New SCCM Console Deployment Using Configuration Manager

This post covers SCCM console deployment using Configuration Manager. Using the steps in this post, you can use Configuration Manager to package and remotely deploy the SCCM console to Windows devices.

When you install the latest current branch update for Configuration Manager, a console upgrade is mandatory. Not just on the site server but also on all the devices installed with SCCM console. It is always recommended that you use the latest version of Configuration Manager console to connect to SCCM site.

For instance, you upgrade your SCCM current branch to version 2211. Now you want your IT team to install the latest version of console. The questions if where do you get the latest version of SCCM console setup? I will answer that in the next section, keep reading.

Along with the SCCM console upgrade, you also need to ensure the console extensions are upgraded too. With SCCM Community Hub deprecation announced, installing and managing the console extensions will be a bit tedious for admins.

Talking about the Configuration Manager console installation methods, there are alternate methods to installing the console. Refer to the below guides to learn the different methods of installing the Configuration Manager console.

• Remotely Configuration Manager console on Windows 10
• 3 Best methods to install SCCM console on Windows 11

About Configuration Manager Console

SCCM admins use Configuration Manager console to manage the ConfigMgr environment. Using Configuration Manager console, you can either connect to a central administration site or a primary site. However, you cannot connect a Configuration Manager console to a secondary site and that’s a limitation defined by Microsoft.

While you are installing SCCM, you get the option to install the console on the same server. But what if you want to deploy the SCCM console to multiple computers? That can be accomplished using SCCM again. Yes, you can use Configuration Manager to deploy SCCM console and I will show you how to do that.

Supported OS versions for Configuration Manager consoles

Configuration Manager supports the installation of the console on the following Windows OS versions:

• Windows Server 2022: Standard, Datacenter (starting in version 2107)
• Windows Server 2019: Standard, Datacenter
• Windows Server 2016: Standard, Datacenter
• Windows Server 2012 R2 (x64): Standard, Datacenter
• Windows Server 2012 (x64): Standard, Datacenter
• Windows 11 (x64): Pro, Enterprise
• Windows 10 (x86, x64): Pro, Enterprise
• Windows 8.1 (x86, x64): Professional, Enterprise

Windows 7 OS is not supported for installing the Configuration Manager console.

Location of SCCM Console Setup Files

On the SCCM server the console setup files are available at two locations:

• On Configuration Manager Site server: <ConfigMgr site server installation path>\Tools\ConsoleSetup
• SCCM installation media: <Configuration Manager installation media>\SMSSETUP\BIN\I386

At this point, I want to highlight that don’t think of installing the console using the CD.Latest source files. As per Microsoft, it’s an unsupported scenario, and therefore it may cause problems with the console installation. Furthermore, you should not run the AdminConsole.msi as that doesn’t install the console correctly. Don’t try that because it doesn’t install the console.

There is a slight change the way you deploy Configuration Manager console in SCCM 1902. In earlier versions of SCCM, we only used consolesetup.exe to package and deploy the console. However, starting with SCCM version 1902, you need all the below files to package and deploy the console properly.

• ConsoleSetup.exe
• AdminConsole.msi
• ConfigMgr.AC_Extension.i386.cab
• ConfigMgr.AC_Extension.amd64.cab

Create a folder within sources folder. Name it as console or anything relevant. Copy all the four console setup files (from Tools folder) into the new folder that you created. We will use this folder as content location while configuring the application.

Note: Starting in ConfigMgr 2107, the console requires Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.6.2, but version 4.8 is recommended. If you install the console on other devices, make sure to update .NET. If the device doesn’t already have it, the console setup doesn’t install this prerequisite.

SCCM Console Deployment Using Configuration Manager

For SCCM console deployment using Configuration Manager, use the following steps.

• Launch Configuration Manager console.
• Go to Software Library. Right click Applications and select Create Application.
• On the create application wizard, choose Manually specify the application information.

Click Next to continue.

Specify the information about this application and click Next.

Add a new deployment type

On Deployment Types page, you can configure deployment type. Read this post to know about all the deployment types support by SCCM. You can also add multiple deployment types and define priority for each deployment type. To add a new deployment type, click Add button.

Now select Manually specify the deployment type information. Click Next.

Specify the application information. Click Next.

Provide the content location path (folder where the console setup files are located). Most of all, ensure you specify the correct install and uninstall commands.

Use the following command to install ConfigMgr console. Replace “siteserverfqdn” with your Primary Site server name.

ConsoleSetup.exe /q TargetDir="%ProgramFiles%\ConfigMgr Console" DefaultSiteServerName=siteserverfqdn.com

Enter the following command to uninstall SCCM console.

ConsoleSetup.exe /uninstall /q

Click Next.

Add the Detection Method for ConfigMgr Console Deployment

Next we specify detection method. Specify the following under detection rule.

• Setting Type – File System
• Type – File
• Path – %ProgramFiles(x86)%\ConfigMgr Console\bin
• File or Folder Name – Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.exe

Check the box “This file or folder is associated with a 32-bit application on 64-bit systems“.

Select “The file system setting must satisfy the following rule to indicate the presence of this application“.

• Property – Version
• Operator – Equals
• Value – 5.1902.1044.1000

Click OK and then Next.

Configure the desired settings under User Experience and click Next. If there is nothing to specify under Requirements, Dependencies – click Next and close the deployment wizard.

Finally, on Completion page click Close. Distribute the application to the distribution point. Thereafter, you are ready to deploy Configuration Manager console to a device collection.

Test the SCCM Console Deployment on Client Computers

In my lab tests, the SCCM console installation was successful on multiple Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers. Since we specified the default site server in our command line, the console directly connects to the site server upon launching.

Testing the SCCM console uninstall on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices also worked fine. If you require any further assistance related to this post, do write in comments section. I hope this post helps.