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1. Question 1. How Many Types Of Sites Are There In Sccm 2007?

Answer :
Primary Site: Manages clients in well-connected networks.
Secondary site: Controls content distribution for clients in remote locations across links that
have limited network bandwidth.
Parent Site: It is a site at the top level in the hierarchy & it does not come under any other
sites.
Child Site: A site which comes under a site in a structure & gets information from that site
(Higher Level) known as child site.
2. Question 2. How Many Types Of Sites Are There In Sccm 2012 ?
Answer :
1. CAS (Central administration site):- The central administration site coordinates inter site
data replication across the hierarchy by using Configuration Manager Database replication. It
also enables the administration of hierarchy-wide configurations for client agents, discovery,
and other operations. Use this site for all administration and reporting for the hierarchy.
2. Primary Site: Manages clients in well-connected networks.
3. Secondary site: Controls content distribution for clients in remote locations across links
that have limited network bandwidth.
3. Question 3. What Is Site Server, Site System & Site System Roles ?
Answer :
Site Server: The site server is the computer on which you install Configuration Manager
2007 or 2012, and it hosts services required for Configuration Manager.
Site System: A site system is any computer running a supported version of Microsoft
Windows or a shared folder that hosts one or more site system roles.
Site System Role: A site system role is a function required to be able to use Configuration
Manager 2007 or to use a feature of Configuration Manager.
4. Question 4. What Is Difference Between Native Mode And Mixed Mode ?
Answer :
Native Mode: More secure solution than mixed mode because it provides better
authentication, encryption, and signing using standard industry security protocols. Supports
Internet-based client management and Can integrate with existing PKI deployment.
Mixed Mode: Does not require a PKI deployment, so it has no external dependencies.
Supports clients running SMS 2003. Supports WINS for the means by which clients locate
their default management point if Active Directory and DNS cannot be used.
5. Question 5. What Are The Discovery Methods & Ddr Available In Sccm 2007 & 2012 ?
Answer :
Discovery Data Records:-
When Discovery runs, it creates discovery data records (DDRs). The information contained in
a DDR varies depending upon the discovered resource. For example, it can include the
NetBIOS name of a computer, the IP address and IP subnet of a computer or device, and the
computer operating system name.
The approximate size of an individual DDR is 1 KB. Discovery Methods:-
1. Active Directory System Discovery – Discovers computers from the specified locations in
Active Directory Domain Services.
2. Active Directory User Discovery - Discovers user accounts from the specified locations in
Active Directory Domain Services.
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3. Active Directory Security Group Discovery - Discovers security groups, including local,
global, and universal groups from the specified locations in Active Directory Domain
Services.
4. Active Directory System Group Discovery – Discovers additional information about
previously discovered computers from the specified locations in Active Directory Domain
Services. This information includes the OU and group membership of the computer. Active
Directory System Group Discovery does not discover information about new resources that
did not previously exist in the Configuration Manager site database.
5. Heartbeat Discovery – Used by active Configuration Manager clients to update their
discovery records in the database. Because it is initiated by an active client, Heartbeat
Discovery does not discover new resources.
6. Network Discovery – Searches your network infrastructure for network devices that have
an IP address. This allows you to discover devices that might not be found by other discovery
methods, including printers, routers, and bridges.
7. Forest Discovery – SCCM 2012 has a new discovery method which discovers other forest
in the network.
6. Question 6. What Are The Boundaries In Sccm ?
Answer :
Configuration Manager Boundaries are defined in the Configuration Manager console and are
defined by IP subnet, Active Directory site name, IPv6 Prefix, IP ranges. Boundaries are used
to assign clients to a specific Configuration Manager 2007 site and should be unique to each
site. When defining site boundaries for sites, ensure that you do not define the same boundary
for more than one Configuration Manager 2007 site, doing so leads to a situation called
overlapping site boundaries.
7. Question 7. What Is Sccm ?
Answer :
System Center Configuration Manager (CM12 or CM07 or ConfigMgr or Configuration
Manager), formerly Systems Management Server (SMS), is a systems management software
product by Microsoft for managing large groups of Windows-based computer systems.
Configuration Manager provides remote control, patch management, software distribution,
operating system deployment, network access protection, and hardware and software
inventory.
8. Question 8. What Is Sms Provider And What It Does?
Answer :
The SMS Provider is a WMI provider that allows both read and write access to the
Configuration Manager 2007 site database. The SMS Provider is used by the Configuration
Manager console, Resource Explorer, tools, and custom scripts used by Configuration
Manager 2007 administrators to access site information stored in the site database. The SMS
Provider also helps ensure that Configuration Manager 2007 object security is enforced by
only returning site information that the user account running the Configuration Manager
console is authorized to view.
9. Question 9. What Is Primary Site?
Answer :
Manages clients in well-connected networks. Four main characteristics:
o The Site has access to a Microsoft SQL Server Database.
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o Can administer or be administered via the Configuration Manager Console
o It can be a child of other Primary Sites and can have Child Sites of its own
o Clients can be assigned directly to the Site
10. Question 10. What Is Central Site?
Answer :
A Central Site is a Configuration Manager Primary Site that resides at the top of the
Configuration Manager hierarchy. All Database information rolls from the child to the parent
and is collected by the Central Site’s Configuration Manager Database. The Central Site can
administer any site below it in the hierarchy and can send data down to those sites as well.
11. Question 11. What Is Secondary Site?
Answer :
Four Main characteristics:
o A Secondary Site does not have access to a Microsoft SQL Database
o Secondary Sites are ALWAYS a Child Site of a Primary Site and can only be
administered via a Primary Site
o Secondary Sites cannot have Child Sites of their own
o Clients cannot be assigned directly to the Site
12. Question 12. Can You Change A Secondary Site To A Primary Site?
Answer :
No. A secondary site is always a secondary site. It cannot be upgraded, moved, or changed
without deleting it and reinstalling it. If you delete and reinstall, you lose all secondary site
data.
13. Question 13. How Sccm Download The Patches?
Answer :
You need to add the Software Update Point site role to the site, configure the software update
point as active, configure the products, classifications, sync settings, etc. in the Software
Update Point properties. THEN, you can go to the Update Repository node and run the Run
Synchronization action from the central primary site. Once synchronization completes, you
will see the metadata in the Configuration Manager console.
14. Question 14. Can You Distribute A Package To A Computer Without Making It A
Member Of A Collection?
Answer :
No. To distribute software you must have a package, a program and an advertisement.
Advertisements can only be sent to collections, not to computers. If you want to distribute a
package to a single computer, you must create a collection for that computer.
15. Question 15. Can A Site Have More Than One Default Management Point?
Answer :
No. You can configure more than one management points in a site, but only one of those
management points can be configured as the default management point to support intranet
clients in the site. If you are concerned about performance, you can configure more than one
management point, configure them to be part of a Network Load Balancing (NLB) cluster,
and them configure the NLB cluster as the default management point.
16. Question 16. Can A Secondary Site Have Child Sites?
Answer :
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No. A secondary site cannot have a primary or secondary site reporting to it. Secondary sites
are always child sites to a primary site.
17. Question 17. Can You Install The Configuration Manager Client Components Without
Discovering The Computer First?
Answer :
Yes. Client Push Installation is the only client installation method that requires clients to be
discovered first.
18. Question 18. Does Configuration Manager 2007 Mixed Mode Require A Public Key
Infrastructre (pki)?
Answer :
No. Configuration Manager 2007 native mode requires a PKI, but Configuration Manager
2007 does not. PKI authentication helps provide a greater level of security, but Configuration
Manager 2007 does not help you install or configure the PKI infrastructure. If you do not
already have the expertise to install and configure the PKI infrastructure, you can start with
mixed mode and then change to native mode later.
19. Question 19. Can Computers Show Up In The Configuration Manager Console Before
They Have The Configuration Manager Client Installed?
Answer :
Yes. If you use a discovery method, Configuration Manager can find many resources and
create data discovery records (DDRs) for them, and those DDRs are stored in the database.
However, you cannot use Configuration Manager features such as software distribution,
software updates management, and inventory until you install the client components.
20. Question 20. How Do You Backup Sccm Server?
Answer :
To create a scheduled backup task, expand the Site Settings node and expand the Site
Maintenance node, click on Tasks.
For Manual backup - Start SMS_SITE_BACKUP service
21. Question 21. What Are The Client Deployments Methods ?
Answer :
Client Push Installion, Software update point based installation, Group Policy Installation,
Logon Script Installation, Manual Installation, Upgrade Installation(software Distribution).
22. Question 22. What Is Sup ( Software Update Point)?
Answer :
This is required component of software updates, and after it is installed, the SUP is displayed
as a site system role in the Configuration Manager console. The software update point site
system role must be created on a site system server that has Windows Server Update Services
(WSUS) 3.0 installed.
23. Question 23. What Is Itmu ?
Answer :
SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates.
24. Question 24. What Are The Prerequisite For Software Update Point?
Answer :
o Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0
o WSUS 3.0 Administration Console
o Windows Update Agent (WUA) 3.0
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o Site server communication to the active software update point
o Network Load Balancing (NLB)
o Background Intelligent Transfer Server (BITS) 2.5
o Windows Installer
25. Question 25. What Is Sms Provider?
Answer :
The SMS Provider is a WMI provider that allows both read and write access to the
Configuration Manager 2007 site database. The SMS Provider is used by the Configuration
Manager console. The SMS Provider can be installed on the site database server computer,
site server computer or another server class third computer during Configuration Manager
2007 Setup. After setup has completed, the current installed location of the SMS Provider is
displayed on the site properties general tab.
26. Question 26. Can You Assign Clients To A Secondary Site?
Answer :
No.If you have a secondary site, the client must be assigned to the primary parent of the
secondary site. However, Configuration Manager knows how to manage clients at the child
secondary site. If there is a distribution point at the secondary site that has the content the
clients need, the clients will probably get the content from the local distribution point instead
of crossing the WAN link to the primary site.
27. Can Configuration Manager 2007 Be Used To Package Software For Distribution?
Answer :
No. Configuration Manager 2007 delivers command lines to clients and can force those
command lines to run with administrative rights using the Local System account.
Configuration Manager 2007 command lines can be batch files, scripts, Windows Installer
files with .msi extensions, executable files – any file that the operating system can run,
Configuration Manager 2007 can distribute. However, Configuration Manager 2007 does not
actually package any software for distribution.
28. How To Check If The Client Installation Is Succeeded Or Not?
Answer :
The client installation status can be verified using the log file or Control panel icons.
To check the log file, navigate to C:WindowsSystem32ccmsetup of the client computer and
open the ccmsetup.log and clientmsi.log file. If the installation is success then you can see a
“Installation Succeeded” line updated in the log file.
Also you can navigate to Start->Control panel and look for configuration manager icon entry
(assuming that the control panel view is set to small icons).
29. How To Force Software And Hardware Inventory On Remote Client Computers?
Answer :
Remote into the client computer and open control panel and navigate to “configuration
manager” icon as shown below.
Then Switch to Actions tab and select “Hardware inventory cycle” and click on initiate action
repeat the same step for forcing software inventory cycle on SCCM client computers.
30. How To A Run A Specific Web Based Report To Identify Any Status?
Answer :
 -------------SCCM Interview Questions --------------
Open SCCM console, navigate to Site Database->Computer management->Reporting and
click on reports. You can a list of default and customized reports which can be executed by
Right click-> run (this runs the query which is being used to create the report) to view the
web reports as shown below.
If the report ID is known then the particular report can be searched using “Look for” option as
shown in the screenshot below.
31. How To Export List From Sccm Console And Resource Explorer?
Answer :
Open SCCM console; navigate to Site Database->Computer Management-> All Systems,
Right Click->View->Export List as shown below. This list contains the client computer
names and it can saved as notepad or in excel format.
Select the client computer for which the list needs to be exported and Right Click->Start-
>Resource Explorer. Go to “Action” tab and select export list as shown below.
32. How To Export Sccm Web Reports?
Answer :
Open SCCM console, navigate to Site Database->Computer management->Reporting and
click on reports where all the required reports will be listed. Right click on any report and
click run to execute the report (assuming that the report is already been created).
In the below screenshot “All advertisements for a Specific computer” has been executed.
The client computer name has been entered and click on display to run the query and the
advertisement for the specific client will be displayed as shown below.
Click on “Export” option as shown below to export the result to the excel sheet.
33. How To Speed Up Software Advertisement By Forcing Policy Retrieval & Evaluation
Cycle?
Answer :
Open control panel, navigate to Configuration manager icon and click on it. As the
ConfigMgr window pops up switch to action tab and initiate the “Machine policy Retrieval &
Evaluation Cycle” by clicking on “Initiate Action” button as shown below.
34. How To Verify The Software Package Distribution Status On A Particular Client
Machine?
Answer :
You can verify the status of a distribution by checking the execmgr.log file in
c:windowssystem32ccmlogs folder, and search for the particular software distribution using
the packaged. If the package is success then “installation succeeded with the exit code 0” will
be written into the log file.
You can also verify it by checking the registry key on a client computer, HKLM->Software-
>Microsoft->SMS->Mobile Client->Software Distribution->Execution History->System-
><Package ID>->success or failure code will be written.
35. How To Take Remote Control Of The Client Computer Using Sccm Console?
Answer :
Open SCCM console; navigate to “All systems” collections where your client computer will
be populated. Right click on the client computer->Start->Remote tools.
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36. Question 36. Does System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Support The Same
Client Installation Methods As Configuration Manager 2007?
Answer :
Yes. System Center 2012 Configuration Manager supports the same client installation
methods that Configuration Manager 2007 supports: client push, software update-based,
group policy, manual, logon script, and image-based.
37. Question 37. What Is An “application” And Why Would I Use It?
Answer :
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager applications contain the administrative details
and Application Catalog information necessary to deploy a software package or software
update to a computer or mobile device.
38. Question 38. What Is A “deployment Type” And Why Would I Use One?
Answer :
A deployment type is contained within an application and specifies the installation files and
method that Configuration Manager will use to install the software. The deployment type
contains rules and settings that control if and how the software is installed on client
computers.
39. Question 39. What Is The “deployment Purpose” And Why Would I Use This?
Answer :
The deployment purpose defines what the deployment should do and represents the
administrator’s intent. For example, an administrative user might require the installation of
software on client computers or might just make the software available for users to install
themselves. A global condition can be set to check regularly that required applications are
installed and to reinstall them if they have been removed.
40. Question 40. What Is A Global Condition And How Is It Different From A Deployment
Requirement?
Answer :
Global conditions are conditions used by requirement rules. Requirement rules set a value for
a deployment type for a global condition. For example, “operating system =” is a global
condition; a requirement rule is “operating system = Win7.”
41. Question 41. How Do I Make An Application Deployment Optional Rather Than
Mandatory?
Answer :
To make a deployment optional, configure the deployment purpose as Available in the
applications deployment type. Available applications display in the Application Catalog
where users can install them.
42. Question 42. Can Users Request Applications?
Answer :
Yes. Users can browse a list of available software in the Application Catalog. Users can then
request an application which, if approved, will be installed on their computer. To make a
deployment optional, configure the deployment purpose as Available in the applications
deployment type.
43. Question 43. Why Would I Use A Package And Program To Deploy Software Rather
Than An Application Deployment?
Answer :
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Some scenarios, such as the deployment of a script that runs on a client computer but that
does not install software, are more suited to using a package and program rather than an
application.
44. Question 44. Can I Deploy Office So That It Installs Locally On A User’s Main
Workstation But Is Available To That User As A Virtual Application From Any
Computer?
Answer :
Yes. You can configure multiple deployment types for an application. Rules that specify
which deployment type is run allows you to specify how the application is made available to
the user.
45. Question 45. Does Configuration Manager Help Identify Which Computers A User Uses
To Support The User Device Affinity Feature?
Answer :
Yes. Configuration Manager collects usage statistics from client devices that can be used to
automatically define user device affinities or to help you manually create affinities.
46. Question 46. Can I Migrate My Existing Packages And Programs From Configuration
Manager 2007 To A System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Hierarchy?
Answer :
Yes. You can see migrated packages and programs in the Packages node in the Software
Library workspace. You can also use the Import Package from Definition Wizard to import
Configuration Manager 2007 package definition files into your site.
47. Question 47. Does The Term “software” Include Scripts And Drivers?
Answer :
Yes. In System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, the term software includes software
updates, applications, scripts, task sequences, device drivers, configuration items, and
configuration baselines.
48. Question 48. Do References To “devices” In System Center 2012 Configuration
Manager Mean Mobile Devices?
Answer :
The term “device” in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager applies to a computer or a
mobile device such as a Windows Mobile Phone.
49. Question 49. What Does “state-based Deployment” Mean In Reference To System
Center 2012 Configuration Manager?
Answer :
Depending on the deployment purpose you have specified in the deployment type of an
application, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager periodically checks that the state of
the application is the same as its purpose. For example, if an application’s deployment type is
specified as Required, Configuration Manager reinstalls the application if it has been
removed. Only one deployment type can be created per application and collection pair.
50. Question 50. Do I Have To Begin Using System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
Applications Immediately After Migrating From Configuration Manager 2007?
Answer :
No, you can continue to deploy packages and programs that have been migrated from your
Configuration Manager 2007 site. However, packages and programs cannot use some of the
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new features of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager such as requirement rules,
dependencies and supersedence.