How to install an Operations Manager management server

In System Center Operations Manager, the first feature you install is the management server. The setup procedure creates the operational database and data warehouse database. The procedure described in this article assumes that you've already installed a supported version of Microsoft SQL Server. If you're hosting the Operations Manager operational and data warehouse database on a SQL Server Always On availability group (AG), be sure to use the node planned for the initial Primary replica for initial installation of these databases.

You must ensure that your server meets the minimum system requirements for System Center Operations Manager. For more information, see System Requirements for System Center - Operations Manager.

Once you've installed the first management server and created the management group, you can follow the steps for installing an additional management server if you're planning to include additional management servers to provide high availability and increased capacity for your monitoring workloads.

Note

You can set up and upgrade Operations Manager databases with an existing SQL Always-On setup without any need for post configuration changes.

Install the first management server in the management group

1. Sign in to the server by using an account that has local administrative credentials.

2. On the Operations Manager installation media, run Setup.exe, and then select Install.

3. On the Getting Started, Select features to install page, select the Management server feature. You can also select any of the additional features listed. For example, to also install the Operations console, select Operations console. To read more about each feature and its requirements, select Expand all, or expand the buttons next to each feature, and select Next.

4. On the Getting Started, Select installation location page, accept the default value, enter a new location or browse to one, and select Next.

5. On the Prerequisites page, review and resolve any warnings or errors, and select Verify Prerequisites Again to recheck the system.

   Important

   You might receive a message that indicates that ASP.NET 4 isn't registered with Internet Information Services (IIS). To resolve this problem, open a Command Prompt window, select Run as administrator, and then run the following command:

   %WINDIR%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\aspnet_regiis.exe -r

6. If the Prerequisites checker doesn't return any warnings or errors, the Prerequisites, Proceed with Setup page appears. Select Next.

7. On the Configuration, Specify an installation option page, select Create the first Management server in a new management group, type a name for your management group, and then select Next.

   Note

   After the management group name is set, it can't be changed. The Management Group name cannot contain the following characters: ( ) ^ ~ : ; . ! ? " , ' ` @ # % \ / * + = $ | & [ ] < > { }, and it can't have a leading or trailing space. It's recommended that the Management Group name be unique within your organization if you plan to connect several management groups together.

8. On the Configuration, Please read the license terms page, review the Microsoft Software License Terms, select I have read, understood and agree with the license terms, and select Next.

9. When the Configuration, Configure the operational database page opens, in the Server name and instance name box, enter the name of the server and the name of the SQL Server instance for the database server that will host the operational database.

   • If you installed SQL Server by using the default instance, you only have to enter the server name.

   • If you changed the default SQL Server port, you must enter the new port number in the SQL Server port box.

   • If you're hosting the database on a SQL Server cluster, replace computer with the virtual network name of the cluster.

   • If the database is part of a SQL Server AG, replace computer\<instance> with the AG listener, and for SQL Server port, enter the port number of the AG listener.

     As you enter the values for the SQL Server and instance names, you see a red circle with a white X in it appear to the left of the Server name and instance name and SQL Server port boxes. The white X indicates that the values haven't yet been validated, and the black text indicates that you haven't entered any illegal characters. If you enter illegal characters, the text itself turns red.

     The white X appears under the following circumstances:

     • You entered an instance of SQL Server or a SQL Server port value that isn't valid or that doesn't exist.

     • The instance of SQL Server that you specified doesn't have the required configuration or features.

     • You entered a value that is out-of-range (for example, port 999999).

     • You entered an illegal character for that box (for example, server\instance%)

     You can hover the cursor over the Server name and instance name text box to view additional information about the error.

10. After you enter the correct value for the SQL Server database server name, select the SQL Server port box so that Setup will attempt to validate the values you entered for the SQL Server name and for the port number.

11. In the Database name, Database size (MB), Data file folder, and Log file folder boxes, we recommend that you accept the default values. Select Next.

    Note

    These paths don't change if you connect to a different instance of SQL Server.

    Important

    You might receive a message about having the wrong version of the SQL Server, or you might encounter a problem with the SQL Server Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provider. To resolve this problem, open a Command Prompt window, select Run as administrator, and then run the following command. In the command, replace the <path> placeholder with the location of the SQL Server.

    For SQL Server 2022 and later versions:

    mofcomp.exe \<path>\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Shared\sqlmgmprovider.mof

    For SQL Server 2019 and earlier versions:

    mofcomp.exe \<path>\Microsoft SQL Server\150\Shared\sqlmgmproviderxpsp2up.mof

    Note

    The SQL Server model database size must not be greater than 100 MB. If it is, you might encounter an error in Setup regarding the inability to create a database on SQL due to user permissions. To resolve the issue, you must reduce the size of the model database.

12. When the Configuration, Configure the data warehouse database page opens, in the Server name and instance name box, enter the server name and the name of the instance of the SQL Server for the database server that will host the data warehouse database.

    • If you installed SQL Server by using the default instance, you only have to enter the server name.
    • If you changed the default SQL Server port, you must enter the new port number in the SQL Server port box.
    • If you're hosting the database on a SQL Server cluster, replace computer with the virtual network name of the cluster.
    • If the database is part of a SQL Server availability group (AG), replace computer\<instance> with the AG listener and for SQL Server port, enter the port number of the AG listener.

13. Because this is the first management server installation, accept the default value of Create a new data warehouse database.

14. In the Database name, Database size (MB), Data file folder, and Log file folder boxes, we recommend that you accept the default values. Select Next.

    Important

    You might receive a message about having the wrong version of the SQL Server, or you might encounter a problem with the SQL Server Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provider. To resolve this problem, open a Command Prompt window, select Run as administrator, and then run the following command. In the command, replace the <path> placeholder with the location of SQL Server.

    For SQL Server 2022 and later versions:

    mofcomp.exe \<path>\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Shared\sqlmgmprovider.mof

    For SQL Server 2019 and earlier versions:

    mofcomp.exe \<path>\Microsoft SQL Server\150\Shared\sqlmgmproviderxpsp2up.mof

    Note

    These paths don't change if you connect to a different instance of the SQL Server.

15. On the Configuration, Configure Operations Manager accounts page, we recommend that you use the Domain Account option for the Management server action account, the System Center Configuration service and System Center Data Access service account, the Data Reader account, and the Data Writer account. None of them should have domain administrator credentials. Select Next.

16. On the Configuration, Diagnostic and Usage Data page, review the information and select Next.

17. If Windows Update isn't enabled on the computer, the Configuration, Microsoft Update page appears. Select your options, and select Next.

18. Review the options on the Configuration, Installation Summary page, and select Install. Setup continues.

19. When Setup is finished, the Setup is complete page appears. Select Close.

20. Open the Operations console.

21. In the Operations console, in the navigation pane, select the Administration button, and then expand Device Management.

22. In Device Management, select Management Servers. In the results pane, you should see the management server that you installed with a green check mark in the Health State column.

Install additional management servers in the management group

Perform the following steps to add additional management servers in your management group.

1. Sign in to the server by using an account that has local administrative credentials.

2. On the Operations Manager installation media, run Setup.exe, and select Install.

3. On the Getting Started, Select features to install page, select the Management server feature. You can also select any of the additional features listed. For example, to also install the Operations console, select Operations console. To read more about each feature and its requirements, select Expand all, or expand the buttons next to each feature, and select Next.

4. On the Getting Started, Select installation location page, accept the default value, enter a new location or browse to one, and select Next.

5. On the Configuration, Specify an installation option page, select Add a Management server to an existing management group, and select Next.

6. On the Configuration, Please read the license terms page, review the Microsoft Software License Terms, select I have read, understood and agree with the license terms, and select Next.

7. When the Configuration, Configure the operational database page opens, in the Server name and instance name box, enter the name of the server and the name of the SQL Server instance for the database server that will host the operational database.

   • If you installed SQL Server by using the default instance, you only have to enter the server name.

   • If you changed the default SQL Server port, you must enter the new port number in the SQL Server port box.

   • If you're hosting the database on a SQL Server cluster, replace computer with the virtual network name of the cluster.

   • If the database is part of a SQL Server AG, replace computer\<instance> with the AG listener and for SQL Server port, enter the port number of the AG listener.

     As you enter the values for the SQL Server and instance names, you see a red circle with a white X in it appear to the left of the Server name and instance name and SQL Server port boxes. The white X indicates that the values haven't yet been validated, and the black text indicates that you haven't entered any illegal characters. If you enter illegal characters, the text itself turns red.

     The white X appears under the following circumstances:

     • You entered an instance of SQL Server or a SQL Server port value that isn't valid or that doesn't exist.

     • The instance of SQL Server that you specified doesn't have the required configuration or features.

     • You entered a value that is out-of-range (for example, port 999999).

     • You entered an illegal character for that box (for example, server\instance%)

     You can hover the cursor over the Server name and instance name text box to view additional information about the error.

8. After you enter the correct value for the SQL Server database server name, select the SQL Server port box so that Setup will attempt to validate the values you entered for the SQL Server name and for the port number.

9. Select the database name from the Database name dropdown list, and select Next.

10. On the Configuration, Configure Operations Manager accounts page, we recommend that you use the Domain Account option for the Management server action account and the System Center Configuration service and System Center Data Access service account. None of them should have domain administrator credentials. Select Next.

    Important

    You must provide the same credentials for the Management server action account, and the System Center Configuration Service and System Center Data Access service that you provided when you created the first management server in your management group.

11. On the Configuration, Diagnostic and Usage Data page, review the information and select Next.

12. If Windows Update isn't enabled on the computer, the Configuration, Microsoft Update page appears. Select your options, and select Next.

13. Review the options on the Configuration, Installation Summary page, and select Install. Setup continues.

14. When Setup is finished, the Setup is complete page appears. Select Close.

15. On a computer with the Operations console installed, sign in with an account that's a member of the Operations Manager Administrators group and launch the Operations console.

16. In the Operations console, in the navigation pane, select the Administration button, and then expand Device Management.

17. In Device Management, select Management Servers. In the results pane, you should see the management server that you installed with a green check mark in the Health State column.

Install the first management server in the management group from the command prompt

1. Sign in to the server by using an account that has local administrative credentials.

2. Open the Command Prompt window by using the Run as Administrator option.

   Note

   Setup.exe requires administrator privileges because the Setup process requires access to system processes that can only be used by a local administrator.

3. Change the path to where the Operations Manager setup.exe file is located, and run the following command.

   Important

   The following command assumes that you specified the Local System for the Management server action account (/UseLocalSystemActionAccount) and Data Access service (/UseLocalSystemDASAccount). To specify a domain\user name for these accounts, you must provide the following parameters instead.

   /ActionAccountUser: <domain\username> /ActionAccountPassword: <password>

   /DASAccountUser: <domain\username> /DASAccountPassword: <password>

   setup.exe /silent /install /components:OMServer
   /ManagementGroupName: "<ManagementGroupName>"
   /SqlServerInstance: <server\instance or AG listener>
   /SqlInstancePort: <SQL instance port number>
   /DatabaseName: <OperationalDatabaseName>
   /DWSqlServerInstance: <server\instance or AG listener>
   /DWSqlInstancePort: <SQL instance port number>
   /DWDatabaseName: <DWDatabaseName>
   /UseLocalSystemActionAccount /UseLocalSystemDASAccount
   /DatareaderUser: <domain\username>
   /DatareaderPassword: <password>
   /DataWriterUser: <domain\username>
   /DataWriterPassword: <password>
   /EnableErrorReporting: [Never|Queued|Always]
   /SendCEIPReports: [0|1]
   /UseMicrosoftUpdate: [0|1]
   /AcceptEndUserLicenseAgreement: [0|1]
   

Install additional management servers in the management group from the command prompt

1. Sign in to the server by using an account that has local administrative credentials.

2. Open the Command Prompt window by using the Run as Administrator option.

   Note

   Setup.exe requires administrator privileges because the Setup process requires access to system processes that can only be used by a local administrator.

3. Change the path to where the Operations Manager setup.exe file is located, and run the following command.

   Important

   The following command assumes that you specified the Local System for the Management server action account (/UseLocalSystemActionAccount) and Data Access service (/UseLocalSystemDASAccount). To specify a domain\user name for these accounts, you must provide the following parameters instead.

   /ActionAccountUser: <domain\username> /ActionAccountPassword: <password>

   /DASAccountUser: <domain\username> /DASAccountPassword: <password>

   setup.exe /silent /install /components:OMServer
   /SqlServerInstance: <server\instance or AG listener>
   /SqlInstancePort: <SQL instance port number>
   /DatabaseName: <OperationalDatabaseName>
   /UseLocalSystemActionAccount /UseLocalSystemDASAccount
   /DataReaderUser: <domain\username>
   /DataReaderPassword: <password>
   /DataWriterUser: <domain\username>
   /DataWriterPassword: <password>
   /EnableErrorReporting: [Never|Queued|Always]
   /SendCEIPReports: [0|1]
   /UseMicrosoftUpdate: [0|1]
   

Next steps

• To understand the sequence and steps for installing the Operations Manager server roles across multiple servers in your management group, see Distributed Deployment of Operations Manager.