Config Manager Client

Where can I find the various client components?

  • Content cache: C:\Windows\ccmcache
  • Log Files: C:\Windows\CCM\Logs — Log file reference
  • For viewing log files, use CMTrace located at C:\Windows\CCM\CMTrace.exe
  • Software Center: Start Menu / Search for “Software Center”
  • Control Panel Applet: Control Panel\System and Security\Configuration Manager

Client = Yes in the console means:

  1. Computer meets Prereqs: WolfTech AD joined, has WolfTech machine certs, in DNS
  2. Agent installed and has performed first inventory
  3. Agent contacted Management Point
  4. Agent has done its first health check
  5. Collection has updated membership

Understanding and troubleshooting client application deployments

Is a reboot required to install the client?

It is strongly encouraged that the client install is part of an OSD task sequence. If Windows is installed some other way, the client can be installed manually (assuming pre-reqs are met) by opening up an Administrative prompt, and running

\\wolftech.ad.ncsu.edu\files\ncsu\packages\Microsoft-SCCM_Client\Install-ProductionClient.cmd

A reboot is typically not required.

Help! Computer X has “Client: No” in the console!

This could be for a number of reasons:

  • The dnshostname attribute is not resolvable in DNS. This means the client cannot autoenroll for the machine certificates required for SCCM to function.
  • For some reason, the computer has broken client. Verify the certificates are valid, then try a reinstall of the SCCM client.
  • In the SCCM Console, you can add a “Last Installation Error” column to help you diagnose installation issues.
  • C:\Windows\ccmsetup\*.log for setup related log files. (CMTrace.exe, mentioned above, is useful for log viewing).

How do we fix failed installs?

The short list:

  • Please refer to the Service Now Knowledge Base article KB0015358

Certificate Requirements:

The client machine requires an *unexpired* machine cert (certificate issued to the computer from the “NCSU-Computer-Certificate” template) in order to be able to communicate to the SCCM infrastructure.

What are the SCCM client distribution methods?

What is the impact of a client upgrade failing?

The SCCM agent is about deploying software and patches. If the agent doesn’t get upgraded for some reason, the computer will generally continue functioning as is until an IT person comes along to assist it.  If the agent is broken/nonfunctional, then the computer is essentially unmanaged by SCCM at that point.  It is nearly impossible for a client upgrade failure to negatively impact the end user with the possible exception of not receiving new software (including monthly security patches).