Q: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 supports Linux--so how do I install the client for Linux?
A: Configuration Manager 2012 SP1 added support for several different platforms, including Linux, UNIX, Mac, and even Android/iOS/Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 (through integration with Windows Intune). The clients for Linux, UNIX, and Mac are not part of the Service Pack 1 media and must instead be downloaded.
The download location is at the Microsoft site. Separate downloads are available for Mac, AIX, Solaris, HP-UX, and Linux, and all vary in size. Download the Linux one, and then expand the download.
You will need to make the files contained at the Linux box through SMB or NFS (remember Windows Server has NFS server built-in). Then the files are copied locally to the Linux machine, set as exeutable, and executed with root privileges (type "su" to run with root permissions).
During the installation, you must specify both a Configuration Manager Management Point server name and the Configuration Manager site code. For example:
./install -mp savdalcm12.savilltech.net -sitecode SAV ccm-Universal-x64..tar
After the Linux machine is visible in Configuration Manager, the machine must be approved via the Approve action. It will then start to feed information into Configuration Manager (see screen shot).
You can force discovery of policy, hardware inventory, and more. For example, to trigger immediate policy download and hardware inventory, perform the following:
/opt/microsoft/configmgr/bin/ccmexec -rs policy /opt/microsoft/configmgr/bin/ccmexec -rs hinv
