System Center Configuration Manager 2007 : Configuration Manager Queries - Using Query Results & Status Message Queries

Using Query Results

Building queries is a great way for administrators to review inventory data, discovery data, advertisement data, and other site information. You can also use information in query results to create collections as well as export data to a text file.

Exporting Query Results to a Text File

Execute the query so the results display in the results pane. Then right-click the query name and select View -> Export List. You can then specify to export to tab-delimited or comma-delimited files. You can also specify to use Unicode, if required.

Importing and Exporting Queries Between Sites

You can also import and export queries between sites, and share with your favorite ConfigMgr administrators. To export a query, right-click the query object and then select Export Objects. Follow the Export Objects Wizard, and specify a filename (with an .mof extension) to save the exported query.

To import a query at the receiving site, simply right-click the Queries node and select Import Objects. Follow the prompts in the wizard to complete the import process.

Creating a Collection Based on Query Results

Collections and queries both use WQL, making moving from a query to a collection fairly simple. It is a best practice to create a query to “test” the WQL before creating a query-based collection. When you create a query, you can review the values of the attributes that you used for the query criteria. If you build a collection, you probably will not be able to see the values of those attributes. So create the query, and verify that it performs exactly as expected, and then you can copy (or import) that query into a collection.

To use the WQL from a query in a collection, you must not specify any attributes to display.

Here’s the WQL for this query:

select SMS_R_System.Name, SMS_R_System.ADSiteName,
SMS_G_System_X86_PC_MEMORY.TotalPhysicalMemory,
SMS_G_System_WORKSTATION_STATUS.LastHardwareScan from
SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_X86_PC_MEMORY on
SMS_G_System_X86_PC_MEMORY.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId inner join
SMS_G_System_WORKSTATION_STATUS on SMS_G_System_WORKSTATION_STATUS.ResourceID =
SMS_R_System.ResourceId where
SMS_G_System_X86_PC_MEMORY.TotalPhysicalMemory > 2000000

					  

Simply remove all attributes from the General tab so that only criteria information remains. Next, click the Show Query Language button to reveal the updated WQL statement, which appears as follows:

select * from SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_X86_PC_MEMORY on
SMS_G_System_X86_PC_MEMORY.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId
inner join SMS_G_System_WORKSTATION_STATUS on
SMS_G_System_WORKSTATION_STATUS.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId
where SMS_G_System_X86_PC_MEMORY.TotalPhysicalMemory > 2000000

Finally, paste this new WQL into a query rule for a collection.

Status Message Queries

Use ConfigMgr status message queries to view information about ConfigMgr components, audit messages, and changed objects (such as advertisements). Status messages allow you to see a little deeper into the ConfigMgr site for tasks that occur on your site. You can create custom status messages, as well as use one of more than 60 standard status message queries. To view status message queries, perform the following steps:

Although the names of the status message queries are fairly descriptive, it is helpful to point out several queries that tend to be particularly beneficial when troubleshooting issues. Table 1 lists some favorite status message queries.

You may also want to review the following Microsoft TechCenter articles:

• Information discussing using status messages for ConfigMgr troubleshooting can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632870.aspx.

• An overview of the ConfigMgr status message viewer is available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632357.aspx.