SCCM 2012 Client Settings – Explained

SCCM 2012 Client Settings – Explained

Use client settings in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager to configure user and device settings for the hierarchy. Client settings include configuration options such as the hardware inventory and schedule, and the polling schedule for client policy.

All Configuration Manager clients in the hierarchy use the Default Client Settings that are automatically created when installing Configuration Manager. However, modification to the default client settings can be done and custom client settings can be created to override the default client settings for specific users or devices.

When creating a set of custom client settings, it must be assigned to one or more collections for the settings to be applied to the collection members. If applying multiple sets of custom client settings to the same user or device, the order in which these settings are applied can be configured according to the order that is specified. Custom device or user settings with an Order value of 1 are always processed last and will override any other configurations. The Default Client Settings has a permanent order of 10,000, which ensures it is always applied before any custom settings are applied. When there is a conflict of settings, the client setting that was applied last (with the lower order value) overrides any previous settings.

Custom client settings can be created at the central administration site or from any primary site in the hierarchy. Custom settings replicate to all sites in the hierarchy.

For information about how to configure client settings see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682067

Below a very short summary is shown.

Figure Client Settings

 

See the below only as proposals, each value should be evaluated at each account.

Configuration Manager Activity	Frequency	Comment
Background Intelligent Transfer	N/A	Specifies if clients should be limited when using BITS to download software
Cloud Services	N/A	Not used in my case, as I my client requirements I should follow :(
Client Policy	Default to 60 minutes, lower this for better response times	Specifies how often clients should check for new policies at their MP
Compliance settings	Default to 7 days, reduce if needed	See document CCM42-164 Compliance Settings Configuration.docx
Computer Agent	N/A	See the specs here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682067#BKMK_ComputerAgentDeviceSettings
Computer Restart	N/A	When you specify these computer restart settings, ensure that the value for the restart temporary notification interval and the value for the final countdown interval are shorter in duration than the shortest maintenance window that is applied to the computer.
Endpoint Protection	Disabled	Not used in my case, as I my client requirements I should follow :(
Hardware Inventory	Default to 7 days	Recommended to set 3 days or less
Metered Internet Connections	N/A	Not used in my case, as I my client requirements I should follow :(
Enrollment	N/A	Not used in my case, as I my client requirements I should follow :(
Network Access Protection		Not used in my case, as I my client requirements I should follow :(
Power Management		See doc CCM42-197 Power Management.docx
Remote Tools		Not used in my case, as I my client requirements I should follow L
Software Deployment	Default to 7 days, can be reduced if needed	Specify at what schedule clients re-evaluates its deployments.
Software Inventory	Default to 7 days	Recommended to set 3 days or less
Software Metering	Default to 7 days
Software Updates	Default	See doc CCM42-084 Patch Management.docx
State Messaging	Default 15 minutes	Specifies the schedule for when state messages is forwarded in the hierarchy
User and Device Affinity		Not used in my case, as I my client requirements I should follow :( at moment, described here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682067#BKMK_UserDeviceAffinityDeviceSettings

Above are configuration for my one of client as Examples on Client settings