Back to ConfigMgr main menu
System Center Configuration Manager 2012 SP1 introduced an exciting new feature - the ability to manage UNIX and Linux clients. The list of supported operating systems has grown since that initial release. You can find the full list (and the names of the installation files) in the "Client Requirements for Linux and UNIX Servers" section of this TechNet Library article.
Supported Configurations for Configuration Manager
The following operating systems are supported:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 4,5,6,7
- Solaris 9,10,11
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 9,10,11
- Centos 5,6,7
- Debian 5,6,7
- Ubuntu 10.04 LTS,12.04 LTS,14.04 LTS
- Oracle Linux 5,6,7
- HP-UX 11iv2,11iv3
Further information can be found in this TechNet article:
How to install the clients on Linux and UNIX computers
Client Push installation and automatic client push are not supported on non-Windows clients. You have to download the client installation files and manually copy them to the Linux servers. You then execute the installation manually. At that point you can retrieve hardware and software inventory. You can also automatically deploy updates and RPM files to the servers using traditional ConfigMgr packages and programs.
Please browse the following sections for details on Linux management. I have used a Red Hat Linux 6.5 Server (RHEL 6.5) for these labs.
Copying ConfigMgr client files to the Linux server
Installing ConfigMgr client
Linux client - machine policy and hardware inventory
Linux client - software distribution and patching
Issues I've encountered with Linux Management
Back to ConfigMgr 2012 menu
In a large site, multiple Management Points assist in load-balancing traffic from multiple clients. They are also useful so that clients continue to receive their policy after Management Point failure. Howver this feature should be regarded as load-balancing rather than true High Availability.
This Technet Library article explains the limitations well:
Planning for High Availability with Configuration Manager
You can also configure the additional Management Point to use a database replica (rather than the site database) and this further reduces the CPU processing on the site database server. This is described here:
Configure Database Replicas for Management Points
ConfigMgr 2012 Management Points are only supported on Windows Server 2008 and upwards (see Supported Configurations)
Pre-requisites
For Windows Server 2012
Prior to Windows Server 2012
Add the computer account of the Primary Site server to be Local Administrator of the new Management Point server.
Management Point Installation
Navigate to Administration > Site Configuration.
Right click "Servers and Site Systems" and choose "Create Site System Server".
Enter the server name and choose your site code.
Select "Management Point".
Choose to use either the site database or a database replica (see above).
Click Next to install the Management Point.
Close the wizard.
The new site system appears in the console.
Verify the installation using the SITECOMP.log file.
See additions in Site Status.
See additional components.
Folder structure on new MP.
New objects published to Active Directory.
