Install SysCtr 2012 ConfigMgr in Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 My Notes

Installing System Center 2012 Configuration Manager in Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 My Notes

This week I took the task to build a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 in Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012, I will outline some of the steps I take to build my server and what are the end results.

To start I start building my virtual machine on Hyper-V, this virtual machine has 8GB of RAM, 4 Virtual Processors assigned to it and 127GB of Space on the Operating System, C: Drive and 100 to the E: Drive.

if you are looking for details on how to install Windows Server 2012 look at the following resources:

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Once you have installed Windows Server 2012, you need to prepare it for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.

Prerequisites for Site System Roles on Windows Server 2012

One thing you can do when you build a server in Windows Server 2021 is that you can export the setting on the server manager, I have saved mine and will be available for you to download on the TechNet gallery.ConfigFilesSamples.zip

Now that I has configure the server, I will install SQL Server 2012 with CU3.

Download the SQL Server 2012 from your Volume License Site.

Download SQL Server 2012 CU2 from Support. 

Or

Download SQL Server 2012 CU3 from Support.

I suggest that you create or add drives to the server to support your SQL Configuration and ConfigMgr, to do this we are going to create one drive for SQL Server, one drive for SQL Logs and one drive for ConfigMgr. Example: D:\ SQL Data, L:\ Logs, E:\ ConfigMgr.

When you install SQL Server, make sure to select the necessary configuration.

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I uncheck the Include SQL Server Product updates, since the supported configurations don’t mention SP 1 for ConfigMgr 2012 SP1 only CU 2 that’s why I uncheck this section.

Note** if you have Firewall Enable make sure to Exclude 1433 and 4022.

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For ConfigMgr I suggest select All Features with Defaults, click next after that.

Make sure you use the following Collation:

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If there is another Collation selected, change it to this ones. ConfigMgr can only select the following Collation and may need to re-install it if the wrong collation is selected.

When you go to the section of Database Engine Configuration, Select Data Directories and enter the information of the drives where you going to store the data and logs.

 

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Once you finish the SQL install and Configuration its time to apply the CU2 for SQL Server.

Configure SQL Server to ensure has the settings that ConfigMgr Needs, to do this we have to configure the max memory and min memory requirements.

Before install System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1, I suggest reading the newest published KBs to install before SP1.

https://blogs.technet.com/b/configurationmgr/archive/2013/01/16/list-of-system-center-2012-configuration-manager-service-pack-1-kbs.aspx

One of the articles, https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2801987 outlines a hotfix for Windows Server 2012. I suggest installing this hotfix to make sure you don’t ran into this issue, https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2756872 or https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34943.

If you already have System Center 2012 Configuration Manager I suggest you read the process of upgrading to SP1. https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2801416.

Now that you have install all the hotfixes needed for your Windows Server 2012, its time to download and install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8.

(https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30652)

The process of installing the Windows Assessment may take some time, I suggest to also run a Windows Update on the server to install any missing hotfix.

To validate all the components that System Center 2012 Configuration Manager has been installed, we are going to download the redistributables files or updates for ConfigMgr, https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg712320.aspx#BKMK_SetupDownloader. After that is complete we are going to run the ConfigMgr 2012 Pre Requisite Checker. https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg712320.aspx#BKMK_PrerequisiteChecker.

On the initial Check, it shows I must extend the schema of active directory if I haven’t done this for 2007, or 2012. Prepare the Windows Environment for Configuration Manager. For the System Management OU I suggest taking a look at the following PowerShell script, https://blogs.technet.com/b/mniehaus/archive/2012/01/05/creating-the-configmgr-system-management-container-with-powershell.aspx.

The other section I must install is WSUS SDK, by installing the administrative console for WSUS you should be able to continue the installation. A WSUS server will be needed for ConfigMgr 2012 so it can be able to use the Software Update Component.

Evaluate every failure that pre requisite checker tell you and validate all components has been installed, finally you will be able to validate that all components where installed correctly.

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Finally all checks are passed and we are ready to install.

The installation process may take a few minutes after this is about monitoring the installation and ensure no errors occurs.

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Note** This Installation may take some time.

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Example of a Completed Install.

Once I finish the installation of my site I proceed to configure the basic information for it, to do this I will open the Configuration Manager Console. https://technet.microsoft.com/library/gg712682.aspx.

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If you are looking to build your lab for testing ConfigMgr 2012, I suggest looking at the following Hydration Kit. https://www.deploymentresearch.com/Research/tabid/62/EntryId/82/The-Hydration-Kit-for-ConfigMgr-2012-SP1-with-Windows-Server-2012-SQL-Server-2012-is-available-for-download.aspx

Thanks to Johan Arwidmark, for his hard work on the hydration kit. I personally test it and works great on my lab.

 

Do you have a lab of Windows Server 2012 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager? or you already build this on Production?