In the previous article I have explained, MECM AD preparation details before installing prerequisites where you have learned and understood, Design and Architecture, Create System Container, Schema Upgrade, Assign permissions, Disk Layout, OS configuration, Local Administrator group membership assignment. In this article i will be explaining how to install all the required prerequisites in the MECM server step by step with pictures.
After reading this article, readers do not require to read any other article for MECM prerequisites. Before all we are going to install IIS on the MECM server which will handle frontend and backend for MECM site system roles web services.
IIS helps on: Web based reporting, report view, WSUS API integration, client scan against Windows updates, because distribution Point installed with HTTP or HTTPS it uses for content distribution, package download, application deployment and many more.
Open Server Manager -> Manage -> Add Roles and Feautres
Choose the server and Next.
On Server Roles Page, Select Web Server (IIS).
There are lots of features which need to be installed. choose all carefully and install them in the server.
On Features Tab, Select below features.
- .NET Framework 3.5 Features: .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0), HTTP Activation, Non-HTTP Activation
- .NET Framework 4.8 Features: ASP.NET 4.8
- WCF Services: HTTP Activation, Message Queuing (MSMQ) Activation, Named Pipe Activation, TCP Activation, )
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service(BITS): IIS Server Extension, Compact Server
- Remote Differential Compression
- Remote Server Administration Tools-> Windows Server Update Services Tools: API and PowerShell cmdlets, User Interface Management Console
Once All Above Roles and Features Selected, Click on Next.
On Web Server Role(IIS): Click on Next.
There are some some web server role feature which need to be selected are below
- Windows Authentication
- Security: IP and Domain Restrictions, URL Authorization, Windows Authentication
- Application Deployment: ASP.NET 3.5, ASP.NET 4.8
- Management Tools -> IIS 6 Management Compatibility: IIS 6 WMI Compatibility
- Management Tools: IIS Management Scripts and Tools
Once All Above 5 Features selected Click on Next.
On Confirmation Tab, Read everything which selected and confirm everything selected. check mark on “Restart the destination server automatically if required” and click on Next.
All selected roles and features and installed successfully now click on close.
Install SQL Server Management Studio
On above process, you have learned how and what roles and services are need to be installed. in further in this article i will be explaining how to install SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio).
Download Visual Studio SSMS and run as administrator
In the core feature SSMS core components are selected and click install.
Visual Studio installer started installing the management tool SQL server Management Studio 21.
SSMS tool has been installed on the MECM server.
Installing SQL Server 2022
After installing SSMS its time to install Core SQL server feature to store information which will be generated from SCCM server. Download SQL server 2022 or any version you need to install. Extract this and click on Setup -> Run as administrator
from the first console go to Installation Tab, and choose “New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation”
Enter the product key and continue to Next. as here in the example i don’t have license key and chooses for Evaluation edition and Next.
Accept the terms and privacy statement and click on Next.
Check for the update if there any new updates is available and click on Next.
From the feature selection list just check mark only one “Database Engine Services”. also at bottom you can customize instance root directory where installation files will be stored. For the installation files i have created a App Binary(D:) just change letter D from C and leave everything same, click on Next.
Name you Database server name i will leave as default (MSSQLSERVER) and Click on Next.
On Server Configuration Page, choose the language SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS which English from the Collation tab
On Service Accounts Tab, Choose MECM server Administrator Account and provide its password also set the startup type to automatic. below is the list of details which services need to be configured
- SQL Server Agent
- SQL server Database Engine
On Database Engine Configuration Page, There are multiple Section and I will Explaining One by one which are required to be configured.
Server configuration Tab, choose Windows authentication mode and provide the MECM admin user, also you can add a group to access the SQL Server from remote computer. I had created a group in Active Directory named “MECM Group” which is added to manage user member for accessing the the database from remote computers.
Data Directories Tab, Root Directory has been already chosen as D in previous step. At this point we need to choose for Database means where the databases will be created in the server. in this article series we have create a Drive Databases(E:) where all the databases and logs files will stored.
- Data root Directory: D
- User Database Directory: E
- User Database log directory: E
- Backup Directory: D
In all above explanation i have just changed Letter name to E, not other folder name, leave all as it is.
For TempDB, i will use App Binary(D:) for storing temp data. and keep its log directory to E drive because logs increases on time basis.
Once All above configuration is done. Come back to Server configuration Tab and click on Next.
Read all the details that configured during installation the setup page. you can go back and make changes again at to this point. after this administrator wont be able to make any changes after clicking on install. here i am sure that i my changes are okey.
Click on Install.
It may take 5 minutes to 1 hour to be installed. after some time SQL server has been installed successfully.
Install SQL Server ODBC Driver 18
After Install SQL server Administrator require to install ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) driver to establish connectivity between SQL server and MECM server. after MECM branch 2403 it required to install ODBC driver 18 to communicate with SQL server. At below details administrator will understand step by step installation process of SQL server ODBC driver 18
Download SQL Server Driver 18 from Microsoft right click on it and install and click on Next.
Read the software license and accept it. Click on Next.
Leave settings default and click on Next.
Click on Install.
ODBC Driver installed successfully.
check connection
Open SQL Server Management Studio, Select the server choose Windows Authentication and Click On Connect.
SQL server Successfully connect with SQL server Management studio.
Install SQL server Reporting Services
Microsoft Configuration Manager Provides bunch of reports more than 500, where reporting service uses to generate, store and display the report about MECM server. If administrator do not install the reporting service, all default reports remains inaccessible from the console.
This also provides Web based reporting portal where admin can schedule, run and download reports. user can also create their own custom query to get desired information from the server, Reporting service helps on bunch of the works in MECM, some of them are:
- Responsible to provide MECM built-in Reports.
- This service creates web base reporting option.
- supports custom queries and reports
- provide help with tracking health and compliance.
To Install SSRS in MECM server, Download it from Microsoft -> Right click on downloaded file -> Run as Administrator
First console will be appear, Click on Install Reporting Services
Provide the same license already used in SQL server installation process if you have already. I don’t have any key to install, will choose Evaluation version and click on Next.
As already Database engine has been installed choose “Install Reporting Services only“. Click Next.
Here, Administrator need to choose the location this program will be installed. I will choose App Binary(D:) drive for installation. just Change the letter D from default and click on install.
Once Installation is completed, Configure report server
Connect the Server
verify if SSRS service is running
We need to create Report Server Web Service Virtual Directory. Once administrator clicks on Web Service URL. Click on Apply.
After applying the setting, URL has been created. as log shows “This task completed successfully.“
Go to Database -> Change Database
Click on “Create a new report server database” and Next.
Click On Test Connection
Test Connection Succeeded. Click on OK
Click On Next.
Leave Database Name as default and Click on Next.
On Credentials Tab, There is nothing need to make changes leave everything default and Next.
Read on Summary page and click Next.
Server will set automatically everything. Click on Finish.
On Database go to Current Report Server Database Credential -> Change Credentials
Use the same credential already used for MECM server, provide the password and click on Next.
Read Details and Click on Next.
Configuration is completed Click on Finish.
Go to Web Portal URL: just click on Apply.
Configuration is completed.
That’s it!
This Article Explains and teaches all the prerequisites required by MECM server where you have learned install roles and services, SSMS, SQL server 2022, Install ODBC driver for MECM and SQL connectivity and reporting services.
Hope this article was informative, was it? you may also enjoy reading on Windows Firewall Policies Creation and Configuration for MCM.
