How to Automatically Upgrade SCCM ConfigMgr 2012 RTM Clients to SP1
ConfigMgr SP1 provides loads of new features like Pull DP, Cloud Based DPs , Unix, Linux, Mac client support and Intune Integration. First of all, we need to upgrade ConfigMgr 2012 infrastructure to Service Pack 1. That means, all the servers (CAS, Primary and Secondary) need to be upgraded to SP1. More details planning and Upgrade check-list for CM 2012 hierarchy here. Once hierarchy is upgraded to SP1, we need to get the SCCM 2012 RTM Clients to SP1. Why to upgrade clients to CM 2012 SP1? Ok, It’ll work even with CM 2012 RTM client. Upgrade the clients to SP1 is recommended because only upgraded clients can take advantage of new features introduced in ConfigMgr 2012 SP1.
How to automate the upgrade of CM 2012 RTM clients to SP1? In this post, I’m going to walk through 3 options which may help to upgrade clients automatically.
1. Software Distribution : Create and Deploy a Package and Program !
(A) You must have already noticed that there is a default package called “Configuration Manager Client Package” with no Programs init. Note that we can’t use that package for Software Distribution Client Upgrade. That package is read only package can only used for OSD. When you right click on “Configuration Manager Client Package”, you won’t be able to see “Deploy” and even “create a program” options.
(B) So you need to create a new package from a definition file (definition file is already there in your server).
(C) Select the publisher name as “Microsoft”. You could see two definition files Device Management Client Transfer and Configuration Manager Client Upgrade. Select the second one (Configuration Manager Client Upgrade).
(D) Select “Always Obtain Source files from a source folder” option.
(E) Type in the UNC patch “\\SERVER-FQDN\SMS_XXX\Client”. Replace Server-FQDN with your site server name and XXX with your Site Code.
(F) Click on NEXT and Finish.
(G) Once the package is created, distribute the content to all the required DPs.
(H) Create a Deployment (advertisement) for that package and target to the required clients. Another tip is to change the site code in the command line if you want. The default command line in the program is “CCMSETUP.EXE /noservice SMSSITECODE=AUTO“. You can replace auto with your side code.
2. “Automatic Client Upgrade” option from Hierarchy Settings !
More Details on Upgrade Client Automatically when new client updates are available option is available here. However, it seems this is not a very good method when you want to upgrade all the clients in a particular site. This would very useful once you finish the mass upgrade of clients and there are some smaller number of clients still in previous version. Using this option you can target those clients.
3. Software Update Based Client Installation / Upgrade Method
Software update-based client installation publishes the SCCM client to a SUP as an additional software update. The ConfigMgr provides the client with the SUP server name and port from which to obtain new software updates. This information is included in the client policy. This would be treated as normal software update deployment. The advantage of this method is mainly on compliance report.
More details about other upgrade methods are explained in the following Technet documentation here.
How to Install Configuration Manager Clients by Using Client Push
How to Install Configuration Manager Clients by Using Group Policy
How to Install Configuration Manager Clients Manually
How to Install Configuration Manager Clients by Using Logon Scripts
How to Install Configuration Manager Clients by Using Computer Imaging
How to Install Configuration Manager Clients on Workgroup Computers
How to Install Configuration Manager Clients for Internet-based Client Management
How to Provision Client Installation Properties (Group Policy and Software Update-Based Client Installation)
