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 2101 for January (01) of 2021 (21). 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.

Requirements and limitations

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 90 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.

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.

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 2110

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 2111

• Improvements to the Windows servicing dashboard
• Co-management Eligible Devices collection
• Improvement to app groups
• Improvement to task sequence deployment type
• PowerShell release notes preview

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:

Features in previous technical previews

The following features were released with previous versions of the Configuration Manager technical preview branch. These features remain available in later versions, but aren't yet available in the current branch.

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