Update 1802 for Configuration Manager Technical Preview Branch – Available Now!

First published on CloudBlogs on Feb 13, 2018
Hello everyone! We are excited to let you know that update 1802 for the Technical Preview Branch of System Center Configuration Manager has been released. Technical Preview Branch releases give you an opportunity to try out new Configuration Manager features in a test environment before they are made generally available. This month’s new preview features include:

Improvements in OSD

• Improvements to Windows 10 in-place upgrade task sequence - The default task sequence template for Windows 10 in-place upgrade now includes additional groups with recommended actions to add before and after the upgrade process.
• Improvements to PXE-enabled distribution points– You can now configure a PXE-enabled distribution point to use a PXE responder service that supports IPv6 and does not require Windows Deployment Services (WDS).
• Deployment Template for Task Sequences– Using the Deployment wizard for Task Sequence you can now create a Deployment Template which can be saved and applied to an existing or new Task Sequence to create a TS deployment.

Improvements in Cloud Management Gateway

• Cloud management gateway support for Azure Resource Manager - When you deploy CMG with Azure Resource Manager, Azure AD is used to authenticate and create the cloud resources and does not require the classic Azure management certificate.
• Install user-available applications on Azure AD-joined devices– You can now browse and install user-available applications from Software Center on Azure AD-joined devices.
• Windows 10 in-place upgrade task sequence over the Internet - A Windows 10 in-place upgrade task sequence now works for clients via the Cloud Management Gateway and Cloud Distribution Point.

Features for Windows 10 and Office 365

• Support for Windows 10 ARM64 devices– Starting in this release the Configuration Manager client is supported on Windows 10 ARM64 devices.
• Endpoint Protection workload transition in co-management - You can now transition the Endpoint Protection workload from Configuration Manager to Intune when co-management is enabled.
• Windows 10 Servicing for a specific collection report - This report displays general information about the Windows 10 servicing in the organization.
• Windows AutoPilot Device Information report - Now you can use this new report to collect device information that's needed to create Windows AutoPilot deployment profile.
• Microsoft Edge browser policies– You can now set Microsoft Edge browser policies and control it in your enterprise.
• Report to show default browser for client machines– You can now run a report that shows the default browser for client machines.
• Improvements to Configuration Manager policies for Windows Device Exploit Guard– Additional policy settings for the Attack Surface Reduction and Controlled folder access components have been added for Windows Device Exploit Guard in Configuration Manager.

Improvements in Software Center

• Approve application requests for users per device - User-based application requests are now approved only for the device from where the user submitted the request
• Hide Installed Applications in Software Center - When this option is enabled under Software Center customization, installed applications will be hidden in the Applications tab. https://configurationmanager.uservoice.com/forums/300492-ideas/suggestions/13002684-software-center-show-only-available-software-hid

Site Server High Availability

• Site Server Role High Availability - You can now add a primary site server in ‘passive mode’ to your standalone site to increase availability.
• Remote site server content library– You can now move the content library on your site server to a remote location.

Miscellaneous Improvements

• Phased Deployments - Phased deployments automate a coordinated, sequenced rollout of software without creating multiple deployments.
• Configure Windows 10 Delivery Optimization to use Configuration Manager boundary groups - Configure Delivery Optimization to leverage your boundary groups when sharing content among peers.
• Add management points to your boundary group fallback relationships - When a fallback relationship is defined, and a client fails to talk to the management point in current boundary group, it will fall back to the management point defined in the fallback boundary group.
• Product Lifecycle Dashboard - The dashboard shows the state of the Microsoft Product Lifecycle policy for Microsoft products installed on devices managed with Configuration Manager.
• Run scripts - Create and run signed or unsigned scripts and with structured JSON formatted output
• Management insights - Management insights has a new look and feel in the 1802 Technical Preview, try it out!

Update 1802 for Technical Preview Branch is available in the Configuration Manager Technical Preview console. For new installations please use the 1711 baseline version of Configuration Manager Technical Preview Branch available on TechNet Evaluation Center . We would love to hear your thoughts about the latest Technical Preview! Send us your Configuration Manager feedback through the Feedback Hub app built-in to Windows 10. When you Add new feedback be sure to select the Enterprise Management category and then choose from one of the following subcategories:

• Configuration Manager Client
• Configuration Manager Console
• Configuration Manager OS Deployment
• Configuration Manager Server

Continue to use our UserVoice page to share and vote on ideas about new features in Configuration Manager. Thanks, The System Center Configuration Manager team Configuration Manager Resources: Documentation for System Center Configuration Manager Technical Previews Try the System Center Configuration Manager Technical Preview Branch Documentation for System Center Configuration Manager System Center Configuration Manager Forums System Center Configuration Manager Support Download the Configuration Manager Support Center