Update 2303 for Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager current branch is now available.

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Microsoft Configuration Manager product branding

 

 

 

 

 

Starting with Configuration Manager version 2303 Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is now Microsoft Configuration Manager. Microsoft Configuration Manager is an integrated solution for managing all your devices. Microsoft brings together Configuration Manager and Intune, without a complex migration, and with simplified licensing. Continue to use your existing Configuration Manager investments, while taking advantage of the power of the Microsoft cloud at your own pace.

 

 

 

Cloud-attached management

 

 

 

 

Improvements to Cloud Sync (Collections to Azure Active Directory Group Synchronization) feature

 

 

 

 

 

Starting with Configuration Manager version 2303 collection member sync status (Success, In Progress, Failed - with reason for failure) is available in the Collection Cloud Sync dashboard for the chosen collection on the bottom pane. Earlier with Configuration Manager version 2211, the scalability of this feature has been improved with better throttling and error handling. Additionally, dedicated dashboards for user collections and device collections are added in Monitoring workspace to show Cloud Sync status. The dashboard displays the Cloud Sync status per collection with the mapped Azure AD group, total member count, synced member count, status (success, failed, in progress) and last sync details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, see Synchronize collections to Azure Active Directory Group.

 

 

 

Endpoint Security reports in Intune admin center for Tenant Attached devices

 

 

 

 

 

Starting with Configuration Manager version 2303, you can now opt for Endpoint Security reports in Intune admin center for tenant attached devices.   Once you opt in, Unhealthy endpoints and Active malware operational reports under Endpoint security node in Intune admin center will start showing data from tenant attached devices. Also, Antivirus agent status and Detected malware organizational reports under Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Reports section will show data from tenant attached devices.

 

 

 

For more information, see Tenant attach - Create and deploy Antivirus policies from the admin center.

 

 

 

Site infrastructure

 

 

 

 

Authorization failure message in admin service now shown in Status message viewer

 

 

 

 

 

We have introduced audit messages about authorization failure in admin service. You can now view request details and status messages. These messages are shown in “All Status Message” at “Status Message Queries” in “Monitoring” ribbon. Previously these failures were logged in log files.

 

 

 

With the new audit messages, we intend to avoid the inconvenience of log files rollback. Details about the user, resource access attempts and the number of attempts for all the authorized requests made by user in a day will now be available. We are also auditing read operations for HTTPS requests and for cloud-initiated operations. This helps admins to scope permission and roles of users while also determining if there are any malicious users. All unauthorized requests are aggregated for 24 hours before being sent to the status message viewer.

 

 

 

For more information, see Administration Service documentation.

 

 

 

SQL Server 2022 version support added for Configuration Manager

 

 

 

 

 

Starting with 2303, support is added for SQL server 2022 RTM version. You can use this version of SQL Server for the following sites:

 

 

 

• A central administration site
  
• A primary site
  
• A secondary site
  

 

The following table identifies the recommended compatibility levels for Configuration Manager site databases:

 

 

 

SQL Server version	Supported compatibility levels	Recommended level
SQL Server 2022	150, 140, 130, 120, 110	150

 

 

 

For more information, see support-for-sql-server-versions.

 

 

 

Software updates

 

 

 

 

Unified update platform (UUP) GA release

 

 

 

 

 

The Unified Update Platform (UUP) servicing is finally here for all Windows 11, version 22H2 updates delivered via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Configuration Manager! Starting March 28, on-premises Windows 11, version 22H2 devices will receive quality updates via the Unified Update Platform (UUP). For more information, see What’s UUP? New update style!. The Unified Update Platform (UUP) is a single publishing, hosting, scan, and download model for OS quality and feature updates. It offers improved delivery technologies in response to IT admin requests for more seamless updates, more control over installation time, more battery life, and lighter download size.

 

 

 

 

Note:

 

A one-time 10-GB download to distribution points with your first UUP update. UUP is becoming the default and only way to download quality updates. This means that you should plan for an extra 10GB download to distribution points (not endpoint clients) with the March 28th update. That's a one-time 10GB download for updates for Windows 11, version 22H2 per architecture (AMD64 and ARM64).

 

 

 

Let's look at the key benefits, version requirements.

 

 

 

Quality updates for Windows 11 22H2 and above

 

 

 

Quality updates with the UUP continue to be cumulative and include all released Windows quality and security fixes.

 

All of these new capabilities are brought to you by UUP on premises! If interested in learning more about these improvements, read Faster, Smaller. Windows 11, version 22H2 update fundamentals.

 

 

 

UUP on premises unlocks some amazing benefits going forward:

 

 

 

• Up to 30% smaller client downloads for monthly quality updates
  
• Cumulative update integration with feature updates (i.e., get current in one reboot)
  
• Seamless retention of installed language packs and optional features on demand (FODs) during feature updates
  
• Reduced client downloads for feature updates (i.e., inbox app downloads are conditional)
  
• Automatic OS healing during the update process1 that requires no action from the enterprise admins
  
• End-user acquisition of language packs and FODs
  

 

 

 

Note: To receive quality updates on Windows 11, we recommend that the latest security updates be installed on your devices. Minimally, devices should be updated through Windows 11 22H2.

 

 

 

To take advantage of UUP on premises, you must be using a supported platform:

 

 

 

• Recommended version: 2203 Configuration Manager Current Branch and above
  
• Enable Software Update on client’s settings to Yes.
  
• For Client Operating Systems that can support delta download (Win 10 Version 10.0.16299 or up), delta download endpoint will always get turned on regardless of the Client Agent Settings, and the port number will be honored even if Delta downloads not enabled.
  
• If Delta Download disabled, only UUP update will do delta download, all other updates, regardless of if express or not, will all do full file download.
  
• If Delta Download enabled, all updates will go with delta download code path regardless of if express or not, unless the only DP available is cloud DP.
  
• Any supported versions of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)
  

 

 

 

Note

If you're a WSUS Standalone admin, please apply the upcoming February and March updates promptly to ensure your readiness! And if you haven't yet, learn about Adding file types for Unified Update Platform on premises .

 

 

 

Known issue:

 

 

 

 

• On newly installed CM client, Delta Download delays to start on.
  
• Patchdownloader.log shows incorrect download percentage.
  
• WSUS Servers running on server 2022, 2019 or 2016 likely to break after Feb 2023 LCU if custom mime types are added at a subsite level in IIS.
  

 

 

 

Update to the default value of supersedence age in months for software updates

 

 

 

 

 

With Unified Update Platform (UUP) general availability release, the feature update and non-feature update supersedence should be greater than 3. For new software update role installations, we're updating this to 6, existing customers can review and update to 6.  Update to the default value of supersedence age in months for software updates. 

 

 

 

Known issue:

 

 

 

 

 

Update to the default value of supersedence age in months for software updates will not impact existing configurations. Removing SUP role in Admin Console does not reset the supersedence age property in WMI. As a result, while reconfiguring the role, the previously configured value is shown in the configuration window. 

 

 

 

Enable Windows features introduced via Windows servicing that are off by default

 

 

 

 

 

The Commercial control for continuous innovation in Windows is now integrated with Configuration Manager 2303 release. Commercial control for continuous innovation (Windows 11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, see client settings in Configuration Manager

 

 

 

Configuration Manager console

 

 

 

 

Dark theme extended to delete secondary site wizard

 

 

 

 

 

The Configuration Manager console now extends the dark theme for the delete secondary site wizard. This wizard will also have a new look for the normal theme. This is part of the ongoing effort to make dark theme and overall admin console experience better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To use the theme, select the arrow from the top left of the ribbon, then choose the Switch console theme. Select Switch console theme again to return to the light theme. For more information, see Dark theme for the console.

 

 

 

Deprecated features

 

 

 

 

Removed Community hub service and integration with ConfigMgr

 

 

 

 

 

Removed Community Hub configuration from Hierarchy settings and Community Hub service integration. Learn about support changes before they're implemented in removed and deprecated items.

 

 

 

Other updates

 

 

 

 

Maintenance window schedules

 

 

 

 

 

Offset for recurring monthly maintenance window schedules. Based upon your feedback, you can now offset monthly maintenance window schedules to better align deployments with the release of monthly security updates. For example, using a maximum offset of seven days after the second Tuesday of the month, sets the maintenance window for next Monday.

 

 

 

Removing Microsoft Store for Business and Education new config capability

 

 

 

 

 

As part of Microsoft Store for Business deprecation, we are making these changes to the customer experience with using this feature:

 

 

 

• 
  Removing a user's ability to create new Microsoft Store for Business in Configuration Manager.
   
   
  
• 
  Display a warning message box when user triggers a sync from Microsoft Store for Business.
   
   
  
• 
  Display a warning in the Create Application Wizard when user attempts to create a new app from Store license information.
   
  

 

For more information, see removed and deprecated items.

 

 

 

For more details and to view the full list of new features in this update, check out our What’s new in version 2303 of Microsoft Configuration Manager documentation.

 

 

For assistance with the upgrade process, please post your questions in the Site and Client Deployment forum. Send us your Configuration Manager feedback through Feedback in the Configuration Manager console. Continue to share and vote on ideas about new features in Configuration Manager.

 

 

 

Thank you,

 

The Configuration Manager team

 

 

 

Additional resources:

 

• What’s New in Configuration Manager
  
• Documentation for Configuration Manager
  
• Microsoft Endpoint Manager announcement
  
• Microsoft Endpoint Manager vision statement
  
• Evaluate Configuration Manager in a lab
  
• Upgrade to Configuration Manager
  
• Configuration Manager Forums
  
• Configuration Manager Support
  
• Report an issue
  
• Provide suggestions
  

 

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