopefully if i get time...) This involves, automatically creating a temporary virtual machine in hyperV, starting it automatically, starting the task sequence automatically and finally sealing the VHD file which can then be seen in the configuration manager console. Below you can see the temporary virtual machine in hyperv shortly before the VHD is created (task sequence is complete) The temporary virtual machine continues to run the task sequence, eventually installing our applications once complete the Virtual machine shutsdown and the VHD copying starts, you can now monitor the DeploytoVHD.log file (in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Configuration Manager\AdminConsole\AdminUILog) When the logfile confirms the process is done then you can assume that the wizard is also complete...and it is... :-) and you'll notice that the temporary virtual machine is gone and clicking on Virtual Hard Disks in the Admin console will list our newly created VHD file, success ! at which point you can modify the VHD (by choosing that action in the ribbon or via right click) or just upload it to Virtual Machine Manager. Method #2 - Do it using PowerShell Start PowerShell ISE (PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment) as Administrator and paste in the following code import-module 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Configuration Manager\AdminConsole\bin\ConfigurationManager.psd1' Set-Location P01:\ New-CMVhd -path \\hyperv-5\c$\hyper-v\vhd\PowerShell.vhd -Name "Windows 8 Enterprise X64 - VHD created using Powershell " -VHDsize 50 -TaskSequencePackageId "P0100071" -DistributionPointServerNames SCCM.server2008r2.lab.local -Version "X64" -Description "created by windows-noob.com" The first two lines simply import the configuration manager powershell module and then set your path to your primary server P01. The New-CMvhd cmdlet is a new cmdlet in R2 and it is used to create the VHD using powershell. In the above, the -TaskSequencePackageId value is the PackageID of your task sequence, make sure to set the appropriate values in the New-CMvhd command to suit your environment (for example your server share). Click on the Green arrow to run your powershell script and off it goes ! and after some VHD creation...............job done ! and our VHD appears in the console not too bad eh ? cheers niall Related reading What’s New in System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager - http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn236351.aspx How an I install System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager - How can I install System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager ? Changing the TMP variable for OSD media creation - http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrteam/archive/2013/07/16/customizing-the-temporary-location-for-osd-media-creation.aspx Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd819514.aspx using System Center 2012 Configuration Manager - Part 12. Connecting PowerShell and Building a reference image of Windows 8 with .Net 3.5 Configuration Manager SP1 Cmdlet Reference - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj821831.aspx

can you post the smsts.log file as well so we can see what is failing ?

you can use web services (maik koster) to do that or create a run book in orchestrator.

Less than a year ago we were preparing to launch Windows 8, which introduced our vision of highly personalized mobile computing. And here we are today announcing the global availability of Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 demonstrates our commitment to continuously improving the product to create a richer customer experience. We are excited to have customers start updating their devices today and getting to experience new Windows devices this holiday season. Windows 8.1 brings a variety of new features and improvements to Windows 8 that we think people will really enjoy. We listened to your feedback and are delivering many of the improvements you asked for. If you are a consumer with a Windows 8 device, you can now download the free update to Windows 8.1 online through the Windows Store*. Please visit Windows.com for everything you need to know including how to get the update for your Windows 8 device. If you are a consumer on a device running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, or the Windows 8.1 Preview – this page on Windows.com will detect your OS and provide you with all the information you need in order to get Windows 8.1 on your device. I also highly recommend reading our FAQ which answers many of the most common questions about getting Windows 8.1. Starting tomorrow October 18th, Windows 8.1 will also be available on new devices and as packaged DVD product at retail locations around the world. You can also click here to learn about the wide variety of new Windows devices available now and coming throughout the holiday season to find the one that best fits their needs, and their budget. To celebrate the new Windows, starting today for the next 8 days – we will pick 810 (see what we did there?) random winners per day who tweet and share their new Start screen after updating their Windows 8 device to Windows 8.1 with the #MyStart hashtag. You’ve heard us (and me) talk a lot about the new features in Windows 8.1 since the Build conference last June but I think it’s worth reiterating the awesomeness that Windows 8.1 brings to your device. Start the way you want. The Start screen in Windows 8.1 is more customizable than ever with new tile sizes, new background designs and colors – allowing you to make the Start screen on your device unique and personal to you (you should see some of the color combinations I’ve come up with for my Start screen!). You can also choose how you start your Windows experience – at the Start screen or the desktop. The Start button is back. And there is an improved Apps view that allows you to see all your apps the way you want. Multi-tasking is even better in Windows 8.1 – you can now have up to four apps side by side with flexible windows sizing for each app on the screen. At a minimum, I usually have 3 apps snapped side by side on my devices doing various things like email, listening to music and browsing the web. We have also improved multi-monitor support in Windows 8.1 allowing users to view their desktop or apps from the Windows Store on any or all their monitors. Bing Smart Search is the easiest way to find what you are looking for and to get things done. Built for touch, swipe or type from the Start screen and Smart Search will find what you need – whether it’s a document on your PC, a photo album in the cloud, your favorite app, or a website. Windows 8.1 comes with new and improved Microsoft apps and services – available right out of the box and right from your Start screen. Skype is there for instant messaging and catching up with friends and family. We’ve updated the Mail app (well, more like over-hauled) to make email easier – for both personal and email and work email. Two new Bing apps are introduced in Windows 8.1 called Food & Drink and Health & Fitness along with updates to the News, Weather, Finance, Travel and Sports apps. Xbox Music has received a big update for Windows 8.1, and you can watch TV and movies with Xbox Video. And Windows 8.1 comes with Internet Explorer 11which is optimized for touch and brings speed boosts and synchronized browsing history, favorites, and settings across all of your Windows 8.1 devices. Speaking of synchronizing – Windows 8.1 also comes with deep and improved cloud integration with SkyDrive. Your files are always accessible across all your devices. With SkyDrive smart files, you can create, edit, save and share files anywhere, anytime and your files are always with you, both on and offline. And the Windows Store has been redesigned in Windows 8.1. With the “New & Rising” section it is now easier to stay on top of the hottest and newest apps to hit the Windows Store. Plus, the Windows Store has a live tile too! The Windows Store will also now provide you with personalized recommendations – powered by Bing. And apps are now updated from the Windows Store automatically by default so you will always have the best and newest versions of your apps. Look for new and updated apps including Adobe Photoshop Express, Box, Evernote, Facebook, Hulu Plus, Netflix, and NOOK, for Windows 8.1. And more to come! Windows 8.1 will also bring some very innovative new devices for both consumers and businesses from tablets and 2-in-1s with a perfect mix of mobility and productivity, to new laptops, All-in-Ones and specialized industry devices.Windows 8.1 brings the widest selection of designs at every price point. I’ll be blogging more about many of these devices over the next few weeks as they become available, so you can find and experience a device that is truly an extension of you. Windows 8.1 represents collaboration across the entire company. Over the last three days, we’ve featured guest blog posts from our friends at Skype, Xbox, Bing, SkyDrive, and Internet Explorer that discusses in the connected experience that Windows 8.1 brings together. And now you can enjoy the results of this work today. So get your device updated! And be sure to share those Start screens. *Internet access required; fees may apply. via > http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/10/17/windows-8-1-now-available.aspx

Microsoft is making Windows 8.1 commercially available over the next day-plus (depending on your time zone). Unsurprisingly, this milestone leads many Microsoft watchers, partners and customers to wonder what will be coming next. Again, unsurprisingly, Microsoft officials aren't talking about what will be the follow-on to Windows 8.1, codenamed "Blue." But that doesn't mean things are at a standstill. Here's what I'm hearing from my sources. As I've blogged before, I've heard the Windows team will be releasing a Spring 2014 update to Windows 8.1 that will coincide with the release of Windows Phone Blue. (Yes, I am still hearing Windows Phone Blue, which may be called Windows Phone 8.1, is still a Spring 2014 thing.) Some believe Microsoft will also be releasing a bigger new version of Windows in the Fall of 2014, about a year after Windows 8.1. I'm hearing from one of my trusted sources who has a good accuracy rate on Windows rumors that this is looking less and less likely. There's a lot in flux inside the new, unified Operating System Group at Microsoft, headed by Terry Myerson. Supposedly, from what I'm hearing, the OSG team is rethinking priorities, workflow and just about everything else when it comes to Windows, Windows Phone and the Xbox operating systems, going forward. Right now — and this may change — the idea is to deliver a "major" release of "Windows" in the Spring of 2015. My aforementioned source says this major release will be a kind of hybrid that will bring the current Windows and Windows Phone OSes closer together. This is most likely when the rumored unified Windows and Windows Phone Store will debut. (There could be a unified developer portal, allowing developers to submit apps for both platforms before the actual store materializes, I'm hearing.) Right now, Microsoft has two ARM-based Windows operating systems: The Windows Phone OS and the Windows RT OS. The thinking is these will be one by Spring 2015. Because it tends to be easier to take a "smaller" OS and add to it than to take a larger one and remove features from it, it's likely that the Windows Phone OS is the one on top of which the new operating systems group will build. The recent rumor (courtesy of Windows SuperSite's Paul Thurrott) about the Windows Phone OS being modified to support 7 to 10-inch screen sizes makes sense in this context. It wouldn't surprise me if by 2015 Microsoft calls whatever is powering smartphones, phablets and tablets plain-old Windows, given the interfaces, the development platforms and the core operating systems will continue to align further. If my tipster is correct, Spring — which means calendar Q2 or so for those not in our hemisphere — is looking like the new preferred time for bigger OS releases from Microsoft, at least in the near term. Again, to be clear, this is all rumor (though a well-sourced one) at this point. Lots of things may change between now and Spring 2015. via Zdnet > http://www.zdnet.com/what-comes-next-after-windows-8-1-7000022034/

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Cireson, a leading force in the Microsoft System Center space, unveils yet another much anticipated app. This new release integrates with the Microsoft Outlook email client and is the first integration app of its kind. For Service Manager users, this means that direct syncing can occur between Outlook and System Center, allowing for seamless management of day-to-day activities. The new app also provides the ability to create, view, edit, and complete various incidents, changes, problems, activities, and service requests with greater ease than ever before. Delivering such a full range of expanded capabilities, Cireson apps continue to forge a path that encourages intuitive, simple, and smart solutions. This recent addition to the company's 15 other apps further solidifies Cireson's commitment to pioneering development and forward thinking on all things considered System Center. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131016/PH97159LOGO ) The following features represent a few of the main Outlook Console app benefits: Direct SCSM integration within Outlook to manage any day-to-day Work Item activities Ability to create, view, edit, and complete Incidents, Problems, Changes, Service Requests and Activities Create any Work Item from an e-mail and add emails to any Work Item View all Work Items assigned to you Support for Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013 Commenting on this exciting new release, Managing Consultant at INOVATIV and seven-year System Center MVP Maarten Goet reveals, "This particular app has been, without question, the most requested app from our customer base. The Outlook Console opens a new chapter for users. It changes the way people interact with Service Manager, and as a result, redefines ease of use and productivity in the ways that matter most." Continuing the trend of converting valuable client input into real life System Center enhancements, Cireson has once again created a tangible, much needed solution for users who love to benefit from industry leading products. Not only will the Outlook Console complement the strength of the HTML 5 Cireson Analyst Web Console, it will also allow customers to seamlessly interact with SCSM processes in order to support overarching business from the most used daily pivot point in every user's life - Microsoft Outlook. For further information on the new Outlook Console, visit www.Cireson.com for videos, features, and more. About Cireson Cireson was founded on a simple, powerful idea: to be the forward thinkers on all things surrounding Microsoft System Center. Pioneering a team of passionate, partner focused, and technically brilliant System Center experts, Cireson offers the absolute best in market leading apps, deployments, custom development, and training. For further information on Cireson and the market leading SCSM Asset Management and SCSM Analyst Web Console apps, visit www.cireson.com or find us @TeamCireson and at www.facebook.com/teamcireson. Contact: Jacqueline Lage (855) 871-1232 Email Read more news from Cireson. Disclaimer: The article is from a windows-noob recommends partner.

the bits from above are included in the below task sequence CM12 in a Lab - The CM12 BitLocker FrontEnd HTA

try running diskpart on the virtual machine disk (or real hard disc) and create a primary partition, format it like so (in WinPE), warning this will wipe anything on the selected disk ! diskpart then clean cre par pri format fs=ntfs quick assign exit once done, reboot and try the task sequence again

you can't, you'll need to import it into a test lab Configuration Manager environment and then copy the steps manually one by one into a new MDT task sequence.

i can see that windows is on D:, is that correct ? if you've hardcoded anything to run from C:\ then this might explain the failure.. however the command line looks ok the client.msi.log reveals... and then later... the errors pretty much explode after that point, so can you tell us a little bit more about how you are installing these systems and how did you capture/install the original os ?

well the problem is in the pass specialize as it says so you'll need to check your unattend.xml file to see what the issue is, smsts.log should also give you some more clues.