A Week of Task Sequence Tips: Day 05 – Run Task Sequence Step
This is the fifth of a mini series of small (but important) tips to help you when troubleshooting your Task Sequences. Tip 5 is: Run Task Sequence Step
Having Model & Manufacturer collections can be quite useful. Targeting Client settings based on Manufacturer, deploying BIOS / Drivers based on Model, having collections makes it a bit easier.
A Week of Task Sequence Tips: Day 04 – SMSTS Log Stamping
This is the fourth of a mini series of small (but important) tips to help you when troubleshooting your Task Sequences. Tip 4 is: SMSTS Log Stamping
Right Click Tools Proxy and Agents Webinar
Webinar: Use Right Click Tools on the ConfigMgr Fast Channel
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – Holiday 2020
Welcome to the Recast Endpoint Management Recap, for the 2020 holiday season, by Gary Blok.
What’s new in Right Click Tools: October Monthly Roundup
Here’s a quick summary of the new features added and bugs fixed in Right Click Tools for October. Each month we will provide a full recap of what’s new and each quarter we will publish a series of deep dives of all the big new features you’ve been asking for.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – October 2020
Welcome to the Recast Endpoint Management Recap, October 2020 by Gary Blok
What’s new in Right Click Tools: August Release Roundup
Here’s a quick summary of the new features added and bugs fixed in Right Click Tools for August. Each month we will provide a full recap of what’s new and each quarter we will publish a series of deep dives of all the big new features you’ve been asking for.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – September 2020
Welcome to the Recast Endpoint Management Recap, September 2020 by Gary Blok
A Week of Task Sequence Tips: Day 03 – Variables Gather and Capture
This is the third of a mini series of small (but important) tips to help you when troubleshooting your Task Sequences. Tip 3 is: Variables Gather and Capture
A Week of Task Sequence Tips: Day 01 – Tag Version in Description
This is the first of a mini series of small (but important) tips to help you when troubleshooting your Task Sequences. Each day we'll post something simple and easy to start using right now. Tip 1 is: Use the Description Field as a way to version your Task Sequence.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – August 2020
Welcome to the Recast Endpoint Management Recap, August 2020 by Gary Blok
Recast’s ConfigMgr Community Influencer Highlights – Maurice Daly
In this second installment of our ConfigMgr community highlights, I had the opportunity to have the MVP Maurice Daly (@modaly_it) participate. I've known Maurice for many years now, as one of my projects at my former company was starting to cross paths with a project Maurice was just releasing initial versions.
What’s new in Right Click Tools: July Release Roundup
Here’s a quick summary of the new features added and bugs fixed in Right Click Tools for July. Each month we will provide a full recap of what’s new and each quarter we will publish a series of deep dives of all the big new features you’ve been asking for.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – July 2020
Welcome to the Recast Endpoint Management Recap, July 2020 by Gary Blok
What’s new in Right Click Tools: June Release Roundup
Here’s a quick summary of the new features added, and bugs fixed in Right Click Tools for June. Each month we will provide a full recap of what’s new and each quarter we will publish a series of deep dives of all the big new features you’ve been asking for.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – June 2020
Welcome to the Recast Endpoint Management Recap, June 2020 by Gary Blok
Recast’s ConfigMgr Community Influencer Highlights – Donna Ryan
In this Highlight series, we'll be covering stories from community influencers who have created tools or process that have greatly impacted the community.
What’s new in Right Click Tools: May Release Roundup
Here’s a quick summary of the new features added, and bugs fixed in Right Click Tools for May. Each month we will provide a full recap of what’s new and each quarter we will publish a series of deep dives of all the big new features you’ve been asking for. Enterprise Customers can install the latest version by logging into your Portal Account.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – May 2020
Thanks for joining me once again for the Recap, this month was busy with several cool announcements from Microsoft and some other announcements that just created busy work. Moving from Office 365 to Microsoft 365 and the update channel names which take effect in the next couple weeks (more about that later), to a new packaging tool winget. Microsoft is keeping busy while we're stuck at home.
Lessons Learned from Microsoft 365 Deployment with ConfigMgr: Part 4 – ConfigMgr Baseline
In this post I'm going to cover how we are using a ConfigMgr Baseline to control the user experience. I'm not suggesting everyone do it this way, but for us, we wanted to provide a good user experience, even to those on slow links, and make it look pretty while still looking legit, and native.
Lessons Learned from Microsoft 365 Deployment with ConfigMgr: Part 3 – Self Service Deployments
In this post I'm going to cover how we're doing our Self Service Deployments for the Microsoft 365 Apps. We're controlling it via Active Directory Group Membership.
Lessons Learned from Microsoft 365 Deployment with ConfigMgr: Part 2 – Changing Channels
We have setup 2 methods for channeling the Office Channel on devices. One that allows self-service via an application in the software center, and one that is forced via a baseline set on a collection.
Lessons Learned from Microsoft 365 Deployment with ConfigMgr: Part 1
Hey Team, thanks for reading through the Office 365 posts, hopefully at this point you've got a good grasp on the Office Setup Process, the Deployment Methods and the user experience. I happen to know a guy who has setup Office 365 Deployments in a rather large enterprise, and was faced with a few "opportunities".
Office 365 Deployment Series with ConfigMgr: Post 5 – Office Updates and Automatic Deployment Rules (ADR)
In this post, I'm going to do a simple "How-to" on creating an ADR and deploying it to your devices. I'm not going to go into the depth that those other 2 posts do.. because I'm not a huge fan of reinventing the wheel. I'll have a little overlap, but will keep it simple.
Office 365 Deployment Series with ConfigMgr: Post 4 – Deployment Methods
Thanks for making it this far in our Deployment and Maintenance of Office 365 using Microsoft's Endpoint Manager, Configuration Manager (MEMCM / SCCM) series, now that we have our Office application setup, it's time to get it deployed, and look into how we can change the channel [Channel on Docs]. Based on how you deploy it, and a setting in the XML file, you'll see different behavior.
Recast’s New Agent, Leverage the ConfigMgr Fast Channel – Silent Install
As a follow-up to our previous post announcing Recast's New Agent, Leverage the ConfigMgr Fast Channel, here we're going to cover a more normal enterprise scenario with the Recast Agent, deploying with ConfigMgr silently to however many endpoints you want.
Recast’s New Agent, Leverage the ConfigMgr Fast Channel
Here at Recast Software, we are always adding new functionality to benefit our users. We were asked if we could have our tools leverage the ConfigMgr fast channel, so after a bit of development time, a few "debates" among our team, and two HR interventions, we've came up with the Recast Agent.
Office 365 Deployment Series with ConfigMgr: Post 2 – Creating the Office Installer (simple)
In this Deployment and Maintenance of Office 365 using Microsoft's Endpoint Manager, Configuration Manager (MEMCM / SCCM) post, we're going to get familiar with the Office 365 App Creation process that comes built into Configuration Manager.
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 4 – ConfigMgr Server Pre-Reqs
This is the big one, this is our MEMCM server, so much is happening to setup this server it's going to take a few posts. This post is covering some basics, and the pre-reqs, we'll move into SQL & the actual CM Install in up coming posts.
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 5 – Configuration Settings (AD / GPO)
Along the way when you setup your lab, you'll need to create accounts, groups, gpos, and other things to make life easier. While you want to keep it fairly clean and lean, if you plan to keep this lab around awhile, you'll want a few of these setup:
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 6 – ConfigMgr Source Share
This short post will explain how I've setup the Source Share on the Server. The Source Share is were all content sources for Apps / Packages / Updates / Operating Systems / Drivers, etc will go. It is not the content in the DP, but it's the content that supplies the DP
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 11 – Operating System Deployment
In this post, we're going to confirm OSD, and make sure we have what we need for basic OSD. This post will NOT cover the fancy stuff, but just the basics of getting OSD working.
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 12 – SQL Reporting Services (SSRS)
So you've got your CM Server and some clients, now you want to surface that data via reporting. [MS Docs] Sure Power BI is cool, but who has money for that, SSRS is included and there are some pretty nifty free reports in the community. In this post, we're going to be installing SSRS 2019, along with getting it configured then installing the Reporting Service Role in ConfigMgr.
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 13 – Cloud Management Gateway (CMG) – Certs PreReq
Learn about the Required Certificates needed for a CMG and how to set them up, including Client Authentication Certs, Web Cert for CMG device and Root CA Cert
The Two Sides of BitLocker – Compliance and Key Storage
Our BitLocker Dashboard, built into Microsoft SCCM, displays the compliance of devices' targeted BitLocker Policies from MBAM or CM BLM. You can also ensure keys are stored correctly in AD, MBAM, or CM BLM. Pair our BitLocker Compliance Dashboard with the BitLocker Status tool to easily remediate non-compliant devices.
The Aftermath: Ensure Post-Deployment Health of ReLAPS in Your Environment
Our ReLAPS Dashboard is built right into Microsoft SCCM to help you maintain the health of LAPS in your Environment. Do this by seeing which devices may have LAPS health issues through the Client Install status, as well as whether or not the password is updating and storing correctly. Then, use the ReLAPS Dashboard in tandem with Remote Software Center to install the missing client.
Software Update Compliance with Precision Filtering
The Three Rs . . . Report, Remediate, and Repeat. The Software Update Deployment Status (SUDS) Dashboard, which is built into Microsoft SCCM, does just that.
Dashboard Series: Know Your Devices to Manage, Update, and Secure Them Effectively
With our Hardware & Firmware Dashboard, built into Microsoft SCCM, you can streamline those processes. You can also make Windows 10 feature updates easier by getting the big picture on hardware and firmware pre-requisites. Finally, view the firmware status and versioning to assist with necessary firmware updates, which are often pre-requisites to Virtualization-based Security components.
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 14 – Cloud Management Gateway (CMG) – Azure Subscription
What to do within Azure Portal to get things ready for a CMG. This was the biggest thing that tripped me up, mostly because I was using an account that didn't work properly. So just a note, if you don't log into your Azure Portal Directory with the Same "domain name" as the one you're managing, you'll run into issues.
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 15 – Azure Services Connection
In the previous posts we've created the Certificates required for CMG and looked at Azure to confirm we have things in place. We also confirmed we have the rights setup in Azure that are needed. Let's start the process in the CM Console.
Building a ConfigMgr Lab from Scratch: Step 18 – Cloud Management Gateway – Client CMG Endpoints
So now we've got everything in place, let's do some CMG tests to confirm it's working.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – April 2020
We were hoping at this point we'd be reminiscing about the time in quarantine, gearing up for MMS in the coming week, and an overall lighter mood. But instead we've double down on our efforts, trying to win at staying home and yet being productive. During this time, we need to remember the importance of community, helping each other out, even from a distance.
Webinar Recording: What’s New in Right Click Tools 4.2
Presented by the developers of Right Click Tools, get a closer look at all the new features and improvements in version 4.2, including improvements to Client Information Tool, System Information Tool, Remote Software Center and Hardware & Firmware Audit Dashboard. Plus we included several questions from the Q&A portion.
To fully utilize the Right Click Tools, you need to have some settings configured in your environments.
What’s New in Right Click Tools: March Release Roundup
Here’s a quick summary of the new features added, and bugs fixed in Right Click Tools for March. Each month we will provide a full recap of what’s new and each quarter we will publish a series of deep dives of all the big new features you’ve been asking for.
Right Click Tools 4.2 – What’s New Overview
We here at Recast are keeping busy, writing code and adding new features to Right Click Tools at an increasing rate. Here's a look back at everything we've shipped in the first quarter of 2020.
Uncover and Resolve Security Blind Spots with Right Click Tools
Its difficult to prevent and fix security issues if you don’t know they exist. Right Click Tools help to surface and remediate blind spots that otherwise slip through the cracks. Our dashboards built into Microsoft SCCM surface common weak points like these and are paired with tools to quickly address problems that are discovered.
Someone on twitter pointed out that it would be better to use "Installed Software" instead of "Install Application" for the query, while I don't disagree, depending on your reasons, Installed software is not included in Hardware Inventory by default, so unless you went out of your way to enable it (and you should), you could not use it in a query.
How to Implement Unified Write Filter Manager with Right Click Tools
This post we'll cover Microsoft's Unified Write Filter (UWF) technology and how Recast's solution will remove some of the pain of implementation of UWF.
Has this happened to you recently? Manager walks over to your cube, "What would it take to enable most of our employees to work from home, like yesterday?".. then walks out saying "Make it happen."
Learn how to add additional items into Hardware Inventory. Two examples, one for HP and one for Lenovo help to import additional information into your CM Database which will help with reporting and queries.
In our recently release of Right Click Tools 4.1, we added the Hardware Audit Dashboard, as we continue to add functionality, to make best use of this feature, you'll have to make sure you're collecting additional information via hardware Inventory, mainly Product in Baseboard.
Right Click Tools Client: Enterprise with Server Deployment
For this post we'll focus on deploying Right Click Tools Client with Enterprise server support and automating the Deployment of the Recast Client Tools.
What’s New in Right Click Tools: October Release Roundup
Here’s a quick summary of the new features added, and bugs fixed in Right Click Tools for October. Each month we will provide a full recap of what’s new and each quarter we will publish a series of deep dives of all the big new features you’ve been asking for.
How to Use Kiosk Manager in Right Click Tools
Deep dive into Kiosk Manager (previously Lab Manager) to apply several settings to a machine or group of machines to lock it down, or turn it into a single use machine... like a kiosk, for example.
MMS Jazz Recap Through the Eyes of Recast Software
A recap of MMS Jazz 2019, including sessions presented by the Recast team and photos of the event.
Microsoft's Unified Write Filter, its a windows feature included in your OS, off by default, but gives you the ability to prevent changes to your system. This post is geared toward a general overview and demo of implementation.
Recast Proxy is a feature that enables you to extend your reach of the Right Click Tools into previously untapped areas, such as: Untrusted Domains, WorkGroup Machines, and machines the user [ConfigMgr Console User] doesn't have rights on directly.
In this post, we'll cover deployment of the Recast Proxy Software. Using ConfigMgr to Deploy the Proxy Installer is pretty easy, and can be done in a few different ways.
Recast Kiosk Manager is a fan favorite, used by many of our Enterprise customers to help control machines with a few clicks. Sometimes you want to deploy a computer and already have all of these settings applied, using the process Kiosk Manager uses, and stealing the end results, we can create a Task Sequence Module to deploy Recast Kiosk settings during OSD.
Right Click Tools Highlight: System Information Tool
Over the past 7 years of being a ConfigMgr admin and having the Right Click Tools at my finger tips, one of them stands out as my most used tool: System Information.
Right Click Tool Highlight: System Information – Collection Mode
Collection mode will give you a nice quick overview of the machines. This view allows customization and adding / removing columns.
Right Click Tool Highlight: System Information – Device Mode
Over the past 7 years of being a ConfigMgr admin and having the Right Click Tools at my finger tips, one of them stands out as my most used tool: System Information.
Right Click Tools Highlight: Advanced Collection Information
Another one of my Top 10 Right Click Tools is Advanced Collection Information. Right now you're thinking, ha, that tool is obsolete, in 1906, ConfigMgr now gives a list of collections a machine is in the lower pane. At first glance, you'd be right, however, once you launch the tool and take a closer look, you'll see some additional useful information.
This week, we highlight another nifty little tool, which is great for troubleshooting and reporting. Before I tell you which one it is, I'm going to talk about something instrumental in ConfigMgr, but not something we often think about, Status Messages.
Hey Recast Right Click Tools users. This is a nifty tip that I often forget about, but is pretty powerful when adding or removing machines to and from collections.
Ever wonder why a machine doesn't show up in a collection?
Windows 10 Rollback (SetupRollback.cmd)
A deep dive into the issue with Rollback in Windows 10 and what you can do to fix it.
Tip of the Week: Add AV Exclusions to Avoid Console Slowdowns
In some scenarios, installing Right Click Tools 3.2 can cause noticeable console slowness due to Endpoint Protection or other AV apps having to scan additional XML files that Right Click Tools add into the console.
Tips and Tricks – How to Delete User Profiles in ConfigMgr
The System Information tool has a wealth of actionable information available at your fingertips. Here's how to use this tool to delete User Profiles from a device.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – March 2020
What a month! New terms entered our vocabulary, Social Distancing for example, activities cancelled, conferences gone virtual or postponed, schools closed, IT infrastructures put to the test as employers urged working from home, and toilet paper nearly became a currency. It's been a crazy month.
March is Women's History Month. We looked around the IT community and noticed so many strong women leaders. This blog highlights a few of them, giving them a chance to tell their stories.
Webinar Recording: Deploy Single-Purpose Kiosk Devices with ConfigMgr
Do you have a need to lock down devices to support kiosk-style requirements, such as computer labs or digital signage? Watch this webinar recording to see a walkthrough of how to set up these single-purpose devices with ConfigMgr, using Right Click Tools' Kiosk Manager.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – Feb 2020
Welcome to the Recast Endpoint Management Recap, February 2020
Right Click Tools 4.1 Release Webinar
Presented by the developers of Right Click Tools, get a closer look at all the new features and improvements in 4.1, plus a transcript of several topics from the Q&A section.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – Jan 2020
Episode three of a monthly edition of recent updates, news and helpful resources for the ConfigMgr community.
What’s New in Right Click Tools: December Release Roundup
Here’s a quick summary of the new features added, and bugs fixed in Right Click Tools for December. Each month we will provide a full recap of what’s new and each quarter we will publish a series of deep dives of all the big new features you’ve been asking for.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – Dec 2019
Episode two of a monthly edition of recent updates, news and helpful resources for the ConfigMgr community.
Right Click Tools Refresher & 4.0 Release Webinar
Interested in getting a refresher of some of our most-used Community tools? How about a look at what's new in 4.0 Enterprise edition? Check out a recent webinar from the developers of Right Click Tools for all of this and more.
Recast’s Endpoint Management Recap – Nov 2019
This is the first of many to come, a monthly edition of recent updates, news and helpful resources for the ConfigMgr community. Highlights include events, Microsoft product announcements, hardware vendor updates, community tools and Right Click Tools updates.
Top Use Cases for Locking Down Devices in ConfigMgr (Using Kiosk Manager)
In a recent customer survey, we found that the use cases for locking down devices are wide and vary by industry, from healthcare to education to manufacturing. Right Click Tools’ Kiosk Manager (previously Lab Manager) allows customers to support common kiosk-style requirements, including Shell Replacement, Automatic Login, Restart on Idle, and more.
You've done your research. Now, let's take the next step streamline your IT management in the modern workplace. Request a customized quote today for your organization.
