Using Task Sequence for Server Restarts (Full Version)

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bwilms -> Using Task Sequence for Server Restarts (10/10/2008 12:01:32 PM) Is anybody using Task Sequences for server restarts?  In our environment we have many servers that require special instructions and specific order of operations (stop these services, restart server 1, restart server 2, etc.).  Has anybody used Task Sequence in SCCM to address these types of issues?  We currently do these restart sequences manually and would love to find a way to automate it.  If you have any expericne with this, please tell me your story.  Thanks.

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jnelson993 -> RE: Using Task Sequence for Server Restarts (10/10/2008 12:16:34 PM) I've heard people using a combination of maintenance windows and task sequences for that.  If you have 2 servers, for example, and either one of them MUST be up at any one time, you have them on two different maintenance windows so that one gets patched and rebooted during it's window and the other one gets patched in a totally different non-overlapping maintenance window, and for extra assurance, you can have a task sequence that makes sure the other one is up before restarting the current one.

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bwilms -> RE: Using Task Sequence for Server Restarts (10/10/2008 1:07:03 PM) Multiple Maintenance windows...I can see how that would work. It's my understanding that Task Sequences offer nearly unlimited flexability (to the limit of one's scripting expertise).  I imagine one could use a combination of Collection Variables, Maintenance Windows, and Task Sequences to get the job done.  For example Run script on SERVER1, shutdown services on SERVER2, restart all DEVELOPMENT servers (where DEVELOPMENT is a Collection Variable). Can you have a Task Sequence, advertised to all 100 servers and have a line in the Task Sequence say "...Perform function X on SERVER42.  Perform function Y on SERVER 43...", giving specific instructions to specific servers, or is it more Collection/and or Collection Variable based?  Has anybody done anything like this?  I'm just trying to get some ideas to take to my servers guys who are spending hours doing manual shutdown routines.

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jnelson993 -> RE: Using Task Sequence for Server Restarts (10/10/2008 1:23:50 PM) Yeah, the flexibility is awesome.  I wouldn't think a single task sequence like you're talking about is the way to go.  I'm thinking collection-based/ad-based task sequences is the way to go.  For those machines that have a normal window, just create one ad that will go out to all of them, they'll only install/reboot in their own maintenance window.  For the ones that have a special schedule and need the verification that a task sequence has, you'd advertise a special task sequence to just them.

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