How to Manage Collections in Configuration Manager

 

Updated: May 14, 2015

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

Use the overview information in this topic to help you perform management tasks for collections in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.

Note

For information about how to create Configuration Manager collections, see How to Create Collections in Configuration Manager.

How to Manage Device Collections

In the Assets and Compliance workspace, select Device Collections, select the collection to manage, and then select a management task.

Use the following table for more information about the management tasks that might require some information before you select them.

Management task	Details	More information
Show Members	Displays all of the resources that are members of the selected collection in a temporary node under the Devices node.	No additional information.
Add Selected Items	Provides the following options to perform one of the following actions: Add Selected Items to Existing Device Collection – Opens the Select Collection dialog box where you can select the collection to which you want to add the members of the selected collection. The selected collection is included in this collection by using an Include Collections membership rule. Add Selected Items to New Device Collection – Opens the Create Device Collection Wizard where you can create a new collection. The selected collection is included in this collection by using an Include Collections membership rule.	How to Create Collections in Configuration Manager
Install Client	Opens the Install Client Wizard which uses client push installation to install a Configuration Manager client on all computers in the selected collection.	How to Install Configuration Manager Clients by Using Client Push
Manage Affinity Requests	Opens the Manage User Device Affinity Requests dialog box where you can approve or reject pending requests to establish user device affinities for devices in the selected collection.	How to Manage User Device Affinity in Configuration Manager
Manage Out of Band	Provides the following options for using out of band management on computers in the selected collection: Discover AMT Status Power Control Clear Audit Log	Out of Band Management in Configuration Manager
Clear Required PXE Deployments	Clears any required PXE boot deployments from all members of the selected collection.	Operating System Deployment in Configuration Manager
Update Membership	Evaluates the membership for the selected collection. For collections with many members, this update might take some time to finish. Use the Refresh action to update the display with the new collections members after the update is completed.	No additional information.
Add Resources	Opens the Add Resources to Collection dialog box where you can search for new resources to add to the selected collection. Note The icon for the selected collection displays an hourglass symbol while the update is in progress.	No additional information.
Client Notification	Instructs all clients in the selected device collection to download computer policy (Configuration Manager SP1 and System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager) or user policy (System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager only)	No additional information.
Endpoint Protection	Performs a full or quick antimalware scan or downloads the latest antimalware definitions to computers in the selected collection.	Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
Export	Opens the Export Collection Wizard that helps you export this collection to a Managed Object Format (MOF) file that can then be archived or used at another Configuration Manager site. Important When you export a collection, collections that are referenced by the selected collection through the use of an Include or Exclude rule are not exported.	No additional information.
Copy	Creates a copy of the selected collection. The new collection uses the selected collection as a limiting collection.	No additional information.
Delete	Deletes the selected collection. You can also delete all of the resources in the collection from the site database. Note You cannot delete the collections that are built into Configuration Manager.	For a list of the built-in collections, see Introduction to Collections in Configuration Manager.
Simulate Deployment	Opens the Simulate Application Deployment Wizard which lets you test the results of an application deployment without installing or uninstalling the application.	How to Simulate an Application Deployment in Configuration Manager
Deploy	Displays the following options: Application – Opens the Deploy Software Wizard where you can select and configure an application deployment to the selected collection. Program - Opens the Deploy Software Wizard where you can select and configure a package and program deployment to the selected collection. Configuration Baseline – Opens the Deploy Configuration Baselines dialog box where you can configure the deployment of one or more configuration baselines to the selected collection. Task Sequence - Opens the Deploy Software Wizard where you can select and configure a task sequence deployment to the selected collection. Software Updates – Opens the Deploy Software Updates Wizard where you can configure the deployment of software updates to resources in the selected collection.	How to Deploy Applications in Configuration Manager How to Deploy Packages and Programs in Configuration Manager How to Deploy Configuration Baselines in Configuration Manager Planning a Task Sequences Strategy in Configuration Manager Operations and Maintenance for Software Updates in Configuration Manager

How to Manage User Collections

In the Assets and Compliance workspace, select User Collections, select the collection to manage, and then select a management task.

Use the following table for more information about the management tasks that might require some information before you select them.

Management task	Details	More information
Show Members	Displays all of the resources that are members of the selected collection in a temporary node under the Users node.	No additional information.
Add Selected Items	This option lets you perform one of the following actions: Add Selected Items to Existing User Collection – Opens the Select Collection dialog box where you can select the collection to which you want to add the members of the selected collection. The selected collection is included in this collection by using an Include Collections membership rule. Add Selected Items to New User Collection – Opens the Create User Collection Wizard where you can create a new collection. The selected collection is included in this collection by using an Include Collections membership rule.	How to Create Collections in Configuration Manager
Manage Affinity Requests	Opens the Manage User Device Affinity Requests dialog box where you can approve or reject pending requests to establish user device affinities for users in the selected collection.	How to Manage User Device Affinity in Configuration Manager
Update Membership	Evaluates the membership for the selected collection. For collections with many members, this update might take some time to finish. Use the Refresh action to update the display with the new collections members after the update is completed. Note The icon for the selected collection displays an hourglass symbol while the update is in progress.	No additional information.
Add Resources	Opens the Add Resources to Collection dialog box where you can search for new resources to add to the selected collection.	No additional information.
Export	Opens the Export Collection Wizard that helps you to export this collection to a Managed Object Format (MOF) file that can then be archived or used at another Configuration Manager site. Important When you export a collection, collections that are referenced by the selected collection through the use of an Include or Exclude rule are not exported.	No additional information.
Copy	Creates a copy of the selected collection. The new collection uses the selected collection as a limiting collection.	No additional information.
Delete	Deletes the selected collection. You can also delete all of the resources in the collection from the site database. Note You cannot delete the collections that are built into Configuration Manager.	For a list of the built-in collections, see Introduction to Collections in Configuration Manager.
Simulate Deployment	Opens the Simulate Application Deployment Wizard which lets you test the results of an application deployment without installing or uninstalling the application.	How to Simulate an Application Deployment in Configuration Manager
Deploy	Displays the following options: Application – Opens the Deploy Software Wizard where you can select and configure an application deployment to the selected collection. Program - Opens the Deploy Software Wizard where you can select and configure a package and program deployment to the selected collection. Configuration Baseline – Opens the Deploy Configuration Baselines dialog box where you can configure the deployment of one or more configuration baselines to the selected collection.	How to Deploy Applications in Configuration Manager How to Deploy Packages and Programs in Configuration Manager How to Deploy Configuration Baselines in Configuration Manager

Collection Properties

When you open the Properties dialog box for a collection, you can view and configure the following properties for a collection.

Tab name	More information
General	Lets you view and configure general information about the selected collection including the collection name and the limiting collection.
Membership Rules	Lets you configure the membership rules that define the membership of this collection. For more information, see How to Create Collections in Configuration Manager.
Power Management	Lets you configure power management plans that are assigned to computers in the selected collection. For more information, see Power Management in Configuration Manager.
Deployments	Displays any software that has been deployed to members of the selected collection.
Maintenance Windows	Lets you view and configure maintenance windows that are applied to members of the selected collection. For more information, see How to Use Maintenance Windows in Configuration Manager.
Collection Variables	Lets you configure variables that apply to this collection and can be used by task sequences. For more information, see How to Manage Task Sequences in Configuration Manager.
Out of Band Management	If an out of band service point is installed, this option enables members of the selected collection for provisioning for AMT-based computers. For more information, see Out of Band Management in Configuration Manager.
Distribution Point Groups	Lets you associate one or more distribution point groups to members of the selected collection. For more information, see Content Management in Configuration Manager.
Security	Displays the administrative users who have permissions for the selected collection from associated roles and security scopes.
Monitor	Lets you configure when alerts are generated for client status and Endpoint Protection. For more information, see How to Configure Client Status in Configuration Manager and How to Configure Alerts for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager.

See Also

Operations and Maintenance for Collections in Configuration Manager