Supported Configurations for Configuration Manager
Updated: January 6, 2017
Applies To: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1
This topic specifies the requirements to implement and maintain Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager in your environment.
The following sections list products that are supported with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. No extension of support for these products beyond their current product life-cycles is implied. Products that are beyond their current support lifecycle are not supported for use with Configuration Manager. For more information about Microsoft Support Lifecycles, visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle website.
Warning
Microsoft provides support for the current service pack and, in some cases, the immediately previous service pack. For more information about Microsoft support life-cycle policy, go to the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Support Policy FAQ website atMicrosoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ.
Products that are not listed in this document are not supported with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager unless they are announced on the System Center Configuration Manager Team Blog.
Determine what version of Configuration Manager you use
Configuration Manager System Requirements
Site and Site System Role Scalability
Client Support Numbers for Sites and Hierarchies
Site System Requirements
Prerequisites for Site System Roles
Prerequisites for Site System Roles on Windows Server 2012
Minimum Hardware Requirements for Site Systems
Operating System Requirements for Site Servers, Database Servers, and the SMS Provider
Operating System Requirements for Typical Site System Roles
Operating System Requirements for Function-Specific Site System Roles
Computer Client Requirements
Computer Client Hardware Requirements
Operating System Requirements for Configuration Manager Client Installation
Embedded Operating System Requirements for Configuration Manager Clients
Client Requirements for Mac Computers
Client Requirements for Linux and UNIX Servers
Mobile Device Requirements
Mobile Devices Enrolled by Configuration Manager
Mobile Devices Enrolled by Microsoft Intune
Mobile Device Support by Using the Exchange Server Connector
Mobile Device Legacy Client
Configuration Manager Console Requirements
Configurations for the SQL Server Site Database
- SQL Server Requirements
Function-Specific Requirements
Application Management
Operating System Deployment
Out of Band Management
Remote Control Viewer
Software Center and the Application Catalog
Support for Active Directory Domains
Active Directory Schema Extensions
Disjoint Namespaces
Single Label Domains
Windows Environment
Support for BranchCache
Support for Computers in Workgroups
Support for Data Deduplication
Support for DirectAccess
Support for Dual Boot Computers
Support for Fast User Switching
Support for Internet Protocol Version 6
Support for Network Address Translation
Support for Specialized Storage Technology
Support for Virtualization Environments
Supported Upgrade Paths for Configuration Manager
Upgrade Configuration Manager
Infrastructure Upgrade for Configuration Manager
SQL Server Upgrade for the Site Database Server
Determine what version of Configuration Manager you use
To understand what products and configurations are supported with your Configuration Manager deployment, you must understand what version of the product you have installed.
Use one of the following to determine the version of your installation:
Check the Console Version in the About System Center Configuration Manager dialog
Check the Site Version in site properties. To do so, go to Administration > Site configuration > sites, and then right-click on the site and select Properties
Check the version in the registry of the site server, under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS\Setup\CULevel
Versions of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager:
Release |
Version number |
Build |
More information |
---|---|---|---|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 CU3 |
5.00.8239.1403 |
8239 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 CU2 |
5.00.8239.1301 |
8239 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 CU1 |
5.00.8239.1203 |
8239 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 |
5.00.8239.1000 |
8239 |
Not available |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 CU5 |
5.00.7804.1600 |
7804 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 CU4 |
5.00.7804.1500 |
7804 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 CU3 |
5.00.7804.1400 |
7804 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 CU2 |
5.00.7804.1300 |
7804 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 CU1 |
5.00.7804.1202 |
7804 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 |
5.00.7804.1000 |
7804 |
Not available |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager CU2 |
5.00.7711.0301 |
7711 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager CU1 |
5.00.7711.0200 |
7711 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager |
5.00.7711.0000 |
7711 |
Not available |
Versions of System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager:
Release |
Version number |
Build |
More information |
---|---|---|---|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1 CU3 |
5.00.8239.1403 |
8239 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1CU2 |
5.00.8239.1301 |
8239 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1 CU1 |
5.00.8239.1203 |
8239 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1 |
5.00.8239.1000 |
8239 |
Not available |
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager CU5 |
5.00.7958.1604 |
7958 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager CU4 |
5.00.7958.1501 |
7958 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager CU3 |
5.00.7958.1401 |
7958 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager CU2 |
5.00.7958.1303 |
7958 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager CU1 |
5.00.7958.1203 |
7958 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager |
5.00.7958.1000 |
7958 |
Not available |
Configuration Manager System Requirements
The following sections specify the hardware and software requirements that you must have to implement and maintain Configuration Manager in your environment.
Site and Site System Role Scalability
The following table contains information about the support limits at each site type and for client-facing site system role. This information is based on the recommended hardware for site systems and all available Configuration Manager features with default settings. When you do not use the recommended hardware, or use more aggressive custom settings (like running hardware or software inventory more frequently than the defaults of once every seven days), the performance of site systems can be degraded and might not meet the stated levels of support. For information about the recommended hardware for Configuration Manager sites, see Planning for Hardware Configurations for Configuration Manager. For information about the minimum required hardware to run a Configuration Manager site, see Minimum Hardware Requirements for Site Systems, in this topic. For information about the number of clients supported by each site or hierarchy, see Client Support Numbers for Sites and Hierarchies, in this topic.
Site or site system role |
More information |
---|---|
Central administration site |
A central administration site can support up to 25 child primary sites. |
Primary site |
Each primary site can support up to 250 secondary sites. Note The number of secondary sites per primary site is based on continuously connected and reliable wide area network (WAN) connections. For locations that have fewer than 500 clients, consider a distribution point instead of a secondary site. For information about the numbers of clients and devices a primary site can support, see the Client Support Numbers for Sites and Hierarchies section in this topic. |
Secondary site |
For information about the recommended hardware for Configuration Manager sites, see Planning for Hardware Configurations for Configuration Manager. |
Management point |
Management points per site:
For information about the numbers of clients and devices a management point can support, see the Clients per Management Point section in this topic. |
Distribution point |
The number of distribution points that are supported by an individual site depends on the version of Configuration Manager that you use:
Each primary site supports a combined total of up to 5,000 distribution points. This total includes all the distribution points at the primary site and all distribution points that belong to the primary site’s child secondary sites. Each distribution point supports a combined total of up to 10,000 packages and applications. Warning The actual number of clients that one distribution point can support depends on the speed of the network, and the hardware configuration of the distribution point computer. The number of pull-distribution points that one source distribution point can support similarly depends on the speed of the network and hardware configuration of the source distribution point computer, but is also affected by the amount of content you have deployed. This is because unlike clients that typically access content at different times over the course of a deployments window, all pull-distribution point request content at the same time and can request all available content and not just the content that is applicable to them, as would a client. When too much of a processing load is placed on a source distribution point, this can cause unexpected delays in distributing the content to the expected distribution points in your environment. |
Software update point |
The number of software update points supported by each site depends on the version of Configuration Manager that you use:
Note For more information, see Planning for Software Updates in Configuration Manager. |
Fallback status point |
Each fallback status point can support up to 100,000 clients. |
Application Catalog website point |
You can install multiple instances of the Application Catalog website point at primary sites.
Tip As a best practice, install the Application Catalog website point and Application Catalog web service point together on the same site system when they provide service to clients that are on the intranet. |
Application Catalog web service point |
You can install multiple instances of the Application Catalog web service point at primary sites.
Tip As a best practice, install the Application Catalog website point and Application Catalog web service point together on the same site system when they provide service to clients that are on the intranet. |
System Health Validator point |
Each System Health Validator point can support up to 100,000 clients. |
Client Support Numbers for Sites and Hierarchies
Use the following information to determine how many clients (devices) are supported by Configuration Manager sites and hierarchies.
The following table identifies logical groups that combine different types of supported devices into one of three client groups. These client groups are then referenced in this topic to identify how many devices are supported by each type of Configuration Manager site, and as a combined total of devices for a hierarchy of Configuration Manager sites.
Logical groups |
Details |
---|---|
Client group 1 |
This client group includes computers that run a client for Configuration Manager and includes Windows Server, Windows Client, and Windows Embedded operating systems. It also includes the Configuration Manager client for Linux and UNIX. For more information, see the following sections of this topic:
|
Client group 2 |
This client group includes devices that are managed using Microsoft Intune with Configuration Manager, and devices supported by using the Exchange Server connector. For more information, see the following sections of this topic:
Note Prior to Configuration Manager SP1, only mobile devices supported by using the Exchange Server connector are supported by Configuration Manager. |
Client group 3 |
This client group includes devices that are enrolled by Configuration Manager, devices supported by the mobile device legacy client, and computers that run the client for Mac. For more information, see the following sections of this topic:
|
Clients per Hierarchy
This section contains information about the number of clients (devices) that are supported by a Configuration Manager hierarchy.
The following table lists the maximum number of devices supported by different hierarchy designs and configurations, and is followed by supplemental details about the different designs and the maximum number of devices each design supports:
Note
Configuration Manager supports up to the listed number of devices from each client group for each listed hierarchy design when you use the default settings for all Configuration Manager features.
Hierarchy design |
Client group 1 |
Client group 2 |
Client group 3 |
Combined total when supporting all three client groups |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stand-alone primary site |
Prior to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP2:
|
|
|
|
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2:
|
|
|
|
|
Central administration site with a site database created on a Datacenter or Enterprise edition of SQL Server |
Prior to System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with cumulative update 3:
|
|
|
|
Beginning withSystem Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with cumulative update 3:
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2:
|
|
|
|
|
Central administration site with a site database created on a Standard edition of SQL Server |
All versions of Configuration Manager:
|
|
|
|
1When a stand-alone primary site supports only devices from client group 2, the site can support up to 100,000 devices.
2To help your Configuration Manager deployment support additional devices, you can configure WSUS for your software update points to also support increased numbers of devices. For more information, see Capacity Planning for the Software Update Point.
Stand-alone primary: For a hierarchy that has a stand-alone primary site as the top-level site, Configuration Manager supports up to 100,000 devices from client group 1. Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, this number is 150,000. Additional devices from client group 2 and client group 3 are also supported. Unlike a central administration site, the edition of SQL Server that you use at a primary site does not affect the maximum number of clients that the hierarchy can support.
Central administration site: For a hierarchy that has a central administration site as the top-level site, the combined number of clients from client group 1that the hierarchy can support depends on the edition of SQL Server that you use to host the site database at the central administration site. Regardless of the edition of SQL Server that you use, the number of devices from client group 2 and from client group 3 that a hierarchy supports does not change.
If you expand a stand-alone primary site into a hierarchy by installing a new central administration site, the edition of SQL Server in use at the primary site does not place limits on the number of devices that the hierarchy can support. Instead, it is the edition of SQL Server in use at the new central administration site that determines the maximum number of devices that the new hierarchy can support.
When you install a central administration site and use an Enterprise or Datacenter edition of SQL Server, the hierarchy can support a combined total of up to 400,000 devices from client group 1.
When you useSystem Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with cumulative update 3 or later, this number increases to 500,000.
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, this number is 600,000.
Additional devices from client group 2 and client group 3 are also supported. In this configuration, the number of devices that each child primary site can support remains limited by the configuration of that primary site. For more information, see the Clients per Site section in this topic.
When you install a central administration site and use a Standard edition of SQL Server, the hierarchy can support a total of up to 50,000 devices from client group 1. This total of devices is combined from all child primary sites in the hierarchy. This limitation exists because of how the database is partitioned when it’s created by using a Standard edition of SQL Server at the central administration site. Additional devices from client group 2 and client group 3 are also supported. After you install a central administration site, if you then upgrade the edition of SQL Server at the central administration site from Standard to an Enterprise or Datacenter edition, the database does not repartition and the 50,000 device limitation remains in place.
Clients per Site
The maximum number of clients (devices) that a site can support depends on the site type, and the version of Configuration Manager that you use. Although you can only assign a device to a primary site, secondary sites support communications from devices.
To help identify the supported number of devices, devices are divided into three logical client groups. A site is not limited to supporting devices from a single client group. A primary site can support a separate number of devices from each of the three client groups. For example, a stand-alone primary site that runs Configuration Manager SP1 can support up to 100,000 devices from client group 1, up to 50,000 devices from client group 2, and up to 25,000 devices from client group 3; for a total of 175,000 devices. However, Configuration Manager does not support replacing any number of devices from one client group with devices from another client group. For example, you have a stand-alone primary site that has 100,000 assigned devices from client group 1 and you do not assign any devices from client group 2 or client group 3. In this scenario, the site cannot support additional devices from client group 1 even though it is not supporting additional clients from the additional client groups.
The following table identifies the maximum number of devices per client group that are supported at primary and secondary sites:
Tip
The maximum number of clients that a primary or secondary site can support is not affected by the edition of SQL Server you use at that site. However, a child primary site that uses a local site database (installed on the site server) is limited to 50,000 clients from client group 1.
Site type |
Configuration Manager version |
Client group 1 |
Client group 2 |
Client group 3 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stand-alone primary site, with a local site database, or a remote site database
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack 1 |
100,000 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 |
100,000 2 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager |
100,000 2 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1 |
150,000 2, 6 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
Child primary site with a local site database
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack 1 |
50,000 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 |
50,000 2 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager |
50,000 2 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1 |
50,000 2 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
Child primary site with a remote site database
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack 1 |
100,000 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 |
100,000 2, 3 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager |
100,000 2, 3 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1 |
100,000 2, 3 |
50,000 4 |
25,000 |
|
Secondary site |
Any version1 |
5,000 5 10,000 6 (Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2) |
1System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack does not support the client for Linux and UNIX (client group 1) and does not support the client for Mac (client group 3). Additionally, client group 2 includes only mobile devices supported by using the Exchange Server connector. Support for the additional device types in this client group is available beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1.
2 Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1, primary sites support Windows Embedded devices that have File-Based Write Filters (FBWF) enabled. When embedded devices do not have write filters enabled, a primary site can support a number of embedded devices up to the allowed number of devices for that site (50,000 or 100,000). Of the total number of devices that a primary site supports, a maximum of 10,000 of these can be Windows Embedded devices when those devices are configured for the exceptions listed in the Deploying the Configuration Manager Client to Windows Embedded Devices section in the Introduction to Client Deployment in Configuration Manager topic. A primary site supports only 3,000 Windows Embedded devices that have EWF enabled and that are not configured for the exceptions.
3In a hierarchy that has a central administration site that uses a Standard edition of SQL Server, child primary sites are limited to 50,000 devices from client group 1 because this is the maximum number of devices that are supported by that hierarchy configuration.
4When a site supports only devices from client group 2, the site can support up to 100,000 devices. With this configuration, there is no change to the total number of devices that are supported in the hierarchy.
5 Each secondary site can support communications from up to 5,000 devices when you use a secondary site server that has the recommended hardware and a fast and reliable network connection to its primary parent site. This number includes a mix of devices from any of the three client groups. A secondary site could support communications from additional devices when its hardware configuration exceeds the recommended hardware configuration.
6 Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, sites that meet the updated recommended hardware requirements, and that have a fast and reliable network connection to other sites and site system servers, can support the updated number of devices.
For information about the recommended hardware for Configuration Manager sites, see Planning for Hardware Configurations for Configuration Manager.
Clients per Management Point
The number of devices that a management point supports depends on the type of site where the management point is located, and the type and numbers of clients that might use the management point. To help you understand the following details, you should be familiar with the three logical client groups which define different types of clients. For information about the client groups, see Client Support Numbers for Sites and Hierarchies, in this topic.
Site type |
Client group 1 |
Client group 2 |
Client group 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Primary site:
|
For example, if you have a stand-alone primary site that can support up to 100,000 clients from client group 1, and you have 100,000 active clients from client group 1, you must have at least four management points. It is a best practice to provide additional management points.
| ||
Secondary site:
|
The management point at a secondary site always supports communications from the same number of clients as supported by the secondary site server. For information about the number of clients supported by a secondary site, see, Clients per Site, in this topic. |
For example, you have a site that supports the following devices:
35,000 clients that include a mix of Windows client and server operating systems, Linux, and Windows Embedded devices (group 1)
15,000 devices that run the client for Mac, (group 3)
10,000 devices that run the mobile device legacy client (group 3)
To support this distribution of devices, you deploy five management points:
Two management points to support the various devices from group 1
Two management points enabled for mobile devices to support the clients for Mac
One additional management point enable for mobile devices to support the devices that run the mobile device legacy client
Note
In most scenarios you cannot control the specific management point that is used by a client that runs the mobile device legacy client or the Mac client. Therefore, it is a best practice to plan for extra capacity, providing additional management points per device.
Site System Requirements
Each System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site system server must use a 64-bit operating system. The only exception to this is the distribution point site system role which can be installed on limited 32-bit operating system versions.
Limitations for site systems:
Site systems are not supported on Server Core installations for the following operating systems:
Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
Windows Server 2008 Foundation or Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation.
Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2. An exception to this is that beginning with System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, these operating systems support the distribution point site system role, without PXE or multicast support.
Windows Server 2012 Foundation or Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation.
After a site system server is installed, it is not supported to change:
The domain name of the domain where the site system computer is located (also called a domain rename)
The domain membership of the computer
The name of the computer
If you must change any of these, you must first remove the site system role from the computer and then reinstall the roles after the change is complete. If this affects the site server computer, you must uninstall the site and then reinstall the site after the change is complete.
Site system roles are not supported on an instance of a Windows Server cluster. The only exception to this is the site database server.
Important
It is not supported to change the startup type or Log on as settings for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager services. Doing so might prevent key services from running correctly.
The following sections list the hardware requirements and operating system requirements for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager sites, typical site system roles, and function-specific site system roles.
Prerequisites for Site System Roles
The following table identifies prerequisites that are required by Configuration Manager for each site system role on supported operating systems prior to Windows Server 2012. For information about prerequisites for site system roles on Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2, see Prerequisites for Site System Roles on Windows Server 2012.
Important
Except where specifically noted, prerequisites apply to all versions of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.
Some prerequisites, such as SQL Server for the site database server, or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) for the software update point, might require additional prerequisites that are not directly required by the site system role.
For site system roles that require Internet Information Services (IIS), use a version of IIS that the computer supports that runs the site system role. For information, see the following sections, Operating System Requirements for Typical Site System Roles and Operating System Requirements for Function-Specific Site System Roles, in this topic.
Important
On January 12th of 2016, Microsoft support for .NET Framework 4.0, 4.5, and 4.5.1 expires. While the following table maintains the original perquisite details, plan to upgrade versions of .NET Framework 4.0 and 4.5 to .NET Framework 4.5.2.
For more information see Microsoft .NET Framework Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ at support.microsoft.com.
Site system role |
.NET Framework version1 |
Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) activation2 |
Role services for the web server (IIS) role |
Additional prerequisites |
---|---|---|---|---|
Site server |
Requires both of the following:
|
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Windows feature:
The computer where you install a central administration site or a primary site must have the required version of Windows AIK or Windows ADK installed before you install Configuration Manager. Similarly, when you upgrade a Configuration Manager site, you must install the version of the Windows ADK that the new version of Configuration Manager requires before you can upgrade the site. For more information about this requirement, see Operating System Deployment in this topic. By default, a secondary site installs a management point and a distribution point. Therefore secondary sites must meet the prerequisites for these site system roles. Configuration Manager installs the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable on each computer that installs a site server. The version that is installed depends on the version of Configuration Manager you use:
Central administration sites and primary sites require both the x86 and x64 versions of the applicable Redistributable file. Secondary sites require only the x64 version. |
Database server |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
A version of SQL Server that Configuration Manager supports must be installed on this computer. During installation of the Configuration Manager site, the remote registry service must be enabled on the computer that hosts the site database. When you install SQL Server Express as part of a secondary site installation, the secondary site server computer must meet the requirements for SQL Server Express. |
SMS Provider Server |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
The computer where you install an instance of the SMS Provider must have the required version of Windows AIK or Windows ADK installed before you install the SMS Provider. Similarly, when you upgrade a Configuration Manager site, on each computer that runs an instance of the SMS Provider you must install the version of the Windows ADK that the new version of Configuration Manager requires. For more information about this requirement, see Operating System Deployment in this topic. |
Application Catalog web service point |
Requires both of the following:
|
Requires the following options for WCF activation:
|
Requires the default IIS configuration with the following additions:
|
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, the computer that hosts this site system role must have a minimum of 5% of the computers available memory free to enable the site system role to process requests. When this site system role is co-located with another site system role that has this same requirement, this memory requirement for the computer does not increase, but remains at a minimum of 5%. |
Application Catalog website point |
Requires the following:
|
Not applicable |
Requires the default IIS configuration with the following additions:
|
Not applicable |
Asset Intelligence synchronization point |
Requires the following:
|
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Certificate registration point |
Requires the following:
|
Requires the following options for WCF activation:
|
Requires the default IIS configuration with the following additions:
|
Not applicable |
Distribution point4 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
You can use the default IIS configuration, or a custom configuration. To use a custom IIS configuration, you must enable the following options for IIS:
When you use a custom IIS configuration, you can remove options that are not required, such as the following:
|
Windows feature:
To support PXE or multicast, install and configure the following Windows role:
Configuration Managerinstalls the Microsoft VisualC++ Redistributable on each computer that hosts a distribution point. The version that is installed depends on the computers platform (x86 or x64), and the version of Configuration Manager you use:
Beginning with Configuration Manager SP1, you can use a cloud service in Windows Azure to host a distribution point. For more information, see the section Planning for Cloud-Based Distribution Points in the Planning for Content Management in Configuration Manager topic. Note With System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, the distribution point site system role does not require Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). When BITS is configured on the distribution point computer, BITS on the distribution point computer is not used to facilitate the download of content by clients that use BITS |
Endpoint Protection point |
Requires the following:
|
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Enrollment point |
Requires the following:
|
Requires the following options for WCF activation:
|
Requires the default IIS configuration with the following additions:
|
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, the computer that hosts this site system role must have a minimum of 5% of the computers available memory free to enable the site system role to process requests. When this site system role is co-located with another site system role that has this same requirement, this memory requirement for the computer does not increase, but remains at a minimum of 5%. |
Enrollment proxy point |
Requires the following:
|
Requires the following options for WCF activation:
|
Requires the default IIS configuration with the following additions:
|
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, the computer that hosts this site system role must have a minimum of 5% of the computers available memory free to enable the site system role to process requests. When this site system role is co-located with another site system role that has this same requirement, this memory requirement for the computer does not increase, but remains at a minimum of 5%. |
Fallback status point |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Requires the default IIS configuration with the following additions:
|
Not applicable |
Management point |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack:
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1:
|
Not applicable |
You can use the default IIS configuration, or a custom configuration5. To use a custom IIS configuration, you must enable the following options for IIS:
When you use a custom IIS configuration you can remove options that are not required, such as the following:
|
Windows feature:
|
Out of band service point |
Requires the following:
|
Requires the following options for WCF activation:
|
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Reporting services point |
Requires the following:
|
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
SQL Server Reporting Services installed and configured to use at least one instance for the reporting services point.The instance you use for SQL Server Reporting Services can be the same instance you use for the site database.Additionally, the instance you use can be shared with other System Center products as long as the other System Center products do not have restrictions for sharing the instance of SQL Server. |
Software update point |
Requires both of the following:
|
Not applicable |
Requires the default IIS configuration |
Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 SP2 must be installed on this computer. For more information, see the Planning for Software Update Point Installation section in the Planning for Software Updates in Configuration Manager topic. |
State migration point |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Requires the default IIS configuration |
Not applicable |
System Health Validator point |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
This site system role is supported only on a NAP health policy server. |
Microsoft Intune connector |
Requires the following:
|
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
1Install the full version of the Microsoft.NET Framework before you install the site system roles. For example, see the Microsoft .NET Framework 4 (Stand-Alone Installer).
Important
The Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile is insufficient for this requirement.
2You can configure WCF activation as part of the .NET Framework Windows feature on the site system server. For example, on Windows Server 2008 R2, run the Add Features Wizard to install additional features on the server. On the Select Features page, expand NET Framework 3.5.1 Features, then expand WCF Activation, and then select the check box for both HTTP Activation and Non-HTTP Activation to enable these options.
3In some scenarios, such as when IIS is installed or reconfigured after the .NET Framework version 4.0 is installed, you must explicitly enable ASP.NET version 4.0. For example, on a 64-bit computer that runs the .NET Framework version 4.0.30319, run the following command: %windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\aspnet_regiis.exe -i -enable
4You must manually install IIS on computers that run a supported version of Windows Server 2003. Additionally, to install IIS and configure the additional Windows features, the computer might require access to the Windows Server 2003 source media.
5Each management point that you enable to support mobile devices requires the additional IIS configuration for ASP.NET (and its automatically selected options). With this requirement, review note 3 for applicability to your installation.
Prerequisites for Site System Roles on Windows Server 2012
For System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 and later:
The following table identifies prerequisites that are required by Configuration Manager site system roles you install on Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2. For information about prerequisites for site system roles on supported operating systems prior to Windows Server 2012, see Prerequisites for Site System Roles.
Some prerequisites, such as SQL Server for the site database server, or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) for the software update point, might require additional prerequisites that are not directly required by the site system role.
For site system roles that require Internet Information Services (IIS), use a version of IIS that the computer supports that runs the site system role. For information, see the following sections, Operating System Requirements for Typical Site System Roles and Operating System Requirements for Function-Specific Site System Roles, in this topic.
Important
On January 12th of 2016, Microsoft support for .NET Framework 4.0, 4.5, and 4.5.1 expires. While the following table maintains the original perquisite details, plan to upgrade versions of .NET Framework 4.0 and 4.5 to .NET Framework 4.5.2.
For more information see Microsoft .NET Framework Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ at support.microsoft.com.
Site system role |
Windows Server Roles and Features |
Additional prerequisites |
---|---|---|
Site server |
Features:
|
The computer where you install a central administration site or a primary site must have the required version of Windows AIK or Windows ADK installed before you install Configuration Manager. Similarly, when you upgrade a Configuration Manager site, you must install the version of the Windows ADK that the new version of Configuration Manager requires before you can upgrade the site. For more information about this requirement, see Operating System Deployment in this topic. By default, a secondary site installs a management point and a distribution point. Therefore secondary sites must meet the prerequisites for these site system roles. Configuration Manager installs the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable on each computer that installs a site server. The version that is installed depends on the version of Configuration Manager you use:
Central administration sites and primary sites require both the x86 and x64 versions of the applicable Redistributable file. Secondary sites require only the x64 version. |
Database server |
Not applicable |
A version of SQL Server that Configuration Manager supports must be installed on this computer. During installation of the Configuration Manager site, the remote registry service must be enabled on the computer that hosts the site database. When you install SQL Server Express as part of a secondary site installation, the secondary site server computer must meet the requirements for SQL Server Express. |
SMS Provider Server |
Not applicable |
The computer where you install an instance of the SMS Provider must have the required version of Windows AIK or Windows ADK installed before you install the SMS Provider. Similarly, when you upgrade a Configuration Manager site, on each computer that runs an instance of the SMS Provider you must install the version of the Windows ADK that the new version of Configuration Manager requires. For more information about this requirement, see Operating System Deployment in this topic. |
Application Catalog web service point |
Features:
IIS Configuration:
|
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, the computer that hosts this site system role must have a minimum of 5% of the computers available memory free to enable the site system role to process requests. When this site system role is co-located with another site system role that has this same requirement, this memory requirement for the computer does not increase, but remains at a minimum of 5%. Prior to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, the HTTP Activation requirement applies to .NET Framework 3.5, not .NET Framework 4.5. |
Application Catalog website point |
Features:
IIS Configuration:
|
Not applicable |
Asset Intelligence synchronization point |
Features:
|
Not applicable |
Certificate registration point |
Features:
IIS Configuration:
|
Not applicable |
Distribution point |
Features1:
IIS Configuration:
|
PowerShell 3.0 or 4.0 is required on Windows Server 2012 before you install the distribution point. To support PXE or multicast, install and configure the following Windows role:
Configuration Manager installs the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable on each computer that hosts a distribution point. The version that is installed depends on the computers platform (x86 or x64), and the version of Configuration Manager you use:
Beginning with Configuration Manager SP1, you can use a cloud service in Windows Azure to host a distribution point. For more information, see the section Planning for Cloud-Based Distribution Points in the Planning for Content Management in Configuration Manager topic. Note With System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, the distribution point site system role does not require Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). When BITS is configured on the distribution point computer, BITS on the distribution point computer is not used to facilitate the download of content by clients that use BITS. |
Endpoint Protection point |
Features:
|
Not applicable |
Enrollment point |
Features:
|
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, the computer that hosts this site system role must have a minimum of 5% of the computers available memory free to enable the site system role to process requests. When this site system role is co-located with another site system role that has this same requirement, this memory requirement for the computer does not increase, but remains at a minimum of 5%. Prior to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, the HTTP Activation requirement applies to .NET Framework 3.5, not .NET Framework 4.5. |
Enrollment proxy point |
Features:
IIS Configuration:
|
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, the computer that hosts this site system role must have a minimum of 5% of the computers available memory free to enable the site system role to process requests. When this site system role is co-located with another site system role that has this same requirement, this memory requirement for the computer does not increase, but remains at a minimum of 5%. Prior to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, there is no HTTP Activation requirement. |
Fallback status point |
Requires the default IIS configuration with the following additions: IIS Configuration:
|
Not applicable |
Management point |
Features:
IIS Configuration:
|
Not applicable |
Out of band service point |
Features:
|
Not applicable |
Reporting services point |
Features:
|
SQL Server Reporting Services installed and configured to use at least one instance for the reporting services point. The instance you use for SQL Server Reporting Services can be the same instance you use for the site database. Additionally, the instance you use can be shared with other System Center products as long as the other System Center products do not have restrictions for sharing the instance of SQL Server. |
Software update point |
Features:
Requires the default IIS configuration |
Windows server role:
For more information, see the Planning for Software Update Point Installation section in the Planning for Software Updates in Configuration Manager topic. |
State migration point |
Requires the default IIS configuration |
Not applicable |
System Health Validator point |
Not applicable |
This site system role is supported only on a NAP health policy server. |
Microsoft Intune connector |
Features:
|
Not applicable |
1With System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, distribution points do not require BITS. When BITS is configured on the distribution point computer, BITS on the distribution point computer is not used to facilitate the download of content by clients that use BITS.
Minimum Hardware Requirements for Site Systems
This section identifies the minimum required hardware requirements forConfiguration Manager site systems. These requirements are sufficient to support all features of Configuration Manager in an environment with up to 100 clients. This information is suitable for testing environments. For guidance about the recommended hardware for Configuration Manager in full-scale production environments, see Planning for Hardware Configurations for Configuration Manager.
The following minimum requirements apply to all site types (central administration site, primary site, secondary site) when you install all available site system roles on the site server computer.
Hardware component |
Requirement |
---|---|
Processor |
|
RAM |
|
Free disk space |
|
Operating System Requirements for Site Servers, Database Servers, and the SMS Provider
The following table specifies the operating systems that can support System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site servers, the database server, and the SMS Provider site system role.The table also specifies the Configuration Manager versions that support each operating system.
Operating system |
System architecture |
Central administration site |
Primary site |
Secondary site1 |
Site database server1, 2 |
SMS Provider |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows Server 2008
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
Windows Server 2008 R2
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
Windows Server 2012
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
Windows Server 2012 R2
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
1Site database servers are not supported on a read-only domain controller (RODC). For more information, see You may encounter problems when installing SQL Server on a domain controller in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Additionally, secondary site servers are not supported on any domain controller.
2 For more information about the versions of SQL Server that Configuration Manager supports, see Configurations for the SQL Server Site Database in this topic.
3To support this operating system as a database server for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1, you must install cumulative update 3 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1. For more information see Description of Cumulative Update 3 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1.
Note
Windows Server 2012 R2 does not support the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit 8.0 (Windows ADK). For Configuration Manager SP1, the Windows ADK is a prerequisite for a computer that is a site server or that hosts an instance of the SMS Provider. Therefore, Windows Server 2012 R2 remains unsupported for use as a site server or as a host for the SMS Provider for Configuration Manager SP1 even when cumulative update 3 is installed.
Operating System Requirements for Typical Site System Roles
The following table specifies the operating systems that can support multi-function site system roles, and the Configuration Manager versions that support each operating system.
Operating system |
System architecture |
Distribution point3 |
Enrollment point and enrollment proxy point |
Fallback status point |
Management point |
Microsoft Intune connector |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows Vista
|
x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows 7
|
x86, x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows 8
|
x86, x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows 8.1
|
x86, x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows Server 2003
|
x86, x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows Server 2003
|
x86 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows Server 2003 R2
|
x86, x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows Server 2008
|
x86, x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
Windows Server 2008 R2
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
Windows Storage Server 2008 R2
|
x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows Server 2012
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Server Core installation of Windows Server 2012 |
x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Windows Server 2012 R2
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Server Core installation of Windows Server 2012 R2 |
x64 |
|
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
1Distribution points on this operating system are not supported for PXE.
2 Distribution points on this operating system version do not support Multicast.
3Unlike other site system roles, distribution points are supported on some 32-bit operating systems. Distribution points also support several different configurations that each have different requirements and in some cases support installation not only on servers, but on client operating systems. For more information about the options available for distribution points, see Prerequisites for Content Management in Configuration Manager in the Deploying Software and Operating Systems in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager guide.
4Distribution points on this operating system version are supported for PXE, but they do not support network booting of client computers in EFI mode. Client computers with BIOS or with EFI booting in legacy mode are supported.
5Distribution points on this operating system version are supported for PXE boot of x64 UEFI computers but do not support PXE boot of IA32 UEFI computers.
6 Distribution points on this operating system version are supported for PXE boot of both x64 and IA32 UEFI computers.
7 To support this operating system as a site system server for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1, you must install cumulative update 3 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1. For more information see Description of Cumulative Update 3 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1.
Operating System Requirements for Function-Specific Site System Roles
The following table specifies the operating systems that are supported for use with each feature-specific Configuration Manager site system role, and the Configuration Manager versions that support each operating system.
Operating system |
System architecture |
Application Catalog web service point and Application Catalog website point |
Asset Intelligence synchronization point |
Certificate registration point |
Endpoint Protection point |
Out of band service point |
Reporting services point |
Software update point |
State migration point |
System Health Validator point |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows Server 2008
|
x64 |
|
|
Not supported |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Windows Server 2008 R2
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Windows Server 2012
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Windows Server 2012 R2
|
x64 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 To support this operating system as a site system server for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1, you must install cumulative update 3 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1. For more information see Description of Cumulative Update 3 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1.
Computer Client Requirements
The following sections describe the operating systems and hardware supported for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager computer client installation on Windows-based computers, Mac computers, and servers that run Linux or UNIX. Make sure that you also review Prerequisites for Windows Client Deployment in Configuration Manager for a list of dependencies for the installation of the Configuration Manager client on Windows-based computers and mobile devices.
Important
It is not supported to change the startup type or Log on as settings for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager services that run on Windows computers. It is also not supported to install or run the Configuration Manager client for Linux or UNIX, or the client for Mac, on computers under an account other than root. Doing so might prevent key services from running correctly.
Computer Client Hardware Requirements
The following are minimum requirements for Windows-based computers that you manage with Configuration Manager.
Requirement |
Details |
---|---|
Processor and memory |
Refer to the processor and RAM requirements for the computers operating system. Note An exception to this is Windows XP and Windows 2003, which both require a minimum of 256MB of RAM. |
Disk space |
500MB available disk space, with 5GB recommended for the Configuration Manager client cache. Less disk space is required if you use customized settings to install the Configuration Manager client:
For more information about these client installation settings, see About Client Installation Properties in Configuration Manager. Tip Installing the client with minimal disk space is useful for Windows Embedded devices that typically have smaller disk sizes than standard Windows computers. |
The following are additional hardware requirements for optional functionality in Configuration Manager.
Function |
Minimum hardware requirements |
---|---|
Operating system deployment |
384MB of RAM |
Software Center |
500MHz processor |
Remote Control |
Pentium 4 Hyper-Threaded 3GHz (single core) or comparable CPU, with at least a 1GB RAM for optimal experience. |
Out of Band Management |
Desktop or portable computers must have the Intel vPro Technology or Intel Centrino Pro and a supported version of Intel AMT. |
Operating System Requirements for Configuration Manager Client Installation
The following table specifies the operating systems that are supported for Configuration Manager client installation, and the versions of Configuration Manager that support each operating system. For server platforms, client support is independent of any other service that runs on that server unless noted otherwise. For example, the client is supported on domain controllers and servers that run cluster services or terminal services.
Operating system |
System architecture |
Configuration Manager version |
---|---|---|
Windows XP Professional (SP3) |
x86 |
|
Windows XP Professional for 64-bit Systems (SP2) |
x64 |
|
Windows XP Tablet PC (SP3) |
x86 |
|
Windows Vista
|
x86, x64 |
|
Windows 7
|
x86, x64 |
|
Windows 8
|
x86, x64 |
|
Windows 8.1
|
x86, x64 |
|
Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB |
x86, x64 |
|
WindowsServer 2003 Web Edition (SP2) |
x86 |
|
WindowsServer 2003
|
x86, x64 |
|
WindowsServer 2003 R2 SP2
|
x86, x64 |
|
WindowsStorage Server 2003 R2 SP2 |
x86, x64 |
|
WindowsServer 2008
|
x86, x64 |
|
The Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 (SP2) |
x86, x64 |
|
Windows Storage Server 2008 R2
|
x64 |
|
WindowsServer 2008 R2
|
x64 |
|
The Server Core installation of WindowsServer 2008 R2 (with no service pack, or with SP1) |
x64 |
|
Windows Server 2012
|
x64 |
|
The Server Core installation of Windows Server 20122 |
x64 |
|
Windows Server 2012 R2
|
x64 |
|
Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 |
x64 |
|
The Server Core installation of Windows Server 2012 R22 |
x64 |
|
1Datacenter releases are supported but not certified for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. Hotfix support is not offered for issues specific to Windows Server Datacenter Edition.
2To support client push installation, the computer that runs this operating system version must run the File Server role service for the File and Storage Services server role.
3To support this operating system as a client with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1, you must first install cumulative update 3 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1. For more information see Description of Cumulative Update 3 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1.
4 To support this client operating system with this version of Configuration Manager, you must first install cumulative update 1. For more information see Description of Cumulative Update 1 for System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 2
For more information about installing Windows features on a Server Core computer, see Install Server Roles and Features on a Server Core Server in the Windows Server 2012 TechNet library.
Embedded Operating System Requirements for Configuration Manager Clients
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection support clients for integration with Windows Embedded. Support limitations for Windows Embedded:
All client features are supported natively on supported Windows Embedded systems that do not have write filters enabled.
ForSystem Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack, Windows Embedded systems that have write filters enabled must use task sequences to deploy to embedded devices, and the task sequences must include steps to disable and then restore the write filters.
Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1, clients that use Enhanced Write Filters (EWF) RAM or File Based Write Filters (FBWF) are natively supported for all features except power management.
Beginning with System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, clients that use Unified Write Filters (UWF) are natively supported for all features except power management.
The Application Catalog is not supported for any Windows Embedded device.
Windows Embedded operating systems based on Windows XP are only supported for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager SP1.
Before you can monitor detected malware on Windows Embedded devices based on Windows XP, you must install the Microsoft Windows WMI scripting package on the embedded device. Use Windows Embedded Target Designer to install this package. The files WBEMDISP.DLL and WBEMDISP.TLB must exist and be registered in the folder %windir%\System32\WBEM on the embedded device to ensure that detected malware is reported.
Note
Beginning with Configuration Manager SP1, new options are added to control the behavior of Windows Embedded write filters when you install the Endpoint Protection client. For more information, see Introduction to Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager.
The following table specifies the Windows Embedded versions that are supported with Configuration Manager and Endpoint Protection, and the versions of Configuration Manager and Endpoint Protection that support each Windows Embedded version.
Windows Embedded operating system |
Base operating system |
System architecture |
Configuration Manager version |
System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection version |
---|---|---|---|---|
Windows Embedded Standard 2009 |
Windows XP SP3 |
x86 |
|
|
Windows XP Embedded SP3 |
Windows XP SP3 |
x86 |
|
|
Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP) |
Windows XP SP3 |
x86 |
|
|
Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 |
Windows XP SP3 |
x86 |
|
|
WEPOS 1.1 with SP3 |
Windows XP SP3 |
x86 |
|
|
Windows Embedded Standard 7 with SP1 |
Windows 7 |
x86, x64 |
|
|
Windows Embedded POSReady 7 |
Windows 7 |
x86, x64 |
|
|
Windows Thin PC |
Windows 7 |
x86, x64 |
|
|
Windows Embedded 8 Pro |
Windows 8 |
x86, x64 |
|
|
Windows Embedded 8 Standard |
Windows 8 |
x86, x64 |
|
|
Windows Embedded 8 Industry |
Windows 8 |
x86, x64 |
|
|
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry |
Windows 8.1 |
x86, x64 |
|
|
1The Unified Write Filter (UWF) that is included with this version of Windows Embedded is not supported by System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1. Therefore, with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1, the built-in features for write filter management will not work with UWF.
Client Requirements for Mac Computers
Note
For System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 and later:
The client for Mac is supported only on Mac computers that use an Intel 64-bit chipset. For more information about computers that run Mac OS X, see How to Install Clients on Mac Computers in Configuration Manager.
The following operating systems are supported for the Configuration Manager client for Mac computers:
Operating system |
Configuration Manager version |
Additional details |
---|---|---|
Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) |
|
Not applicable |
Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) |
|
Not applicable |
Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) |
|
Not applicable |
Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) |
|
To use Mac OS X 10.9 with Configuration Manager you must use a Mac client for Configuration Manager with the following minimum versions:
Additionally, for Configuration Manager SP1 with cumulative update 4, you can install an optional update to add Mac OS X 10.9 to the supported platforms list. This update is not required for System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with cumulative update 1. |
Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) |
|
To use Mac OS X 10.10 withConfiguration Manager you must use a Mac client for Configuration Manager with the following minimum versions:
Additionally, you can install an optional update to add Mac OS X 10.10 to the supported platforms list. |
Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) |
|
To use Mac OS X 10.11 with Configuration Manager you must use a Mac client for Configuration Manager with the following minimum versions:
|
Client Requirements for Linux and UNIX Servers
This information applies to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 and later.
Use the following information to identify the supported distributions of Linux and UNIX operating systems and the hardware requirements to run aConfiguration Manager client for Linux and UNIX. For information about the operating system file dependencies for the client for Linux and UNIX, see Prerequisites for Client Deployment to Linux and UNIX Servers in the Planning for Client Deployment for Linux and UNIX Servers topic. For an overview of the management capabilities supported for computers that run Linux or UNIX, see the Deploying the Configuration Manager Client to Linux and UNIX Servers section in the Introduction to Client Deployment in Configuration Manager topic.
The following table lists the different releases of the client for Linux and UNIX that you can use with each version of Configuration Manager:
Configuration Manager version |
Version of the client for Linux and UNIX |
---|---|
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack |
Not supported |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 |
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Client for Linux and UNIX Note The System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager clients for Linux and UNIX are intended for use with both System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager and Configuration Manager 2012 SP1.However, the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Client for Linux and UNIX remains supported. |
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP2 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with SP1 |
|
Supported Distributions of Linux and UNIX
The following table identifies the operating systems, platforms, and client installation packages that are supported for each release of the client for Linux and UNIX. However, only the most recent update version is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Operating system |
Version |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Client for Linux and UNIX |
Cumulative Update 1 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Client for Linux and UNIX |
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Client for Linux and UNIX |
---|---|---|---|---|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
|
Version 4 x86 |
ccm-RHEL4x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-RHEL4x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-RHEL4x86.<build>.tar |
Version 4 x64 |
ccm-RHEL4x64.<build>.tar |
ccm-RHEL4x64.<build>.tar |
ccm-RHEL4x64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 5 x86 |
ccm-RHEL5x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 5 x64 |
ccm-RHEL5x64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 6 x86 |
ccm-RHEL6x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 6 x64 |
ccm-RHEL6x64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 7 x64 |
No support |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Solaris |
Version 9 SPARC |
ccm-Sol9sparc.<build>.tar |
ccm-Sol9sparc.<build>.tar |
ccm-Sol9sparc.<build>.tar |
Version 10 x86 |
ccm-Sol10x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Sol10x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Sol10x86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 10 SPARC |
ccm-Sol10sparc.<build>.tar |
ccm-Sol10sparc.<build>.tar |
ccm-Sol10sparc.<build>.tar |
|
Version 11 x86 |
No support |
ccm-Sol11x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Sol11x86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 11 SPARC |
No support |
ccm-Sol11sparc.<build>.tar |
ccm-Sol11sparc.<build>.tar |
|
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
|
Version 9 x86 |
ccm-SLES9x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-SLES9x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-SLES9x86.<build>.tar |
Version 10 SP1 x86 |
ccm-SLES10x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 10 SP1 x64 |
ccm-SLES10x64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 11 SP1 x86 |
ccm-SLES11x86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 11 SP1 x64 |
ccm-SLES11x64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 12 x64 |
No support |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
CentOS
|
Version 5 x86 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
Version 5 x64 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 6 x86 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 6 x64 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 7 x64 |
No support |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Debian |
Version 5 x86 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
Version 5 x64 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 6 x86 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 6 x64 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 7 x86
|
No support |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 7 x64
|
No support |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Ubuntu |
Version 10.04 LTS x86 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
Version 10.04 LTS x64 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 12.04 LTS x86 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 12.04 LTS x64 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 14.04 LTS x86 |
No support |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 14.04 LTS x64 |
No support |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Oracle Linux
|
Version 5 x86 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
Version 5 x64 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 6 x86 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx86.<build>.tar |
|
Version 6 x64 |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 7 x64 |
No support |
No support |
ccm-Universalx64.<build>.tar |
|
HP-UX |
Version 11iv2 IA64 |
No support |
ccm-HpuxB.11.23i64.<build>.tar |
ccm-HpuxB.11.23i64.<build>.tar |
Version 11iv2 PA-RISC |
No support |
ccm-HpuxB.11.23PA.<build>.tar |
ccm-HpuxB.11.23PA.<build>.tar |
|
Version 11iv3 IA64 |
No support |
ccm-HpuxB.11.31i64.<build>.tar |
ccm-HpuxB.11.31i64.<build>.tar |
|
Version 11iv3 PA-RISC |
No support |
ccm-HpuxB.11.31PA.<build>.tar |
ccm-HpuxB.11.31PA.<build>.tar |
|
AIX |
Version 5.3 (Power) |
No support |
ccm-Aix53ppc.<build>.tar |
ccm-Aix53ppc.<build>.tar |
Version 6.1 (Power) |
No support |
ccm-Aix61ppc.<build>.tar |
ccm-Aix61ppc.<build>.tar |
|
Version 7.1 (Power) |
No support |
ccm-Aix71ppc.<build>.tar |
ccm-Aix71ppc.<build>.tar |
Note
For the clients for Linux and UNIX, the listed version includes all subsequent minor versions. For example, where the table indicates support for CentOSversion 6, this also includes any subsequent minor version of CentOS 6, such as CentOS 6.3. Similarly, where the table indicates support for anoperating system that uses service packs, such as SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP1, support includes subsequent service packs for that operating system.
For information about client installation packages and the Universal Agent, see How to Install Clients on Linux and UNIX Computers in Configuration Manager.
Hardware and Disk Space Requirements
The following are minimum hardware requirements for computers that you manage with the Configuration Manager client for Linux and UNIX.
Requirement |
Details |
---|---|
Processor and memory |
Refer to the processor and RAM requirements for the computer’s operating system. |
Disk space |
500 MB available disk space, with 5 GB recommended for the Configuration Manager client cache. |
Network connectivity |
Configuration Manager client computers must have network connectivity to Configuration Manager site systems to enable management. |
Mobile Device Requirements
The following sections describe the hardware and operating systems that are supported for managing mobile devices in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.
Note
The following mobile device clients are not supported in the Configuration Manager hierarchy:
-
Device management clients from System Management Server 2003 and Configuration Manager 2007
-
Windows CE Platform Builder device management client (any version)
-
System Center Mobile Device Manager VPN connection
Mobile Devices Enrolled by Configuration Manager
The following table lists the platforms and languages that support Configuration Manager enrollment and the versions of Configuration Manager that support each platform.
Operating system |
Configuration Manager version |
Supported languages |
---|---|---|
Windows Mobile 6.1 |
|
|
Windows Mobile 6.5 |
|
|
Nokia Symbian Belle |
|
|
Mobile Devices Enrolled by Microsoft Intune
For System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 and later: The following table lists the platforms and languages that are supported for mobile devices that are enrolled by Microsoft Intune and you use the Microsoft Intune connector in Configuration Manager.
Important
You must have a subscription to Microsoft Intune to manage the following operating systems.
Operating system |
Operating system version |
Configuration Manager version |
Company portal supported languages |
---|---|---|---|
Windows Phone 8 |
Not applicable |
|
|
Windows Phone 8.1 |
Not applicable |
|
|
Windows 8 RT |
Not applicable |
|
|
Windows 8.1 RT |
Not applicable |
|
|
Windows 8.1
|
Not applicable |
|
|
iOS |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Android 1 |
|
|
1Support for devices that run Android begins with Android 2.3, and includes all subsequent releases of Android. However, when you use System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 or later with a version of Android that is prior to 4.0, a limited set of functionality is available. Beginning with System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, when you use the Company Portal app, Configuration Manager supports additional capabilities for devices that run Android 4.0 or later.
For more information, see the Manage Mobile Devices with Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune topic in the Deploying Clients for System Center 2012 Configuration Managerguide.
Mobile Device Support by Using the Exchange Server Connector
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager offers limited management for mobile devices when you use the Exchange Server connector for Exchange Active Sync (EAS) capable devices that connect to a server running Exchange Server or Exchange Online. For more information about which management functions Configuration Manager supports for mobile devices that the Exchange Server connector manages, see Determine How to Manage Mobile Devices in Configuration Manager.
The following table lists the platforms that support the Exchange Server connector and which versions of Configuration Manager support each platform.
Version of Exchange Server |
Configuration Manager version |
---|---|
Exchange Server 2010 SP1 |
|
Exchange Server 2010 SP2 |
|
Exchange Server 2013 |
|
Exchange Online (Office 365) 1 |
|
1Includes Business Productivity Online Standard Suite.
Mobile Device Legacy Client
The following sections list the hardware and operating systems that are supported for the mobile device legacy client in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.
Mobile Device Legacy Client Hardware Requirements
The mobile device client requires 0.78 MB of storage space to install. In addition, logging on the mobile device can require up to 256 KB of storage space.
Mobile Device Legacy Client Operating System Requirements
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager supports management for Windows Phone, Windows Mobile, and Windows CE when you install the Configuration Manager mobile device legacy client. Features for these mobile devices vary by platform and client type. For more information about which management functions Configuration Manager supports for the mobile device legacy client, see Determine How to Manage Mobile Devices in Configuration Manager.
The following table lists the mobile device platforms that are supported with the mobile device legacy client for Configuration Manager, and the versions of Configuration Manager that support each platform.
Operating system |
Configuration Manager version |
Supported languages |
---|---|---|
Windows CE 5.0 (Arm and x86 processors) |
|
|
Windows CE 6.0 (Arm and x86 processors) |
|
|
Windows CE 7.0 (Arm and x86 processors) |
|
|
Windows Mobile 6.0 |
|
|
Configuration Manager Console Requirements
The following table lists the operating systems that are supported to run the Configuration Manager console, the minimum version of the Microsoft .NET Framework they require, and the versions of the Configuration Manager console that support each operating system.
Important
On January 12th of 2016, Microsoft support for .NET Framework 4.0, 4.5, and 4.5.1 expires. While the following table maintains the original perquisite details, plan to upgrade versions of .NET Framework 4.0 and 4.5 to .NET Framework 4.5.2.
For more information see Microsoft .NET Framework Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ at support.microsoft.com.
Operating system |
System architecture |
Minimum .NET Framework version |
Configuration Manager version |
---|---|---|---|
Windows XP Professional (SP3) |
x86 |
.NET Framework 4 1 |
|
Windows Vista
|
x86, x64 |
.NET Framework 4 1 |
|
Windows 7
|
x86, x64 |
.NET Framework 4 1 |
|
Windows 8
|
x86, x64 |
.NET Framework 4.5 |
|
Windows 8.1
|
x86, x64 |
.NET Framework 4.5 |
|
Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB |
x86, x64 |
.NET Framework 4.6 |
|
Windows Server 2008
|
x86, x64 |
.NET Framework 4 1 |
|
Windows Server 2008 R2
|
x64 |
.NET Framework 4 1 |
|
Windows Server 2012
|
x64 |
.NET Framework 4.5 |
|
Windows Server 2012 R2
|
x64 |
.NET Framework 4.5 |
|
1The Configuration Manager console requires the full version of the .NET Framework 4 and is not supported with the .NET Framework Client Profile.
2 To support this console on this operating system for this version of Configuration Manager, you must first install cumulative update 1. For more information see Description of Cumulative Update 1 for System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 2
The requirements in the following table apply to each computer that runs Configuration Manager console.
Minimum hardware configuration |
Screen resolution |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Beginning with Configuration Manager SP1, the Configuration Manager console supports PowerShell. When you install support for PowerShell on a computer that runs the Configuration Manager console, you can run PowerShell cmdlets on that computer to manage Configuration Manager. You can install a supported version of PowerShell before or after the Configuration Manager console installs. The following table lists the minimum required version of PowerShell for each version of Configuration Manager.
PowerShell version 1 |
System architecture |
Configuration Manager version |
---|---|---|
PowerShell 3.0 PowerShell 4.0 |
x86 |
|
1In addition to PowerShell, Windows Management Framework (WMF) 3.0 and 4.0 are supported. However, if you use Out of Band Management, after installing WMF 3.0 or WMF 4.0.on a computer that runs Windows Server 2008 SP2, the out of band management console will no longer function.
For information about using a Configuration Manager console in an environment with multiple versions of Configuration Manager, see the Interoperability for the Configuration Manager Console section in the Interoperability between Different Versions of Configuration Manager topic.
Configurations for the SQL Server Site Database
Each System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site database can be installed on either the default instance or a named instance of a SQL Serverinstallation. The SQL Server instance can be co-located with the site system server, or on a remote computer. In a hierarchy with multiple sites, each site can use a different version of SQL Server to host the site database so long as that version of SQL Server is supported by the version of Configuration Manager that you use. For example, if your hierarchy runs Configuration Manager SP1, it is supported to use SQL Server 2008 R2 with SP1 and cumulative update 6 at the central administration site, and to use SQL Server 2012 with no service pack and cumulative update 2 at a child primary site, or vice versa.
When you use a remote SQL Server, the instance of SQL Server used to host the site database can also be configured as a SQL Server failover cluster in a single instance cluster, or a multiple instance configuration. SQL Server cluster configurations that have multiple active nodes are supported for hosting the site database. The site database site system role is the only System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site system role supported on an instance of a Windows Server cluster. If you use a SQL Server cluster for the site database, you must add the computer account of the site server to the Local Administrators group of each Windows Server cluster node computer.
Note
A SQL Server cluster in a Network Load Balancing (NLB) cluster configuration is not supported. Additionally, SQL Server database mirroring technology and peer-to-peer replication are not supported. SQL Server standard transactional replication is supported only for replicating objects to management points that are configured to use database replicas.
When you install a secondary site, you can use an existing instance of SQL Server or allow Setup to install and use an instance of SQL Server Express. Whichever option that you choose, SQL Server must be located on the secondary site server.The version of SQL Server Express that Setup installs depends on the version of Configuration Manager that you use:
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager without a service pack: SQL Server 2008 Express
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1: SQL Server 2012 Express
The following table lists the SQL Server versions that are supported by System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.
SQL Server version |
SQL Server service pack |
Minimum required SQL Server cumulative update |
Configuration Manager version |
Configuration Manager site type |
---|---|---|---|---|
SQL Server 2008
|
SP2 |
Minimum of cumulative update 9 |
|
|
SP3 |
Minimum of cumulative update 4 |
|
|
|
SP4 (see note 3) |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SQL Server 2008 R2
|
SP1 |
Minimum of cumulative update 6 |
|
|
SP2 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP3 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SQL Server 2012
|
No service pack |
Minimum of cumulative update 2 |
|
|
SP1 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP2 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP 3 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP 4 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SQL Server 2014
|
No service pack |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
SP1 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP2 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SQL Server 2016 |
No service pack |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
SP1 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SQL Server Express 2008 R2 |
SP1 |
Minimum of cumulative update 6 |
|
|
SP2 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP3 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SQL Server 2012 Express
|
No service pack |
Minimum of cumulative update 2 |
|
|
SP1 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP2 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP 3 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP 4 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SQL Server Express 2014 |
No service pack |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
SP1 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SP2 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
|
SQL Server Express 2016 |
No service pack |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
SP1 |
No minimum cumulative update |
|
|
1When you use SQL Server Standard for the database at the central administration site, the hierarchy can only support up to 50,000 clients. For more information, see Site and Site System Role Scalability.
2The following limitations apply when you use SQL Server 2014 with this version of Configuration Manager:
For System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1: For a site that uses SQL Server 2014, a site restore fails unless you install the update from KB 3020755. This hotfix is independent of the cumulative update level of the Configuration Manager site.Beginning with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 this issue no longer applies, and site restores are supported with no additional actions.
Configuration Manager does not support using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3 SP2 on the following Windows Server versions when the Server also runs SQL Server 2014:
Windows Server 2008 SP2
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
3This version of SQL Server is only supported when you upgrade the install of SQL Server that hosts an existing site database to this version of SQL Server.
SQL Server Requirements
The following are required configurations for each database server with a full SQL Server installation, and on each SQL Server Express installation that you manually configure for secondary sites. You do not have to configure SQL Server Express for a secondary site if SQL Server Express is installed by Configuration Manager.
Configuration |
More information |
---|---|
SQL Server version |
Configuration Manager requires a 64-bit version of SQL Server to host the site database. |
Database collation |
At each site, both the instance of SQL Server that is used for the site and the site database must use the following collation: SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS. Note Configuration Manager supports two exceptions to this collation to meet standards that are defined in GB18030 for use in China. For more information, see Technical Reference for International Support in Configuration Manager. |
SQL Server features |
Only the Database Engine Servicesfeature is required for each site server. Note Configuration Manager database replication does not require the SQL Server replication feature. However, this is required if you will Configure Database Replicas for Management Points. |
Windows Authentication |
Configuration Manager requires Windows authentication to validate connections to the database. |
SQL Server instance |
You must use a dedicated instance of SQL Server for each site. |
SQL Server memory |
When you use a database server that is co-located with the site server, limit the memory for SQL Server to 50 to 80 percent of the available addressable system memory. When you use a dedicated SQL Server, limit the memory for SQL Server to 80 to 90 percent of the available addressable system memory. Configuration Manager requires SQL Server to reserve a minimum of 8 gigabytes (GB) of memory in the buffer pool used by an instance of SQL Server for the central administration site and primary site and a minimum of 4 gigabytes (GB) for the secondary site. This memory is reserved by using the Minimum server memory setting under Server Memory Options and is configured by using SQL Server Management Studio. For more information about how to set a fixed amount of memory, see How to: Set a Fixed Amount of Memory (SQL Server Management Studio). |
SQL nested triggers |
SQL nested triggers must be enabled. |
SQL Server CLR integration |
The site database requires SQL Server common language runtime (CLR) to be enabled. This is enabled automatically when Configuration Manager installs. For more information about CLR, see Introduction to SQL Server CLR Integration |
Optional SQL Server Configurations
The following configurations either support multiple choices or are optional on each database server with a full SQL Server installation.
Configuration |
More information |
---|---|
SQL Server service |
On each database server, you can configure the SQL Server service to run by usinga domain local account or the local system account of the computer that is running SQL Server.
For information about SQL Server best practices, see the product documentation for the version of Microsoft SQL Server that you are using. For information about SPN configurations for Configuration Manager, see How to Manage the SPN for SQL Server Site Database Servers. For information about how to change the account that is used by the SQL Service, see How to: Change the Service Startup Account for SQL Server (SQL Server Configuration Manager). |
SQL Server Reporting Services |
Required to install a reporting services point that lets you run reports. |
SQL Server ports |
For communication to the SQL Server database engine, and for intersite replication, you can use the default SQL Server port configurations or specify custom ports:
When a SQL Server hosts a database from more than one site, each database must use a separate instance of SQL Server, and each instance must be configured to use a unique set of ports. Warning Configuration Manager does not support dynamic ports. Because SQL Server named instances by default use dynamic ports for connections to the database engine, when you use a named instance, you must manually configure the static port that you want to use for intrasite communication. If you have a firewall enabled on the computer that is running SQL Server, make sure that it is configured to allow the ports that are being used by your deployment and at any locations on the network between computers that communicate with the SQL Server. For an example of how to configure SQL Server to use a specific port, see How to: Configure a Server to Listen on a Specific TCP Port (SQL Server Configuration Manager) in the SQL Server TechNet library. |
Function-Specific Requirements
The following sections identify function-specific requirements for Configuration Manager.
Application Management
For devices that run the Windows Mobile operating system, Configuration Manager only supports the Uninstall action for applications on Windows Mobile 6.1.4 or later versions.
Operating System Deployment
Configuration Manager requires several prerequisites to support deploying operating systems. The following prerequisites are required on the site server of each central administration site or primary site before you can install the site or upgrade the site to a new version of Configuration Manager. This requirement applies even when you do not plan to use operating system deployments:
For System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack: Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK)
For System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with service pack 1: Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit 8.0 (Windows ADK)
For System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager,System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, and System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1: Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit 8.1
For more information about prerequisites for operating system deployment, see the Prerequisites For Deploying Operating Systems in Configuration Managertopic in the Deploying Software and Operating Systems in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager guide.
Out of Band Management
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager supports out of band management for computers that have the following Intel vPro chip sets and Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) firmware versions:
Intel AMT version 3.2 with a minimum revision of 3.2.1
Intel AMT version 4.0, version 4.1, and version 4.2
Intel AMT version 5.0 and version 5.2 with a minimum revision of 5.2.10
Intel AMT version 6.0 and version 6.1
To manage additional firmware versions of Intel AMT, see Intel SCS Add-on for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager.
The following limitations apply:
AMT provisioning is not supported on AMT-based computers that are running any version of Windows Server, Windows XP with SP2, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.
Out of band communication is not supported to an AMT-based computer that is running the Routing and Remote Access service in the client operating system. This service runs when Internet Connection Sharing is enabled, and the service might be enabled by line of business applications.
The out of band management console is not supported on workstations running Windows XP on versions earlier than Service Pack 3.
The out of band management console does not work on Windows Server 2008 SP2 after installing Windows Management Framework (WMF) 3.0 or 4.0 on the computer.
For more information about out of band management in Configuration Manager, see Introduction to Out of Band Management in Configuration Manager.
Remote Control Viewer
The Configuration Manager remote control viewer is not supported on Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 operating systems.
Software Center and the Application Catalog
The minimal screen resolution supported for client computers to run Software Center and the Application Catalog is 1024 by 768.
The following web browsers are supported for use with the Software Center and Application Catalog:
Internet Explorer 7
Internet Explorer 8
Internet Explorer 9
Internet Explorer 10
Internet Explorer 11
Firefox 15
Note
The Software Center and Application Catalog do not support web browsers that connect from computers that run Windows Server Core 2008.
Additionally, the Edge browser is not supported.
Support for Active Directory Domains
All System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site systems must be members of a Windows Active Directory domain. The following table identifies the Windows Active directory domain functional level that is supported with each version of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager:
Active Directory domain functional level |
Configuration Manager version |
---|---|
Windows 2000 |
|
Windows Server 2003 |
|
Windows Server 2008 |
|
Windows Server 2008 R2 |
|
Windows Server 2012 |
|
Windows Server 2012 R2 |
|
Note
If you configure discovery to filter and remove stale computer records, the Active Directory domain functional level must be a minimum of Windows Server 2003.
This requirement includes site systems that support Internet-based client management in a perimeter network (also known as DMZ, demilitarized zone, and screened subnet).
The following are limitations for site systems:
- Configuration Manager does not support the change of domain membership, domain name, or computer name of a Configuration Manager site system after the site system is installed.
Configuration Manager client computers can be domain members, or workgroup members.
The following sections contain additional information about domain structures and requirements for Configuration Manager.
Active Directory Schema Extensions
Configuration Manager Active Directory schema extensions provide benefits for Configuration Manager sites. However, they are not required for all Configuration Manager functions. For more information about Active Directory schema extension considerations, see Determine Whether to Extend the Active Directory Schema for Configuration Manager.
If you have extended your Active Directory schema for Configuration Manager 2007, you do not have to update your schema for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. You can update the Active Directory schema before or after you install Configuration Manager. Schema updates do not interfere with an existing Configuration Manager 2007 sites or clients. For more information about how to extend the Active Directory schema for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, see the Prepare Active Directory for Configuration Manager section in the Prepare the Windows Environment for Configuration Manager topic.
Disjoint Namespaces
Except for out of band management, Configuration Manager supports installing site systems and clients in a domain that has a disjoint namespace.
Note
For more information about namespace limitations for when you manage AMT-based computers out of band, see Prerequisites for Out of Band Management in Configuration Manager.
A disjoint namespace scenario is one in which the primary Domain Name System (DNS) suffix of a computer does not match the Active Directory DNS domain name where that computer resides. The computer that uses the primary DNS suffix that does not match is said to be disjoint. Another disjoint namespace scenario occurs if the NetBIOS domain name of a domain controller does not match the Active Directory DNS domain name.
The following table identifies the supported scenarios for a disjoint namespace.
Scenario |
More information |
---|---|
Scenario 1: The primary DNS suffix of the domain controller differs from the Active Directory DNS domain name. Computers that are members of the domain can be either disjoint or not disjoint. |
In this scenario, the primary DNS suffix of the domain controller differs from the Active Directory DNS domain name. The domain controller is disjoint in this scenario. Computers that are members of the domain, such as site servers and computers, can have a primary DNS suffix that either matches the primary DNS suffix of the domain controller or matches the Active Directory DNS domain name. |
Scenario 2: A member computer in an Active Directory domain is disjoint, even though the domain controller is not disjoint. |
In this scenario, the primary DNS suffix of a member computer on which a site system is installed differs from the Active Directory DNS domain name, even though the primary DNS suffix of the domain controller is the same as the Active Directory DNS domain name. In this scenario, you have a domain controller that is not disjoint and a member computer that is disjoint. Member computers that are running the Configuration Manager client can have a primary DNS suffix that either matches the primary DNS suffix of the disjoint site system server or matches the Active Directory DNS domain name. |
To allow a computer to access domain controllers that are disjoint, you must change the msDS-AllowedDNSSuffixes Active Directory attribute on the domain object container. You must add both of the DNS suffixes to the attribute.
In addition, to make sure that the DNS suffix search list contains all DNS namespaces that are deployed within the organization, you must configure the search list for each computer in the domain that is disjoint. Include in the list of namespaces the primary DNS suffix of the domain controller, the DNS domain name, and any additional namespaces for other servers with which Configuration Manager might interoperate. You can use the Group Policy Management console to configure the Domain Name System (DNS) suffix search list.
Important
When you reference a computer in Configuration Manager, enter the computer by using its Primary DNS suffix. This suffix should match the Fully Qualified Domain Name registered as the dnsHostName attribute in the Active Directory domain and the Service Principal Name associated with the system.
Single Label Domains
Except for out of band management, Configuration Manager supports site systems and clients in a single label domain when the following criteria are met:
The single label domain in Active Directory Domain Services must be configured with a disjoint DNS namespace that has a valid top level domain.
For example: The single label domain of Contoso is configured to have a disjoint namespace in DNS of contoso.com. Therefore, when you specify the DNS suffix in Configuration Manager for a computer in the Contoso domain, you specify Contoso.com and not Contoso.
DCOM connections between site servers in the system context must be successful by using Kerberos authentication.
Note
For more information about namespace limitations for when you manage AMT-based computers out of band, see Prerequisites for Out of Band Management in Configuration Manager.
Windows Environment
The following sections contain general support configuration information for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.
Support for BranchCache
Windows BranchCache is integrated in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. You can configure the BranchCache settings on a deployment type for applications, on the deployment for a package, and for task sequences.
When all the requirements for BranchCache are met, this feature enables clients at remote locations to obtain content from local clients that have a current cache of the content.For example, when the first BranchCache-enabled client computer requests content from a distribution point that is configured as a BranchCache server, the client computer downloads and caches the content. This content is then made available for clients on the same subnet that request this same content, and these clients also cache the content. In this manner, successive clients on the same subnet do not have to download content from the distribution point, and the content is distributed across multiple clients for future transfers.
To support BranchCache with Configuration Manager, add the Windows BranchCache feature to the site system server that is configured as a distribution point. System Center 2012 Configuration Manager distribution points on servers configured to support BranchCache require no additional configuration.
Note
Beginning with Configuration Manager SP1, cloud-based distribution points support the download of content by clients that are configured for Windows BranchCache.
To use BranchCache, the clients that can support BranchCache must be configured for BranchCache distributed mode, and the operating system setting for BITS client settings must be enabled to support BranchCache.
The following table lists the Configuration Manager client operating systems that are supported with Windows BranchCache and identifies for each operating system if BranchCache distributed mode is supported natively by the operating system, or if the operating system requires the addition of the BITS 4.0 release.
Operating system |
Support details |
---|---|
Windows Vista with SP21 |
Requires BITS 4.0 |
Windows 7 with SP1 |
Supported by default |
Windows 8 |
Supported by default |
Windows 8.1 |
Supported by default |
Windows 10 |
Supported by default |
Windows Server 2008 with SP21 |
Requires BITS 4.0 |
Windows Server 2008 R2 with no service pack, with SP1, or with SP2 |
Supported by default |
Windows Server 2012 |
Supported by default |
Windows Server 2012 R2 |
Supported by default |
1On this operating system, the BranchCache client functionality is not supported for software distribution that is run from the network or for SMB file transfers.Additionally, this operating system cannot use BranchCache functionality with cloud-based distribution points.
You can install the BITS 4.0 release on Configuration Manager clients by using software updates or software distribution. For more information about the BITS 4.0 release, see Windows Management Framework.
For more information about BranchCache, see BranchCache for Windows in the Windows Server documentation.
Support for Computers in Workgroups
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provides support for clients in workgroups. Configuration Manager supports moving a client from a workgroup to a domain or from a domain to a workgroup. For more information, see How to Install Configuration Manager Clients on Workgroup Computers
All System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site systems must be members of a supported Active Directory domain. This requirement includes site systems that support Internet-based client management in a perimeter network (also known as DMZ, demilitarized zone, and screened subnet).
Support for Data Deduplication
Beginning with System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, Configuration Manager supports the use of data deduplication with distribution points on the following operating systems:
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012 R2
Important
The volume that hosts package source files cannot be marked for data deduplication. This is because data deduplication uses reparse points and Configuration Managerdoes not support using a content source location with files stored on reparse points.
For more information, Configuration Manager Distribution Points and Windows Server 2012 Data Deduplication on the Configuration Manager team blog, and Data Deduplication Overview in the Windows Server TechNet library.
Support for DirectAccess
Configuration Manager supports the DirectAccess feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 for communication between site system servers and clients. When all the requirements for DirectAccess are met, by using this feature, Configuration Manager clients on the Internet can communicate with their assigned site as if they were on the intranet.
For server-initiated actions, such as remote control and client push installation, the initiating computer (such as the site server) must be running IPv6, and this protocol must be supported on all intervening networking devices.
Configuration Manager does not support the following over DirectAccess:
Deploying operating systems
Communication between Configuration Manager sites
Communication between Configuration Manager site system servers within a site
Support for Dual Boot Computers
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager cannot manage more than one operating system on a single computer. If there is more than one operating system on a computer that must be managed, adjust the discovery and installation methods that are used to ensure that the Configuration Manager client is installed only on the operating system that has to be managed.
Support for Fast User Switching
Fast User Switching, available in Windows XP in workgroup computers, is not supported in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. Fast User Switching is supported for computers that are running Windows Vista or later versions.
Support for Internet Protocol Version 6
Configuration Manager supports Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) in addition to Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4). The following table lists the exceptions.
Function |
Exception to IPv6 support |
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Cloud-based distribution points |
IPv4 is required to support Windows Azure and cloud-based distribution points. |
Mobile devices that are enrolled by Microsoft Intune and the Microsoft Intune connector |
IPv4 is required to support mobile devices that are enrolled by Microsoft Intune and the Microsoft Intune connector. |
Network Discovery |
IPv4 is required when you configure a DHCP server to search in Network Discovery. |
Operating system deployment |
IPv4 is required to support operating system deployment. |
Out of band management |
IPv4 is required to support out of band management. |
Wake-up proxy communication |
IPv4 is required to support the client wake-up proxy packets. |
Windows CE |
IPv4 is required to support the Configuration Manager client on Windows CE devices. |
Support for Network Address Translation
Network Address Translation (NAT) is not supported in Configuration Manager, unless the site supports clients that are on the Internet and the client detects that it is connected to the Internet. For more information about Internet-based client management, see the Planning for Internet-Based Client Management section in the Planning for Communications in Configuration Manager topic.
Support for Specialized Storage Technology
Configuration Manager works with any hardware that is certified on the Windows Hardware Compatibility List for the version of the operating system that the Configuration Manager component is installed on. Site Server roles require NTFS file systems so that directory and file permissions can be set. Because Configuration Manager assumes that it has complete ownership of a logical drive, site systems that run on separate computers cannot share a logical partition on any storage technology. However, each computer can use a separate logical partition on the same physical partition of a shared storage device.
Support considerations for the listed storage technologies:
Storage Area Network: A Storage Area Network (SAN) is supported when a supported Windows-based server is attached directly to the volume that is hosted by the SAN.
Single Instance Storage: Configuration Manager does not support configuration of distribution point package and signature folders on a Single Instance Storage (SIS)-enabled volume.
Additionally, the cache of a Configuration Manager client is not supported on a SIS-enabled volume.
Note
Single Instance Storage (SIS) is a feature of the Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 operating system.
Removable Disk Drive: Configuration Manager does not support install of Configuration Manager site system or clients on a removable disk drive.
Support for Virtualization Environments
Configuration Manager supports installing the client and site system roles on supported operating systems that run as a virtual machine in the following virtualization environments. This support exists even when the virtual machine host (virtualization environment) is not supported as a client or site server. For example, if you use Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 to host a virtual machine that runs Windows Server 2012, you can install the client or site system roles on the virtual machine (Windows Server 2012), but not on the host, (Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012).
Virtualization environment |
Configuration Manager version |
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Windows Server 2008 |
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Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 |
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Windows Server 2008 R2 |
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Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 |
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Windows Server 2012 |
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Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 |
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Windows Server 2012 R2 |
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Each virtual computer that you use must meet or exceed the same hardware and software configuration that you would use for a physical Configuration Manager computer.
You can validate that your virtualization environment is supported for Configuration Manager by using the Server Virtualization Validation Program and its online Virtualization Program Support Policy Wizard. For more information about the Server Virtualization Validation Program, see Windows Server Virtualization Validation Program.
Note
Configuration Manager does not support Virtual PC or Virtual Server guest operating systems that run on a Mac.
Configuration Manager cannot manage virtual machines unless they are online. An offline virtual machine image cannot be updated nor can inventory be collected by using the Configuration Manager client on the host computer.
No special consideration is given to virtual machines. For example, Configuration Manager might not determine whether an update has to be re-applied to a virtual machine image if the virtual machine is stopped and restarted without saving the state of the virtual machine to which the update was applied.
Supported Upgrade Paths for Configuration Manager
The following sections identify the upgrade options for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, the operating system version of site servers and clients, and the SQL Server version of database servers.
Upgrade Configuration Manager
The following table lists the versions of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, and the supported upgrade paths between versions.
Configuration Manager version |
Release options |
Supported Upgrade Paths |
More information |
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System Center 2012 Configuration Manager |
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You can install System Center 2012 Configuration Manager as either a full installation, or as a trial installation. If you install Configuration Manager as a trial installation, after 180 days, you can only connect a read-onlyConfiguration Manager console and Configuration Manager functionality is limited. At any time before or after the 180 day period, you have the option to upgrade the trial installation to a full installation. System Center 2012 Configuration Manager supports migration of your Configuration Manager 2007 infrastructure but does not support an in–place upgrade of sites from Configuration Manager 2007. However, migration supports the upgrade of a Configuration Manager 2007 distribution point, or secondary site that is co-located with a distribution point, to a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager distribution point. |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 |
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You can install System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 as a trial installation, a full install, or as an upgrade to existing infrastructure that runs System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack. However, an upgrade from Configuration Manager 2007to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 is not supported. If you install Configuration Manager as a trial installation, after 180 days you can only connect a read-only Configuration Manager console and Configuration Manager functionality is limited. At any time before or after the 180 day period, you have the option to upgrade the trial installation to a full installation. System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 supports migration from Configuration Manager 2007. |
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager |
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You can install System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager as a trial installation, a full install, or as an upgrade to existing infrastructure that runs System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1. However, an upgrade from Configuration Manager 2007 or from System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack to System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager is not supported. If you use System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with no service pack, you must first upgrade your hierarchy to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1, and then you can upgrade to System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager. If you install Configuration Manager as a trial installation, after 180 days you can only connect a read-only Configuration Manager console and Configuration Manager functionality is limited. At any time before or after the 180 day period, you have the option to upgrade the trial installation to a full installation. System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager supports migration from Configuration Manager 2007. |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 |
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You can install System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 as a trial install, a full install, or as an upgrade to existing infrastructure. For more information about supported install and upgrade paths, see About the versions of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. If you install Configuration Manager as trial install, after 180 days you can only connect a read-only console and Configuration Manager functionality is limited. At any time before or after the 180 day period, you have the option to upgrade the trial install to a full install. This product version supports migration fromConfiguration Manager 2007. |
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1 |
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You can install System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1 as a trial install or as an upgrade to existing infrastructure. For more information about supported install and upgrade paths, see About the versions of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. If you install Configuration Manager as trial install, after 180 days you can only connect a read-only console and Configuration Manager functionality is limited. At any time before or after the 180 day period, you have the option to upgrade the trial install to a full install. This product version supports migration from Configuration Manager 2007. |
For information about how to upgrade an evaluation release of Configuration Manager to a full installation, see the Upgrade an Evaluation Installation to a Full Installation section in the Install Sites and Create a Hierarchy for Configuration Manager topic.
For more information about migration, see Migrating Hierarchies in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.
Infrastructure Upgrade for Configuration Manager
In addition to upgrading the version of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager you use for sites, Configuration Manager clients and Configuration Manager consoles, you can upgrade the operating systems that run Configuration Manager site servers, database servers, site system servers, and clients. The information in the following sections can help you upgrade the infrastructure for Configuration Manager.
Upgrade of the Site Server Operating System
Configuration Manager supports an in-place upgrade of the operating system of the site server in the following situations:
In-place upgrade to a higher Windows Server service pack as long as the resulting service pack level remains supported by Configuration Manager.
In-place upgrade from Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2012 R2.
Configuration Manager does not support the following Windows Server upgrade scenarios.
Any version of Windows Server 2008 to any version of Windows Server 2008 R2 or later.
Any version of Windows Server 2008 to any version of Windows Server 2012 or later.
Any version of Windows Server 2008 R2 to any version of Windows Server 2012 or later.
When a direct operating system upgrade is not supported, perform one of the following procedures after you have installed the new operating system:
Install System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with the service pack level that you want, and configure the site according to your requirements.
Install System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with the service pack level that you want and perform a site recovery. This scenario requires you to have a site backup that was created by using the Backup Site Server maintenance task on the original Configuration Manager site, and that you use the same installation settings for the new System Center 2012 Configuration Manager site.
Client Operating System Upgrade
Configuration Manager supports an in-place upgrade of the operating system for Configuration Manager clients in the following situations:
- In-place upgrade to a higher Windows Server service pack as long as the resulting service pack level remains supported by Configuration Manager.
SQL Server Upgrade for the Site Database Server
Configuration Manager supports an in-place upgrade of SQL Server from a supported version of SQL on the site database server. The following table providesdetails about the upgrade scenarios supported by Configuration Manager and any requirements for each scenario.
For information about which versions of SQL Server are supported by Configuration Manager, see Configurations for the SQL Server Site Database, in this topic.
For information about which versions of SQL Server are supported for upgrade by SQL Server, see the SQL Server documentation on TechNet:
Upgrade scenario |
More information |
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Upgrade the service pack version of SQL Server |
Configuration Manager supports the in-place upgrade of SQL Server to a higher service pack as long as the resulting SQL Server service pack level remains supported by Configuration Manager. When you have multiple Configuration Manager sites in a hierarchy, each site can run a different service pack version of SQL Server, and there is no limitation to the order in which sites upgrade the service pack version of SQL Server that is used for the site database. |
Upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2 |
Configuration Manager supports the in-place upgrade of SQL Server from SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2008 R2. When you have multiple Configuration Manager sites in a hierarchy, each site can run a different version of SQL Server, and there is no limitation to the order in which sites upgrade the version of SQL Server in use for the site database. |
Upgrade to SQL Server 2012 |
When your version of Configuration Manager supports SQL Server 2012, Configuration Manager supports the in-place upgrade of SQL Server to SQL Server 2012 with the following limitations:
Important Although you upgrade the service pack version of a Configuration Manager site by upgrading the top-tier site first and then upgrading down the hierarchy, when you upgrade SQL Server to SQL Server 2012, you must use this sequence, upgrading the primary sites last. This does not apply to upgrades of SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2008 R2. |
Upgrade to SQL Server 2014 |
When your version of Configuration Manager supports SQL Server 2014, Configuration Manager supports the in-place upgrade of SQL Server to SQL Server 2014 with the following limitations:
Important Although you upgrade the service pack version of a Configuration Manager site by upgrading the top-tier site first and then upgrading down the hierarchy, when you upgrade SQL Server to SQL Server 2012, you must use this sequence, upgrading the primary sites last. This does not apply to upgrades of SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2008 R2. |
To upgrade SQL Server on the site database server
Stop all Configuration Manager services at the site.
Upgrade SQL Server to a supported version.
Restart the Configuration Manager services.
Note
When you change the SQL Server edition in use at the central administration site from a Standard edition to either a Datacenter or Enterprise edition, the database partition that limits the number of clients the hierarchy supports does not change.