Technical preview for Configuration Manager
Applies to: Configuration Manager (technical preview branch)
This article provides details about the monthly technical preview branch of Configuration Manager. The technical preview introduces new functionality that Microsoft is working on. It introduces new features that aren't yet included in the current branch of Configuration Manager. These features might eventually be included in an update to the current branch. Before we finalize the features, we want you to try them out and give us feedback.
Because this release is a technical preview, details and functionality are subject to change.
This information applies to all versions of the Configuration Manager technical preview branch. This article lists each new feature along with the technical preview version in which it first appears. For example, version 2201 for January (01
) of 2022 (22
). Separate articles dedicated to each preview version detail the individual features.
For information about what's new in the current branch of Configuration Manager, see What's new in Configuration Manager incremental versions.
Tip
You can use RSS to be notified when this page is updated. For more information, see How to use the docs.
Requirements and limitations
Important
The technical preview is licensed for use only in a lab environment. Microsoft may not provide support services and certain features may not be available in technical previews. Additionally, technical preview software may have reduced or different security, privacy, accessibility, availability, and reliability standards relative to commercially provided software.
For most product prerequisites, use the information in the Supported configurations. The following exceptions apply to the technical preview branch:
Each install is active for 180 days before it becomes inactive.
English is the only language supported.
It only supports the following setup command-line parameters:
/silent
/testdbupgrade
The service connection point installs to online mode. It doesn't support offline mode.
Note
You may need to allow specific internet URLs, some of which are specific to the technical preview branch. For more information, see Internet access requirements.
The separate articles for each specific version of the technical preview include additional limitations or requirements, as applicable.
The following features aren't supported with the technical preview branch:
Migration to or from this preview branch.
Upgrade to this preview branch.
Site recovery from the cd.latest folder.
There's no support for updating to current branch from this preview branch.
Note
When updates are available for a preview version, you still find and install them from the Updates and Servicing node of the Configuration Manager console. For a video of the in-console upgrade process, see Installing Configuration Manager update packages on youtube.com.
It only supports a standalone primary site. There's no support for a central administration site, multiple primary sites, or secondary sites.
The technical preview branch of Configuration Manager supports the following products and technologies:
Unless otherwise noted, the technical preview branch supports the same versions of SQL Server as the current branch. For more information, see Supported SQL Server versions.
The site supports up to 10 clients, which can run any supported client OS version.
Note
The inclusion of these products in this content doesn't imply an extension of support for a version that's beyond its support lifecycle. Configuration Manager doesn't support products that are beyond their support lifecycle. For more information, see Microsoft Lifecycle Policy.
Install and update
The Configuration Manager technical preview branch for lab use is distinct from the Configuration Manager current branch for production use.
First install a baseline version of the technical preview branch. After installing a baseline version, then use in-console updates to bring your installation up to date with the most recent preview version. Typically, new versions of the technical preview are available each month.
Microsoft supports each technical preview version up until three successive versions are available. For example, when version 1908 released, version 1904 was no longer in support. Versions 1905, 1906, and 1907 remained in support. When a baseline falls out of support, it's still supported for installing a new technical preview site, assuming you immediately update to a supported version. The older baseline is supported until a new baseline version is available. Update to the latest available version from the baseline, and then repeat the update process until you install the latest technical preview version.
Tip
When you install an update to the technical preview, you update your preview installation to that new technical preview version. A technical preview installation never has the option to upgrade to a current branch installation. It also never receives updates from the current branch release.
Several times throughout the year, there are technical preview branch and current branch versions with the same version number. For example, there is a technical preview version 2006 and a current branch version 2006.
Active baseline versions
Install a baseline version for up to one year after its release. When you install a new technical preview site, use the latest baseline version:
- Technical preview version 2405
Download a baseline version from the Evaluation Center.
Providing feedback
We love to hear your feedback about the new features in the technical preview. For more information, see Product feedback.
If you have ideas about new features you would like to see, let us know! Submit new ideas and vote on the ideas by others: Feedback for Configuration Manager.
Features in the most recent version
The following features are available with the most recent Configuration Manager technical preview version:
Technical preview version 2405
- Introducing Centralized Search - Desired Workspace Selection
- BitLocker support in Arm devices
- Configuration Manager now support SQL Extended Protection for Authentication
- Performance Enhancement of policy processing and collection evaluation
Note
Features that were available in a previous version of the technical preview remain available in later versions. Similarly, features that are added to the Configuration Manager current branch remain available in the technical preview branch.
Features in recent technical previews
The following features were released with previous versions of the Configuration Manager technical preview branch since the latest current branch version:
Tip
When a new current branch version is available, features that are available in that version are listed in the latest What's new article. For more information, see What's new in incremental versions.
Technical preview version 2401
- Automated diagnostic Dashboard for Software Update Issues
- Introducing Centralized Search box: Effortlessly Find What You Need in the Console!
- HTTPS or Enhanced HTTP should be enabled for client communication from this version of Configuration Manager
- Microsoft Azure Active Directory re-branded to Microsoft Entra ID
- Enhancement in Deploying Software Packages with Dynamic Variables
- Enabling Auto-Image Patching for CMG Virtual Machine Scale Sets
- Window 11 Readiness dashboard to support Windows 23H2
- Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 operating system site system roles are not supported from this version of Configuration Manager
- Upgrade to CM 2403 is blocked if CMG V1 is running as a cloud service (classic)
- Improvements to Bitlocker
Technical preview version 2311
- Folder support for Scripts node in Software Library
- New parameter SoftwareUpdateO365Language is added to Save-CMSoftwareUpdate cmdlet
- Support for ARM64 Operating System Deployment
- Resource access profiles and deployments will block Configuration manager upgrade
- WildCard Support added in Defender Exploit Guard policy for Controlled Folders
Technical preview version 2307
- Windows 11 Edition Upgrade using Configuration Manager policy settings
- Windows 11 Upgrade Readiness Dashboard
- Option to schedule scripts' runtime
- External service notification Run details from Azure Logic application
- Maintenance window creation using PS cmdlet
- Update Orchestrator Service (USO) for Windows 11 22H2 or later with windows native reboot experience
Technical preview version 2305
- OSD preferred MP option for PXE boot scenario
- New Site Maintenance task “Delete Aged Task Execution Status Messages” is now available on primary servers to cleanup data older than 30 days or configured number of days
- CMG creation using 3rd PartyApp via Console
- CMG creation using 3rd Party ServerApp via PowerShell
- Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) capability now marks Server SKU as compliant only after enforcement
- Enhancing security for External service notifications URL
- Enable Bitlocker through ProvisionTS
- Client certificate state in console (self-signed) to match state in control panel(PKI)
Technical preview version 2303
- SQL Server 2022 version support added for Configuration Manager
- Dark theme extended to one customer voice (OCV) wizard
- Prerequisites for the site server roles now include ODBC driver for SQL Server
Technical preview version 2302
- Dark theme extended to delete secondary site wizard
- Enable Windows features introduced via Windows servicing that are off by default
Technical preview version 2301
- Removing Microsoft Store for Business and Education new config capability
- Update to the default value of supersedence age in months for software updates
- Microsoft Configuration Manager product branding
- Improvements to Cloud Sync (Collections to Microsoft Entra group Synchronization) feature
Technical preview version 2211
- Authorization failure message in admin service now shown in Status message viewer
- Network Access Account (NAA) account usage alert
- Improvements to Cloud Sync (Collections to Microsoft Entra group Synchronization) feature
Technical preview version 2210
Technical preview version 2209
Technical preview version 2208
Technical preview version 2207
- Distribution point content migration
- Improvements to Configuration Manager policies for Microsoft Defender Application Guard
- PowerShell release notes preview
Technical preview version 2206
- Default site boundary group behavior to support cloud source selection
- PowerShell release notes preview
Technical preview version 2205
- Offset for reoccurring monthly maintenance window schedules
- Improvements to cloud management gateway (CMG) workflow
- Script execution timeout for compliance settings
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint onboarding for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016
- PowerShell release notes preview
Technical preview version 2204
Technical preview version 2203
- Dark theme for the console
- Escrow BitLocker recovery password to the site during a task sequence
- PowerShell release notes preview
Technical preview version 2202
- Delete collection references
- Pre-download content for available software updates
- Added folder support for nodes in the Software Library
- New client health checks
- Improvements to implicit uninstall
- Improvements for sending feedback
- Improvements to Management Insights
- Improvements to dashboards
- ADR scheduling improvements for deployments
- Console improvements
- PowerShell release notes preview
Next steps
For more information, see the following articles:
- Evaluate Configuration Manager in a lab
- What's new in Configuration Manager incremental versions
- Introduction to Configuration Manager
Tip
For more information on current branch features that require consent to enable, see pre-release features.
For more information on current branch features that you must enable first, see Enable optional features from updates.
Зворотний зв’язок
https://aka.ms/ContentUserFeedback.
Очікується незабаром: протягом 2024 року ми будемо припиняти використання механізму реєстрації проблем у GitHub для зворотного зв’язку щодо вмісту й замінювати його новою системою зворотного зв’язку. Докладніше:Надіслати й переглянути відгук про