SQL Reports Transformed into Array Formats via SCCM Script
Automating SCCM SQL Reports for Software Updates Not Deployed via WSUS
In the realm of system administration, automating routine tasks is essential for efficiency and accuracy. One such task is the generation of SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) SQL reports, specifically for "software updates required but not deployed via WSUS." Here's a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this using PowerShell scripting and SQL querying against the SCCM database.
Steps and Key Points
- Query Setup The first step is to create or use an SCCM SQL query that identifies software updates required by clients but not deployed via WSUS. Useful views in the SCCM database for this kind of reporting include , , and . The query would filter updates with a compliance status of "required" but where no WSUS deployment exists.
- Automating Query Execution & Output Utilize PowerShell with SQL Server cmdlets or the SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) library to run your SQL query against the SCCM database. You can export the result to a CSV file directly via PowerShell (e.g., using ) or capture the results in a PowerShell array or object for further pipeline processing.
- Sample PowerShell Snippet Skeleton ```powershell $SqlQuery = @" -- Your SQL Query Here SELECT * FROM YourSCCMViewOrJoinedTables WHERE UpdateStatus = 'Required' AND DeploymentType != 'WSUS' "@
# ... (Additional code to execute the query, capture results, and handle output) ```
- Log File Compatible with CMTrace To log the execution of your script in a format compatible with CMTrace.exe, write log entries in the CMTrace-readable text format with timestamps. Use a consistent timestamp prefix in your log lines (e.g., ) to match CMTrace formatting.
- Scheduling Automation Schedule the PowerShell script to run periodically using Windows Task Scheduler or an SCCM package/program.
- Additional Tips
- Carefully craft your SQL query to ensure it uses appropriate joins and filters to correctly identify "required but not deployed" updates.
- For WSUS specifics, you might need to query WSUS-related tables or SCCM’s WSUS synchronization views.
- Test your query and script with small data sets before running it at scale.
By following these steps, you can automate the output of an SCCM SQL report for "software updates required but not deployed via WSUS," exporting the report data to a CSV file or loading it into an array for pipeline use. This approach combines SCCM SQL reporting via PowerShell scripting, exporting to CSV or pipeline arrays, and CMTrace-compatible textual logging for monitoring and troubleshooting. This solution is commonly used by SCCM admins to automate compliance reporting and maintain clear logs for easy review.
In the guide for automating SCCM SQL reports, data-and-cloud-computing technology, such as PowerShell scripting and SQL querying against the SCCM database, is utilized to streamline the process of identifying software updates required by clients but not deployed via WSUS. The generated report can be further processed, exported to a CSV file, or captured in a PowerShell array for further pipeline processing.
