Software updates task sequence sccm 2012

View the diagram at full size. The diagram includes two of the timeout variables that apply to this step. There are other standard timers from other components that can affect this process. Use the following resources and additional information to help you troubleshoot issues with this step:.

Make sure to target your software update deployments to the same collection as the task sequence deployment. Make sure to include software update points in boundary groups. For more information, see Configuration Manager clients don't get software updates. To help you troubleshoot the software update management process, see Troubleshoot software update management in Configuration Manager. To help improve overall performance, reduce the size of the software update catalog.

For example:. Remove unnecessary classifications, products, and languages. For more information, see Configure classifications and products to synchronize. Reindex the site database and rebuild statistics. For more information, see the FAQ for site sizing and performance. Feedback will be sent to Microsoft: By pressing the submit button, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services.

Privacy policy. Use task sequences to automate steps in your Configuration Manager environment. These steps can deploy an OS image to a destination computer, build and capture an OS image from a set of OS installation files, and capture and restore user state information. Task sequences are located in the Configuration Manager console. The Task Sequences node, including subfolders that you create, is replicated throughout the Configuration Manager hierarchy.

For planning information, see Planning considerations for automating tasks. Create task sequences by using the Create Task Sequence Wizard. This wizard can create the following types of task sequences:. It also includes options to migrate user data, include software updates, and install applications. It also includes options to include software updates and install applications. Task sequence to capture an OS : Create the steps to build and capture an OS from a reference computer. You can include software updates and install applications on the reference computer before capturing the image.

Task sequence to capture and restore user state : Add steps to an existing task sequence to capture and restore user state data. Custom task sequence : This type doesn't add any steps to the task sequence.

After you create this task sequence, edit it, and add steps. Modify a task sequence by adding or removing steps, adding or removing groups, or by changing the order of the steps. For more information, see Use the task sequence editor. When the size of the task sequence policy exceeds 32 MB, the client fails to process the large policy.

The client then fails to run the task sequence deployment. The size of the task sequence as stored in the site database is smaller, but can still cause problems if too large.

When the client processes the entire task sequence policy, the expanded size can cause problems over 32 MB. Starting in version , to check for the MB task sequence policy size on clients, use management insights. Starting in version , Configuration Manager restricts the following actions for a task sequence in the site database that's greater than 2 MB in size:. For example, if you try to save changes to a large task sequence, the task sequence editor will display an error. The behavior in version and later checks for the 2 MB size limit on the task sequence as stored in the site database.

The management insights check for the 32 MB task sequence policy size. Starting in version , when you view the list of task sequences in the Configuration Manager console, add the Size KB column.

Use this column to identify large task sequences that can cause problems. To help reduce the size of task sequences and task sequence deployment policies, take the following actions:. Separate functional segments into child task sequences, and use the Run Task Sequence step. Keep each task sequence less than 2 MB in the database. Each task sequence has a separate MB limit on its policy size. Reducing the total number of steps and groups in a task sequence has minimal impact on the policy size.

Each step is generally a couple of KB in policy. Moving groups of steps to a child task sequence is more impactful. Reduce the number of software updates in deployments to the same collection as the task sequence.

Instead of entering a script in the Run PowerShell Script step, reference it via a package. There's an 8-KB limit on the size of the task sequence environment when it runs. Review the usage of custom task sequence variables, which can also contribute to the policy size.

As a last resort, split a complex, dynamic task sequence into separate task sequences with distinct deployments to different collections. Use the following procedure to configure the details for the task sequence displayed in Software Center. These details are for information only. Restart required : Lets the user know whether a restart is required during the installation. Download size MB : Specifies how many megabytes are displayed in Software Center for the task sequence.

Estimated run time minutes : Specifies the estimated run time in minutes that's displayed in Software Center for the task sequence.

Use the following procedure to configure the behavior of the task sequence on the Configuration Manager client. Run another program first : Select this option to run a program in another package before the task sequence runs. By default, this check box is cleared. You don't need to separately deploy the program that you specify to run first. This setting applies only to task sequences that run in the full OS.

If you start the task sequence by using PXE or boot media, Configuration Manager ignores this setting. It also doesn't apply to task sequences that run on clients that communicate via a cloud management gateway CMG.

Package : Browse for the package that contains the program to run before this task sequence. If the selected program fails to run on a client, the task sequence doesn't run.

If the selected program runs successfully, it doesn't run again, even if the task sequence is rerun on the same client.

Suppress task sequence notifications : Select this option to hide the New Software is available toast notification. You still see the New software icon from Software Center in the notification area.

By default, this option is disabled. Disable this task sequence on computers where it is deployed : If you select this option, Configuration Manager temporarily disables all deployments that contain this task sequence. It also removes the task sequence from the list of deployments available to run.

You could also change the targeted collection in the existing deployment to one that includes a larger set of clients. Consider the following behaviors when deciding upon the strategy to use:. The ADR automatically deploys software updates to clients when you add them to the target collection. When you or the ADR adds new software updates to the software update group, the site automatically deploys them to the clients in the target collection. After you create an ADR, add additional deployments to the rule.

This action helps you manage the complexity of deploying different updates to different collections. Each new deployment has the full range of functionality and deployment monitoring experience. Starting in version , create phased deployments for software updates.

Phased deployments allow you to orchestrate a coordinated, sequenced rollout of software based on customizable criteria and groups. Applies to: System Center Configuration Manager Current Branch The software update deployment phase is the process of deploying software updates.

No matter how you deploy software updates, the site: Adds the updates to a software update group Distributes the update content to distribution points Deploys the update group to clients After you create the deployment, the site sends an associated software update policy to targeted clients. Tip Sccm Current Branch Deploy Software Updates If a distribution point isn't available, clients on the intranet can also download software updates from Microsoft Update.

Note Unlike other deployment types, software updates are all downloaded to the client cache. There are three main scenarios for deploying software updates: Typically, you start by manually deploying software updates to create a baseline for your clients, and then you manage software updates on clients by using an automatic or phased deployment.

For more information, see Configure classifications and products. For a deployment package that contains the feature update, distribute it to a distribution point that the client can access. For more information, see Download software updates. If the feature update isn't already downloaded, you can manage the deployment package when you deploy the task sequence. When you deploy the task sequence, you can also select the option of No deployment package for the feature update.

When clients run the task sequence, they download the feature update from peers or the Microsoft cloud. The option to Pre-download content for this task sequence doesn't apply to feature updates.

Review the configuration of the following client settings in the Software Updates group, which are applicable to this scenario:. Specify thread priority for feature updates : In most instances, set this value to Normal. Enable Dynamic Update for feature updates : Use this setting to use dynamic update to install language packs, features on demand, drivers, and cumulative updates during Windows Setup. Clients download these other updates from the internet. Allow clients to download delta content when available : If you use Windows Delivery Optimization, the content that the client downloads may be much smaller.

If you need to create a new task sequence, you need an OS upgrade package to complete the Create Task Sequence Wizard. To create a task sequence to upgrade Windows, you typically use the steps in the Process section. The task sequence includes the Upgrade OS step, as well as additional recommended steps and groups to handle the end-to-end upgrade process.

You can create a custom task sequence and add the Upgrade OS step. Make sure to use the setting for The currently installed default operating system to restart the computer into the installed OS and not Windows PE. If you have an existing in-place upgrade task sequence, edit or copy it. Then change the Upgrade OS task sequence step to install the feature update. If you export a task sequence with the Upgrade OS step that uses a feature update, the exported task sequence doesn't include the feature update content.

When you import the task sequence, readd the Upgrade OS step with the feature update.