Import configuration data with Configuration Manager

Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

In addition to creating configuration baselines and configuration items in the Configuration Manager console, you can import configuration data if it's contained in a cabinet (.cab) file format and adheres to the supported Service Modeling Language (SML) schema. You can import configuration data from:

  • Best practice configuration data (Configuration Packs) that has been downloaded from Microsoft or from other software vendor sites.

  • Configuration data that has been exported from System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and later.

  • Configuration data that was externally authored and that conforms to the SML schema.

When you import a configuration baseline, some or all of the configuration items that are referenced in the configuration baseline might also be included in the cabinet file. During the import process, Configuration Manager verifies that all of the configuration items that are referenced in the configuration baseline are either also included in the cabinet file or already exist in the Configuration Manager site. The import process fails if you attempt to import a configuration baseline that references configuration data that Configuration Manager can't locate.

Other scenarios where the import process might fail include the following:

  • The configuration data references configuration data that Configuration Manager can't locate, either in its database or in the cabinet file itself.

  • The configuration data is already present in the Configuration Manager database with the same name and configuration data version, but the content version differs.

  • The configuration data is already present in the Configuration Manager database with the same content version, but the hash calculation identifies it as being different.

  • A newer version of the configuration data with same name is already present or has recently been deleted in the Configuration Manager database.

  • In a multi-site Configuration Manager hierarchy, the configuration data was originally imported from a parent site. You must update it from the same site and not a child site.

Import configuration data

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Assets and Compliance > Configuration Items or Configuration Baselines
  2. In the Home tab, in the Create group, click Import Configuration Data.
  3. On the Select Files page of the Import Configuration Data Wizard, click Add, and then in the Open dialog box, select the .cab files you want to import.
  4. Select the Create a new copy of the imported configuration baselines and configuration items check box if you want the imported configuration data to be editable in the Configuration Manager console.
  5. On the Summary page, review the actions that will be taken, and then complete the wizard.

The imported configuration data displays in the Compliance Settings node of the Assets and Compliance workspace.