Good Afternoon!

I implemented SCCM 2012 on my company's network a couple of months ago.  Soon after that, we started deploying Software Updates to servers and workstations.  Now that we are in the process of getting patching caught up, we want to move to a somewhat faster release schedule.

Before we can do this, the IT Director wants something set up and tested which is why I'm posting.  He wants the following to be the user experience when Software Updates are applied.  Please remember, that they would still be advertised and set to install way after hours.  This would just be for late workers...

A pop-up window appears saying that Software Updates will be installed in a few minutes which may require a reboot.  It gives them an option to defer the installation & reboot for a set or configurable amount of time.  If a response is not made by user within set amount of time, the Software Updates including Reboot proceed as scheduled.

Is this at all possible with SCCM 2012?  If no, is there a way to do this with scripts or 3rd party add-ons?  Finally, if neither of the first two options are possible, what's the closest to the scenario I can get?

Thanks!

You can tell the users to configure maintenance windows. That should get you close to what your boss is asking for: http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud/archive/2012/03/28/business-hours-vs-maintenance-windows-with-system-center-2012-configuration-manager.aspx
You can also set them using a script: http://www.mssccmfaq.de/2012/03/26/software-center-business-hours-auslesen-setzen/

Thank You - 

Based on your suggestion, I just did the following test:

• I took 3 VMs which were recently imaged and have SCCM client installed and placed them in a new Collection named "Test Reboot."  
• I set the maintenance window for "Test Reboot" to today at 3:30pm until 5:30pm
• I deployed a couple of IE updates which did not exist on the 3 VMs to the "Test Reboot" collection  I had them set to become aval and isnta deadline to ASAP
• I verified that Default Client Settings Reboot section was configured correctly
• I forced policy updates for the VMs since it was short notice

At 3:30pm, here's what happened...

1. Within the first minute, all 3 VMs displayed a balloon notification above a new system tray icon saying "Restart Required" followed by a bit more text saying that software was recently installed  Screenshot

2. When I clicked on the balloon and/or system tray icon, a window appeared saying "Your computer is about to restart" as well as a countdown timer from 15 minutes (what I had it set to in Default Client Settings)  It gave me an option to "Restart" or "Hide"  Screenshot

3. I clicked "Hide" and the window went away.  After re-opening the sys tray icon, the timer was still counting down

What I Need Different

This process works great - but as mentioned in the original post, I have been told that I need to either have...

... an option to defer installation altogether before it starts. 

... an option to defer the reboot 

With either of those, they should be able to continue on their own if left alone.  I'd even go for what Windows 7 does natively (when off domain) where after updates are installed, you don't have to reboot, but it keeps reminding you and making you click to postpone.  That would be perfect!

Any suggestions?  Thanks again for your help!

Have you read the article I provided? It does not make sense to test with a deadline set to "asap". Just set the deadline a few days to the future and test again. Business hours (!=maintenance Windows) will come into play then.

Well, I did go over it in detail after your last post again.  After doing so, I created a test procedure where I took screenshots and documented the entire user experience.  I then sent that off to the IT Director & my manager.

The user experience was...

1. A balloon notification & system tray icon would appear saying Software Changes are required

2. Clicking on it gave options to install now, set business hours and install changes then, or remind later

3. At deadline (2 weeks for my demonstration), the updates would force install & reboot at 1:00am yet still provide a restart notification for 15 minutes

Unfortunatly, they still wanted something different.  Here's what they are wanting and aside from creating a task sequence with all updates manually have no idea how to do it currently:

Management's Desired User Experience (Upon Updates Advertisement)

1. A window (not balloon notification) pops up over all windows saying "IT will reboot your computer in 15 minutes for Software Updates"

2. In this window, they will have the following options

• OK Button - Minimizes it and expect reboot in 15 minutes
• Postpone Updates - if clicked will not install updates on their computer and remind them again 8 hours later.  After the 8 hours, they start at step 1 again.

Yes, I know it is very specific and again, I don't know how to accomplish this but they didn't want any of the other options.

Ideas? ..... please? :)  Thank You!

Yes, I know this is an old post but Im trying to clean up old posts.

Did you figure this out?

Since no else has replied, I recommend that you contact Microsoft Support (CSS), they should be able to help you out.