Pre-release features in Configuration Manager
Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)
Pre-release features are features that are in the current branch for early testing in a production environment. These features are fully supported, but still in active development. They might receive changes until they move out of the pre-release category.
Give consent
Before using pre-release features, give consent to use pre-release features. Giving consent is a one-time action per hierarchy that you can't undo. Until you give consent, you can't enable new pre-release features included with updates. After you turn on a pre-release feature, you can't turn it off.
In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Administration workspace, expand Site Configuration, and select the Sites node.
In the ribbon, select Hierarchy Settings.
On the General tab of Hierarchy Settings Properties, enable the option to Consent to use pre-release features.
Enable pre-release features
When you install an update that includes pre-release features, those features are visible in the Updates and Servicing Wizard with the regular features included in the update.
If consent is given
In the Updates and Servicing Wizard, enable pre-release features. Select the pre-release features as you would any other feature.
Optionally, wait to enable pre-release features later from the Features node under Updates and Servicing in the Administration workspace. Select a feature, and then select Turn on in the ribbon. Until you give consent, this option isn't available for use.
If you haven't given consent
In the Updates and Servicing Wizard, pre-release features are visible but you can't enable them. After the update is installed, these features are visible in the Features node. However, you can't enable them until you give consent.
Important
In a multi-site hierarchy, you can only enable optional or pre-release features from the central administration site. This behavior ensures there are no conflicts across the hierarchy.
If you gave consent at a stand-alone primary site, and then expand the hierarchy by installing a new central administration site, you must give consent again at the central administration site.
When you enable a pre-release feature, the Configuration Manager hierarchy manager (HMAN) must process the change before that feature becomes available. Processing of the change is often immediate. Depending on the HMAN processing cycle, it can take up to 30 minutes to complete. After the change is processed, restart the console before using the feature.
List of pre-release features
| Feature | Added as pre-release | Added as a full feature |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud management gateway with virtual machine scale set | Version 2010 | Version 2107 |
| Orchestration groups | Version 2002 | Version 2111 |
| Task sequence deployment type | Version 2002 |  |
| Task sequence debugger | Version 1906 | Version 2203 |
| Application groups | Version 1906 | Version 2111 |
Tip
For more information on non-pre-release features that you must enable first, see Enable optional features from updates.
For more information on features that are only available in the technical preview branch, see Technical Preview.