Working with SCCM in Multiple Domains

A Comprehensive Guide to Multi-Domain Configuration and Management

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Highlights

• Trust and Authentication: Understand and configure trust relationships or needed site systems in untrusted environments.
• Active Directory & Service Accounts: Ensure proper AD schema extensions and dedicated service accounts with required permissions.
• Boundaries, Client Deployment, & Network Connectivity: Configure boundaries, boundary groups, and test network connectivity to enable seamless client management.

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Introduction

System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) is a robust management platform designed to administer large groups of computers in various network environments. For organizations with multiple Active Directory domains, whether they have established trust relationships or not, SCCM can be configured to manage clients effectively. In this guide, we break down the essential steps and best practices for configuring and managing SCCM across multiple domains with detailed considerations for trust relationships, Active Directory configuration, service accounts, client deployment, and network connectivity.

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Understanding Multi-Domain Environments

In many organizations, the infrastructure spans several domains due to business acquisitions, distributed office locations, or segmented security practices. Managing a multi-domain environment involves unique challenges, such as:

Managing Trust Relationships

Trust relationships are an important component in multi-domain management. In scenarios where domains have a two-way trust, SCCM can seamlessly discover and manage client machines across trusted domains. Even if no direct trust exists between some domains, SCCM can still manage clients by deploying site systems (such as management points) in each domain to handle authentication and authorization.

Two-Way and One-Way Trusts

In environments where two-way trusts are established, the discovery and management processes are greatly simplified. However, if only one-way trusts exist or no trust relationship is present, administrators must adjust configurations accordingly:

• For trusted domains, SCCM can use its built-in discovery mechanisms to identify and manage clients directly.
• For untrusted or one-way trust domains, installing a management point or other site system roles in the target domain provides the necessary authentication path for communication.

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Active Directory Configuration and Schema Considerations

Active Directory (AD) integration is at the heart of SCCM’s ability to discover and manage clients. The following points detail the AD configuration aspects:

Extending the AD Schema

The primary domain hosting the SCCM primary site requires an extension of the AD schema to enable management functionalities. In multi-domain setups, you may need to similarly extend the AD schema in additional domains – especially if you plan to use features such as Active Directory System Discovery or publish SCCM data to AD.

System Management Containers

In some cases, establishing a "System Management" container in each domain is necessary. Consider the following best practices:

• Create a dedicated container for SCCM objects to ensure proper segregation and easier management.
• Ensure the SCCM site server account has the requisite permissions to update the container and its child objects.

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Service Accounts and Permissions

Service accounts play a pivotal role in the reliable functioning of SCCM in multi-domain environments. Appropriately configured service accounts ensure that tasks such as client push installation, network access, and system discovery work seamlessly.

Dedicated Service Accounts

It is essential to create dedicated service accounts for different functions. For example:

• SCCM_NetworkAccess: Required for querying target domains and accessing distribution points and content libraries. This account should have read-only access to vital network resources.
• SCCM_ClientPush: Needs local administrator privileges on client machines to install SCCM agents and configure them appropriately across domains.

Permissions Overview

When configuring service accounts, ensure that:

• They have the correct permissions to operate within each target domain.
• They can query AD objects, access the SCCM content library network share, and manage client installations.

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Network Connectivity and Client Deployment

Ensuring reliable network connectivity is crucial to manage clients across multiple domains. SCCM requires well-defined boundaries and boundary groups to effectively locate and manage client devices.

Configuring Boundaries and Boundary Groups

Boundaries in SCCM define the network locations for client devices. They can be based on:

• Active Directory sites
• IP ranges or subnets
• AD sites and Active Directory Forests

Once boundaries are in place, you can group them into Boundary Groups to associate them with specific site systems, such as distribution points and management points.

Table: Comparison of Deployment Scenarios

Scenario	Trust Relationship	Configuration Complexity	Best Practices
Multiple Domains with Two-Way Trust	Established Trust	Lower	Leverage existing AD trusts, configure boundaries accordingly.
Multiple Domains with One-Way Trust	Limited Trust	Medium	Deploy management points in target domains and use dedicated service accounts.
Multiple Domains without Trust Relationships	No Trust	Higher	Manually install clients, create AD containers, and configure explicit permissions.

Client Installation Methods

Deploying the SCCM client across multiple domains can be managed using either automated or manual methods:

• Client Push Installation: This is effective in environments where SCCM can use Active Directory System Discovery. However, it may require adjustments if there are no trust relationships.
• Manual Installation: In domains where SCCM has limited access due to the absence of trusts, manual intervention may be required. For example, administratively deploying the client setup using command-line installation (e.g., using ccmsetup.exe with appropriate parameters) ensures all necessary settings are correctly applied.

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Security and Certificate Management

Security is paramount when configuring SCCM in multiple domains, especially where HTTPS and secure communications are required.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

For secure communications, particularly in HTTPS deployments, establishing a robust PKI is crucial. This involves:

• Issuing and managing certificates for SCCM site systems.
• Ensuring that all SCCM clients trust the root certificate authority (CA).
• Handling certificate enrollment and renewal in each domain as needed.

Certificate Considerations in Untrusted Domains

In environments without trust relationships, the PKI framework can become more complex. Administrators might need to deploy separate PKI infrastructures or ensure cross-certification between existing domains to maintain secure communication channels.

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Operational Best Practices

Successfully integrating SCCM in multi-domain environments depends on regular monitoring, testing, and the adaptation of best practices:

Logging and Diagnostics

Monitoring the health of SCCM deployments and troubleshooting issues is a continuous process. Key logs to monitor include:

• CCMMessaging.log: Tracks messaging and communication errors between clients and servers.
• PolicyAgent.log: Monitors policy retrieval and enforcement from the SCCM server.
• AppEnforce.log: Provides insights regarding application deployment and installation processes.

Regularly reviewing these logs will help administrators quickly identify and resolve issues that may arise due to domain-specific configurations.

Test Deployments and Lab Environments

Before making significant changes in a production environment, it is advisable to test configurations in a lab environment that closely replicates your multi-domain setup. Testing helps in:

• Validating trust relationships and communication between domains.
• Ensuring service accounts have the proper permissions.
• Confirming that boundary groups and client deployment methods are appropriately configured.

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Summary of Key Steps

The successful deployment of SCCM across multiple domains relies on a structured approach:

Step-by-Step Approach

1. Establish and document the trust relationships or necessary site systems needed for untrusted domains.
2. Extend the AD schema and create dedicated System Management containers where necessary.
3. Set up dedicated service accounts with proper permissions for tasks such as client push installation and network access.
4. Configure SCCM boundaries and boundary groups to represent each domain accurately.
5. Decide on client deployment methods (automated vs. manual) based on trust and connectivity status.
6. Implement and manage a PKI system to secure communications across all domains.
7. Regularly monitor logs and conduct test deployments to ensure configurations continue to function as expected.

Table: Summary of Configuration Considerations

Aspect	Key Considerations
Trust Relationships	Utilize two-way trusts when possible; otherwise deploy specific site systems for untrusted domains.
Active Directory	Extend the schema where necessary, and create System Management containers with proper permissions.
Service Accounts	Establish dedicated accounts (e.g., SCCM_NetworkAccess, SCCM_ClientPush) with appropriate privileges.
Boundaries	Define IP ranges, AD sites, or subnets; configure Boundary Groups to align with deployment strategies.
Client Deployment	Use client push or manual installations dependent on domain trust and connectivity.
PKI and Security	Implement and manage certificates with a robust PKI framework for secure communications.

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References

• SCCM for Multiple Environments and Domains - Reddit
• One SCCM Site with Multiple Domains (One Way Trust) - Prajwal Desai Forums
• SCCM Client Management Two Separate Domains - Microsoft Answers
• SCCM Domains, Forests, and Trusts - Home Memftw
• Setting Up SCCM on Multiple Domains - Server Fault

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