Guest Post: System Center Configuration Manager Application Catalogue
By Paul Gregory
System Center configuration Manager introduced many new features. One of the features revolving around the new User Centric element of the product is the Application Catalogue which allows users to select software they would like to install and if required have it Approved by an Administrator.
One question I get asked a lot is supporting this functionality it untrusted forests and this is possible. To enable this support a few things need to be considered
· The Application Catalogue server has to be able to authenticate the users that connect to it
· Configuration Manager needs to know about the users that will request applications
To enable this cross forest support the following steps need to be performed
1) Install the Application Catalogue Web Service in the same forest as the SCCM database
2) Install the Application Catalogue Website in the untrusted forest giving SCCM credentials to deploy the role to a member server in the remote forest
3) The Application Catalogue Web Service and Website will communicate using Self-Signed certificates these can be replaced with certificates from a PKI infrastructure if needed
4) Enable User Discovery or User Group Discovery for the remote forest in SCCM. This is needed because applications displayed in the catalogue are based on the collection targeting so the applications will need to be targeted within SCCM to the users in the remote forest.
Paul Gregory is one of QA’s principal technologists – specialising in delivering training around Microsoft Server operating systems, virtualisation and systems management. During a 29-year career within IT, Paul has helped many international organisations develop infrastructure solutions based on Microsoft technologies, as well as supply training services during the last 14 years. Paul has helped QA deliver numerous Microsoft partner training skilling programmes for Microsoft – particularly around the areas of Microsoft Server operating systems, virtualisation and System Center. Paul was also heavily involved in the recent Microsoft Windows 8 / Server 2012 TAP programme where he played a key role in the testing of core Windows Server 2012 technologies and positioning this information back to product specialists in Redmond. With the advent of the Microsoft Private Cloud solutions based on System Center 2010 & 2012 Paul have been responsible in helping Microsoft prepare the Partner channel both in the US and Europe for these technologies.