Sccm Driver Packages Best Practice

Posted on 31.12.2020 by admin

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Applies to: System Center Configuration Manager (Current Branch)

Implementing the Driver Package in Your Task Sequence. A step “Apply Driver Package” needs to be added in your test OS deployment task sequence. Edit your task sequence; Typical Driver Package inject breakdown: Add a “Apply Driver Package” step; Click on “Options” “Add Condition” “Query WMI”. Dec 04, 2015 this thread is for those who want the old SCCM 2007 driver management back. Normally you have to import every driver to the database first, put them into a driver package, and then deploy them during OSD. In SCCM 2007 you could easily create a Driver Package from your Driver Source Folder and apply this Driver Package during OSD. Jun 20, 2018 SCCM Driver Management strategy is critical for each organization. This post will help you to download an eBook which gives an end to end SCCM driver management guide for beginners in IT Pros world. I don’t have much expertise in OS Deployment (OSD) as I mentioned in my AutoPilot post. Jul 30, 2018 This article includes best practices for software updates in Configuration Manager. The information is sorted into best practices for initial installation and for ongoing operations. Installation best practices. Use the following best practices when you install software updates in.

Mar 02, 2019 Configuration Manager provides a driver catalog that contains references to all the drivers that you import into Configuration Manager. The driver catalog is located in the Software Library workspace and consists of two nodes: Drivers and Driver Packages. The Drivers node lists all the drivers that you've imported into the driver catalog. Sep 21, 2013 In this method, we are adding different set of drivers to one driver package. When a machine reaches Apply driver package step it scans all available drivers and apply appropriate drivers. If you have 1 or 2 models this method is good as there are not many drivers to scan in the package. But if you have 10-15 models the drivers package will grow as big as 5 -6 GB.

This article includes best practices for software updates in Configuration Manager. The information is sorted into best practices for initial installation and for ongoing operations.

Installation best practices

Use the following best practices when you install software updates in Configuration Manager.

Use a shared WSUS database for software update points

When you install more than one software update point at a primary site, use the same WSUS database for each software update point in the same Active Directory forest. If you share the same database, it significantly mitigates, but doesn't completely eliminate, the client and the network performance impact that you might experience when clients switch to a new software update point. A delta scan still occurs when a client switches to a new software update point that shares a database with the old software update point, but the scan is much smaller than it would be if the WSUS server has its own database. For more information about software update point switching, see Software update point switching.

Important

Also share the local WSUS content folders when you use a shared WSUS database for software update points.

For more information on sharing the WSUS database, see the following blog posts:

When Configuration Manager and WSUS use the same SQL Server, configure one to use a named instance and the other to use the default instance

When the Configuration Manager and WSUS databases share the same instance of SQL Server, you can't easily determine the resource usage between the two applications. Use different SQL Server instances for Configuration Manager and WSUS. This configuration makes it easier to troubleshoot and diagnose resource usage issues that might occur for each application.

Specify the 'Store updates locally' setting

When you install WSUS, select the setting to Store updates locally. This setting causes WSUS to download the license terms that are associated with software updates. It downloads the terms during the synchronization process and stores them on the local hard drive for the WSUS server. If you don't select this setting, client computers might fail compliance scans for software updates that have license terms. The WSUS Synchronization Manager component of the software update point verifies that this setting is enabled every 60 minutes, by default.

Operational Best Practices

Use the following best practices when you use software updates:

Limit software updates to 1000 in a single software update deployment

Limit the number of software updates to 1000 in each software update deployment. When you create an automatic deployment rule, verify that the specified criteria doesn't result in more than 1000 software updates. If you manually deploy software updates, don't select more than 1000 updates.

Create a new software update group each time an ADR runs for 'Patch Tuesday' and for general deployments

There's a limit of 1000 software updates in a deployment. When you create an automatic deployment rule (ADR), you specify whether to use an existing update group or create a new update group each time the rule runs. If you specify criteria in an ADR that results in multiple software updates, and the rule runs on a recurring schedule, create a new software update group each time the rule runs. This behavior prevents the deployment from surpassing the limit of 1000 software updates per deployment.

Use an existing software update group for ADRs for Endpoint Protection definition updates

When you use an ADR to deploy Endpoint Protection definition updates on a frequent basis, always use an existing software update group. Otherwise, the ADR potentially creates hundreds of software update groups over time. Definition update publishers typically set definition updates to expire when they're superseded by four newer updates. Therefore, the software update group that's created by the ADR never contains more than four definition updates for the publisher: one active, and three superseded.

Driver categories

When you import device drivers, you can assign the device drivers to a category. Device driver categories help group similarly used device drivers together in the driver catalog. For example, set all network adapter device drivers to a specific category. Then, when you create a task sequence that includes the Auto Apply Drivers step, specify a category of device drivers. Configuration Manager then scans the hardware and selects the applicable drivers from that category to stage on the system for Windows Setup to use.

Driver packages

Group similar device drivers in packages to help streamline OS deployments. For example, create a driver package for each computer manufacturer on your network. You can create a driver package when importing drivers into the driver catalog directly in the Driver Packages node. After you create a driver package, distribute it to distribution points. Then Configuration Manager client computers can install the drivers as required.

Consider the following points:

When you create a driver package, the source location of the package must point to an empty network share that's not used by another driver package. The SMS Provider must have Full control permissions to that location.
When you add device drivers to a driver package, Configuration Manager copies it to the package source location. You can add to a driver package only device drivers that you've imported and that are enabled in the driver catalog.
You can copy a subset of the device drivers from an existing driver package. First, create a new driver package. Then add the subset of device drivers to the new package, and then distribute the new package to a distribution point.
When you use task sequences to install drivers, create driver packages that contain less than 500 device drivers.

Create a driver package

Important

To create a driver package, you must have an empty network folder that's not used by another driver package. In most cases, create a new folder before you start this procedure.

Filemaker pro 13 advanced download mac. In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Software Library workspace. Expand Operating Systems, and then select the Driver Packages node.
On the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Create group, select Create Driver Package.
Specify a descriptive Name for the driver package.
Enter an optional Comment for the driver package. Use this description to provide information about the contents or the purpose of the driver package.
In the Path box, specify an empty source folder for the driver package. Each driver package must use a unique folder. This path is required as a network location.
Important
The site server account must have Full control permissions to the specified source folder.

The new driver package doesn't contain any drivers. The next step adds drivers to the package.

If the Driver Packages node contains several packages, you can add folders to the node to separate the packages into logical groups.

Additional actions for driver packages

You can do additional actions to manage driver packages when you select one or more driver packages from the Driver Packages node.

Create Prestage Content file

Creates files that you can use to manually import content and its associated metadata. Use prestaged content when you have low network bandwidth between the site server and the distribution points where the driver package is stored.

Delete

Removes the driver package from the Driver Packages node.

Distribute Content

Distributes the driver package to distribution points, distribution point groups, and distribution point groups that are associated with collections.

Manage Access Accounts

Adds, modifies, or removes access accounts for the driver package.

For more information about package access accounts, see Accounts used in Configuration Manager.

Move

Moves the driver package to another folder in the Driver Packages node.

Update Distribution Points

Updates the device driver package on all the distribution points where the package is stored. This action copies only the content that has changed after the last time it was distributed.

Properties

Opens the Properties dialog box. Review and change the content and properties of the driver. For example, change the name and description of the driver, enable or disable it, and specify on which platforms it can run.

Starting in version 1810, driver packages have metadata fields for Manufacturer and Model. Use these fields to tag driver packages with information to assist in general housekeeping, or to identify old and duplicate drivers that you can delete. On the General tab, select an existing value from the drop-down lists, or enter a string to create a new entry.

In the Driver Packages node, these fields display in the list as the Driver Manufacturer and Driver Model columns. They can also be used as search criteria.

Starting in version 1906, use these attributes to pre-cache content on a client. For more information, see Configure pre-cache content.

Device drivers

You can install drivers on destination computers without including them in the OS image that is deployed. Configuration Manager provides a driver catalog that contains references to all the drivers that you import into Configuration Manager. The driver catalog is located in the Software Library workspace and consists of two nodes: Drivers and Driver Packages. The Drivers node lists all the drivers that you've imported into the driver catalog.

Import device drivers into the driver catalog

Before you can use a driver when you deploy an OS, import it into the driver catalog. To better manage them, import only the drivers that you plan to install as part of your OS deployments. Store multiple versions of drivers in the catalog to provide an easy way to upgrade existing drivers when hardware device requirements change on your network.

As part of the import process for the device driver, Configuration Manager reads the following properties about the driver:

Provider
Class
Version
Signature
Supported hardware
Supported platform information

By default, the driver is named after the first hardware device that it supports. You can rename the device driver later. The supported platforms list is based on the information in the INF file of the driver. Because the accuracy of this information can vary, manually verify that the driver is supported after you import it into the catalog.

After you import device drivers into the catalog, add them to driver packages or boot image packages.

Important

You can't import device drivers directly into a subfolder of the Drivers node. To import a device driver into a subfolder, first import the device driver into the Drivers node, and then move the driver to the subfolder.

Process to import Windows device drivers into the driver catalog

In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Software Library workspace. Expand Operating Systems, and select the Drivers node.
On the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Create group, select Import Driver to start the Import New Driver Wizard.
On the Locate Driver page, specify the following options:
- Import all drivers in the following network path (UNC): To import all the device drivers in a specific folder, specify its network path. For example: servernamesharefolder.
  Note
  If there are a lot of subfolders and a lot of driver INF files, this process can take time.
- Import a specific driver: To import a specific driver from a folder, specify the network path to the Windows device driver INF file.
- Specify the option for duplicate drivers: Select how you want Configuration Manager to manage driver categories when you import a duplicate device driver
  - Import the driver and append a new category to the existing categories
  - Import the driver and keep the existing categories
  - Import the driver and overwrite the existing categories
  - Do not import the driver
Important
When you import drivers, the site server must have Read permission to the folder, or the import fails.
On the Driver Details page, specify the following options:
- Hide drivers that are not in a storage or network class (for boot images): Use this setting to only display storage and network drivers. This option hides other drivers that aren't typically needed for boot images, such as a video driver or modem driver.
- Hide drivers that are not digitally signed: Microsoft recommends only using drivers that are digitally signed
- /download-free-music-to-mp3-player.html. In the list of drivers, select the drivers that you want to import into the driver catalog.
- Enable these drivers and allow computers to install them: Select this setting to let computers install the device drivers. This option is enabled by default.
  Important
  If a device driver is causing a problem or you want to suspend the installation of a device driver, disable it during import. You can also disable drivers after you import them.
- To assign the device drivers to an administrative category for filtering purposes, such as 'Desktops' or 'Notebooks', select Categories. Then choose an existing category, or create a new category. Use categories to control which device drivers are applied by the Auto Apply Drivers task sequence step.
On the Add Driver to Packages page, choose whether to add the drivers to a package. /olympus-symphonic-choir-free-download.html.
- Select the driver packages that are used to distribute the device drivers.
  If necessary, select New Package to create a new driver package. When you create a new driver package, provide a network share that's not in use by other driver packages.
- If the package has already been distributed to distribution points, select Yes in the dialog box to update the boot images on distribution points. You can't use device drivers until they're distributed to distribution points. If you select No, run the Update Distribution Point action before using the boot image. If the driver package has never been distributed, you must use the Distribute Content action in the Driver Packages node.
On the Add Driver to Boot Images page, choose whether to add the device drivers to existing boot images.
Note
Add only storage and network drivers to the boot images.
- Select Yes in the dialog box to update the boot images on distribution points. You can't use device drivers until they're distributed to distribution points. If you select No, run the Update Distribution Point action before using the boot image. If the driver package has never been distributed, you must use the Distribute Content action in the Driver Packages node.
- Configuration Manager warns you if the architecture for one or more drivers doesn't match the architecture of the boot images that you selected. If they don't match, select OK. Go back to the Driver Details page, and clear the drivers that don't match the architecture of the selected boot image. For example, if you select an x64 and x86 boot image, all drivers must support both architectures. If you select an x64 boot image, all drivers must support the x64 architecture.
  Note
  - The architecture is based on the architecture reported in the INF from the manufacturer.
  - If a driver reports it supports both architectures, then you can import it into either boot image.
- Configuration Manager warns you if you add device drivers that aren't network or storage drivers to a boot image. In most cases, they aren't necessary for the boot image. Select Yes to add the drivers to the boot image, or No to go back and modify your driver selection.
- Configuration Manager warns you if one or more of the selected drivers aren't properly digitally signed. Select Yes to continue, and select No to go back and make changes to your driver selection.
Complete the wizard.

Manage device drivers in a driver package

Use the following procedures to modify driver packages and boot images. To add or remove a driver, first locate it in the Drivers node. Then edit the packages or boot images with which the selected driver is associated.

In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Software Library workspace. Expand Operating Systems, and then select the Drivers node.
Select the device drivers that you want to add to a driver package.
On the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Driver group, select Edit, and then choose Driver Packages.
To add a device driver, select the check box of the driver packages to which you want to add the device drivers. To remove a device driver, clear the check box of the driver packages from which you want to remove the device driver.
If you're adding device drivers that are associated with driver packages, you can optionally create a new package. Select New Package, which opens the New Driver Package dialog box.
If the package has already been distributed to distribution points, select Yes in the dialog box to update the boot images on distribution points. You can't use device drivers until they're distributed to distribution points. If you select No, run the Update Distribution Point action before using the boot image. If the driver package has never been distributed, you must use the Distribute Content action in the Driver Packages node. Before the drivers are available, you must update the driver package on distribution points.
Select OK when finished.

Manage device drivers in a boot image

You can add to boot images Windows device drivers that have been imported into the catalog. Use the following guidelines when you add device drivers to a boot image:

Add only storage and network drivers to boot images. Other types of drivers aren't usually required in Windows PE. Drivers that aren't required unnecessarily increase the size of the boot image.
Add only device drivers for Windows 10 to a boot image. The required version of Windows PE is based on Windows 10.
Make sure that you use the correct device driver for the architecture of the boot image. Don't add an x86 device driver to an x64 boot image.

Process to modify the device drivers associated with a boot image

Create Driver Package Sccm

In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Software Library workspace. Expand Operating Systems, and then select the Drivers node.
Select the device drivers that you want to add to the driver package.
On the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Driver group, select Edit, and then choose Boot images.
To add a device driver, select the check box of the boot image to which you want to add the device drivers. To remove a device driver, clear the check box of the boot image from which you want to remove the device driver.
If you don't want to update the distribution points where the boot image is stored, clear the Update distribution points when finished check box. By default, the distribution points are updated when the boot image is updated.
- Select Yes in the dialog box to update the boot images on distribution points. You can't use device drivers until they're distributed to distribution points. If you select No, run the Update Distribution Point action before using the boot image. If the driver package has never been distributed, you must use the Distribute Content action in the Driver Packages node.
- Configuration Manager warns you if the architecture for one or more drivers doesn't match the architecture of the boot images that you selected. If they don't match, select OK. Go back to the Driver Details page and clear the drivers that don't match the architecture of the selected boot image. For example, if you select an x64 and x86 boot image, all drivers must support both architectures. If you select an x64 boot image, all drivers must support the x64 architecture.
  Note
  - The architecture is based on the architecture reported in the INF from the manufacturer.
  - If a driver reports it supports both architectures then you can import it into either boot image.
- Configuration Manager warns you if you add device drivers that aren't network or storage drivers to a boot image. In most cases, they aren't necessary for the boot image. Select Yes to add the drivers to the boot image or No to go back and modify your driver selection.
- Configuration Manager warns you if one or more of the selected drivers aren't properly digitally signed. Select Yes to continue or select No to go back and make changes to your driver selection.

Additional actions for device drivers

You can do additional actions to manage drivers when you select them in the Drivers node.

Categorize

Clears, manages, or sets an administrative category for the selected drivers.

Delete

Removes the driver from the Drivers node and also removes the driver from the associated distribution points.

Sccm Driver Package Dell

Disable

Prohibits the driver from being installed. This action temporarily disables the driver. The task sequence can't install a disabled driver when you deploy an OS.

Note

This action only prevents drivers from installing using the Auto Apply Driver task sequence step.

Enable

Lets Configuration Manager client computers and task sequences install the device driver when you deploy the OS.

Move

Moves the device driver to another folder in the Drivers node.

Properties

Opens the Properties dialog box. Review and change the properties of the driver. For example, change its name and description, enable or disable it, and specify which platforms it can run on.