SCCM 2012 - Deploying Agents

So now that we have our discoveries turned on as discussed in SCCM 2012 - How to Enable Discovery we should have some devices discovered. The next thing to do is to install the local SCCM client on these machines. There are a couple different ways to set this up, one being the Client Push Installation (automatic) and the other is a manual push.

Client Push Installation
Lets cover the automatic push first since there are a few settings that need to be done either way. In the Admin space, expand out Overview then Site Configuration then Click Sites. Right Click on your primary site and then Client Installation Settings, then Client Push Installation.

Now we have a few choices here. The first is Enable automatic site-wide client push installation. Essentially, this falls in line with the discovery configured in SCCM 2012 - How to Enable Discovery. Any time a a new machine is discovered, the SCCM agent will automatically be deployed to it. If you enable this setting, then the System Types section becomes active. Here you can define where the agents are automatically deployed, Servers, Workstations and Configuration Manager servers. The final choice is whether or not to install automatically on domain controllers. If you select this option you will need to specify a domain admin account which is able to install on DC's on the Accounts tab.

On the Accounts Tab, if you have chosen to install on domain controllers you need to add a push account with domain admin access. Otherwise you can specify an account with local server / workstation admin access.

On the Installation Properties tab you can leave this as the default or you can add additional switches based on your particular needs. A complete list of command settings can be found on the Microsoft Technet. Click OK

Manual Installation
Now lets go into the Asset and Compliance space and expand out Overview then click on Devices. Depending on the size of your environment you may see a few or you may see several. Right Click on one of your machines that currently does not have an agent and Select Install Client.

The Install Configuration Manager Client Wizard will start, Click Next

If you enabled automatic install on domain controllers as discussed above, the first box will be greyed out.  You will want to install a local copy of the agent as it makes it much easier to maintain/repair/upgrade if you do. The third option, Install the client from a specific site may not bee needed depending on how many agents you are deploying. Click Next

You will be prompted to validate your settings, Click Next

The client push was setup successfully.

It may take a few minutes but you will soon see client turn to Yes and see the Client Activity go to Active.

More to come!


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