Basic Guide to SCCM Client Install

How SCCM Client Install Works

This is a very basic guide to how the SCCM Client install process works 

1.    The client install process is initiated (either via SCCM or from \\SCCMServerName\sms_(sitecode)\client)

2.    A new folder called ccmsetup is created in the system folder (C:\windows\system32)

3.    The ccmsetup.exe file is downloaded to the ccmsetup folder

4.    The ccmsetup.exe file runs and then kicks off the install. In doing it pulls down all the other required files from SCCM.

5.    Once all the requisite parts have downloaded, the client.msi will begin and the installation will head toward the finish

There are two useful log files within the ccmsetup folder which can be used to check on the progress of the client install. These can be found here \\machinename\c$\Windows\system32\ccmsetup and are shown below:

 ccmsetup.log – This log file contains all the information about the client install process.

> If there are any problems with the install of the client, this is the best place to start.

> If everything has worked ok, the end of the log file should look like the below.

 

client.msi.log – This log file contains all the information about the client.msi part of the installation process. It’s a bit harder to pick through than the ccmsetup.log but you need some help, this is a very good place ot start looking: http://blogs.technet.com/b/sudheesn/archive/2010/05/31/troubleshooting-sccm-part-i-client-push-installation.aspx