How to perform a SCCM 2012 R2 Installation

This blog post has been updated. Please refer to the new SCCM Current Branch Installation Guide.

In the first part of this SCCM 2012 and SCCM 1511 blog series, we planned our hierarchy, prepared our server and Active Directory.

In part 2, we installed and configured SQL in order to perform SCCM 2012 R2 installation.

In part 3, we will run the prerequisite checker and proceed to the SCCM 2012 R2 installation. We will install a stand-alone Primary site.

Prerequisite Check

Before launching the SCCM 2012 R2 installation, we recommend to launch the Prereqchk tool in order to verify if all components are configured correctly. The SCCM 2012 R2 installation wizard will also run this check but if you’re missing a requirement, you’ll have to go through the whole installation wizard again after fixing it. We prefer to use the standalone tool.

To start the tool :

• Open an Administrator command prompt
• Browse to .\SMSSETUP\BIN\X64
• Run the following command : prereqchk.exe /AdminUI

If you follow the guide correctly you’ll have this wonderful result :

Refer to this Technet article to see the list of all checks done by the tool.

If you have any warning or error refer to this Technet article in order to resolve it, or go thought part 1 and part 2 of this guide.

SCCM 2012 R2 Installation

We are finally ready to launch the setup. First, reboot the server. This will make sure that the machine is not in a Reboot pending state.

• Open the SCCM ISO
• Run Splash.hta
• Select Install

• On the first screen, Click Next

• On the Getting Started screen, Select Install a Configuration Manager Primary Site and click Next

• On the Product Key screen, enter it and click Next

• On the Prerequisite Licences screen, accept the License Terms and click Next

• On the Prerequisite Downloads screen, specify a location to download the prerequisite file. This folder can be deleted after setup

• On the Server Language Selection screen, select the language you want to display in the SCCM Console and Reports. You can modify language later by running setup again and select the Site Maintenance option

• On the Client Language Selection screen, select the Client language to support. You can modify languages later by running setup again and select the Site Maintenance option

• On the Site and Installation Settings screen, enter your Site Code. Use the same Site Code as you specified when creating your Database
  • Note : Site codes cannot be used more than one time in a Configuration Manager hierarchy for a central administration site or primary sites. If you reuse a site code, you run the risk of having object ID conflicts in your Configuration Manager hierarchy. This applies also if you’re doing a migration from 2007.
• Enter your Site Name. This name will appear in the console so choose accordingly

• On the Primary Site Installation screen, select Install the primary site as a stand-alone site. If you have a Central Administration site, this is where you would join the Primary Site to the existing hierarchy

• On the Database Information screen
• Enter your SQL Server Name. In our case the SQL server is the same box as SCCM
• Leave the Instance Blank
• Enter your Database name. Once again, this must match the previously created Database in part 2
• Leave the Service Broker Port to 4022

• On the Database Information screen :
• Enter the path to the SQL Server data file. Locate this on the SQL Volume 
• Enter the path to the SQL Server log file. Locate this on the SQL Logs Volume.
  • I like to use the same directory where I created my database and logs (E:\SCCMDB, G:\SCCMLogs)

• On the SMS Provider Settings screen, leave the SMS Provider to the default value which is the local server. Refer to the following Technet article to read about the SMS Provider.

• On the Client Computer Communication Settings screen, select Configure the communication method on each site system role. This is where you select to have HTTPS or not on your initial Management Point and Distribution Point. This settings can be change later

• On the Site System Roles screen :
• Check Install a Management Point
• Check Install a Distribution Point
• We will install both MP and DP on the same box so leave the FQDN as is
  • The Client connection drop-down is unavailable due to our previous selection

• On the Customer Experience Improvement Program, select I don’t want to join the program at this time

• Here’s our Prerequisite Check screen again. You should have no error since you’ve run it before setup … right ?

• The installation is in progress. You can count between 15 and 30 minutes depending of your server specifications.
• You can follow the progress by clicking the View Log button or open the ConfigMgrSetup.log file on the C:\ drive

• Wait for Core setup has completed and close the wizard

After the setup, we strongly recommend to install the latest Cumulative Update.

Refer to our CU4 installation guide to apply it.

We’re still not done yet ! Before opening the SCCM console, we suggest to install the following tools :

CMTrace

CMTrace will become your best friend when reading log files.

• Open the SCCM ISO
• Browse to .\SMSSETUP\TOOLS
• Click on CMTrace.exe
• Click on YES to set is as your default log viewer

Additionally you can read our blog post  :

• How to use CMTrace like a Pro Part 1
• How to use CMTrace like a Pro Part 2

System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Toolkit

This toolkit contains fifteen downloadable tools to help you manage and troubleshoot Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager.

Download and install it here

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Support Center

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Support Center helps you to gather information about System Center 2012 Configuration Manager clients so that you can more easily address issues.

Download and install it here

Extra

You can also refer to our blog post about Useful Resources to help you begin with SCCM.

sccm 2012 r2 installation