System Center Current Branch 1511 step by step guide

Finally, new version of ConfigMgr is out. Few days ago Microsoft released new version of configuration Manager, System Center Current Branch (SCCM System Center Configuration manager and Endpoint Protection (Version 1511)). This time MS taking new approach by releasing the GA of the product following technical preview's. Technical previews intended for lab use and testing purpose as Current Branch is for production use. Microsoft will release new product updates periodically which will apply the updates on top of the base version.

According to Microsoft;
"The December 2015 release of System Center Configuration Manager is the latest product release of Configuration Manager from Microsoft. It is sometimes called System Center Configuration Manager current branch. Current branch indicates this is a version of System Center Configuration Manager that supports incremental updates to the product. (As of December 2015, additional versions of System Center Configuration Manager are not available.) Typically, 'current branch' is not used when referring to the product, but in the future it can be an important distinction between releases of Configuration Manager."

In these series of articles, I will go through setting up System Center Current Branch 1511.

What I won’t go through is, preparation of Active Directory. Because I have prepared my lab AD for ConfigMgr 2012. There are no changes in AD preparation from SCCM 2012 to Config Manager Current Branch.

This time I will be take a different approach in creating hierarchy and site roles. Previously, I have installed all the roles on one server. however, for Current Branch I will be configuring each and every role on a standalone server. As the configuration is different from installing all the roles on one server to installing the roles on various servers. hopefully this approach will help someone who will need assistance in setting up Current Branch environment.

The following table lists all the related articles which need to be done in the following order (most of them);

Planning and Design	Hierarchy - Supported client numbers Hierarchy - Supported site numbers Hierarchy design and configuration – Best practices
Installing SQL Server	Prerequisites Installing SQL Server site database (Database Engine) Installing SQL Server 2012 SP3 Configuring SQL Ports
Installing Standalone Primary site	Prerequisites Installing ADK Installing Standalone Primary site (SC ConfigMgr 1511)
Installing Standalone Management Point	Prerequisites Installing Standalone Management Role
Installing Standalone Distribution Point	Prerequisites Installing Standalone Distribution Point
Installing Standalone Reporting Services Point	Prerequisites Installing Reporting Services – Native Installing SQL Server 2012 SP3 Configure Reporting services Web Service URL Database Report manager URL Installing Standalone Reporting Services Point
Installing Standalone Software update Point Installing standalone Fallback Status Point Installing standalone Endpoint Protection Point	Prerequisites Installing WSUS Installing KB3095113 Configuring ports 8530 and 8531 Installing Standalone Software Update Point Prerequisites Installing standalone Fallback status point Prerequisites SUP Installation SUP Configuration Client Settings configuration Antimalware Configuration

Please feel free to leave a comment or feedback where further clarification is needed.