Linux Unix SCCM Support is Dead Configuration Manager MEM

Linux Unix SCCM Support is Dead Configuration Manager ConfigMgr. Update – SCCM client support for Linux Unix Operating systems ended on March 22, 2018. Microsoft SCCM team released the new production version of SCCM 1802.

I have a post and video that explains the SCCM CB 1802 upgrade process, upgrade checklist, and new features. I wanted to share surprising information (but expected) about SCCM Linux UNIX support in this post.

Do you have more questions about Linux UNIX SCCM support? What is Microsoft’s Linux and Unix Management story?

Yes, it seems that (from the latest release note of production version SCCM CB 1802) Linux UNIX SCCM support is almost dead. Microsoft SCCM team confirmed that from SCCM CB 1902 onwards, they are not planning to include UNIX and Linux clients.

Patch My PC

Future of SCCM Linux UNIX Support?

I don’t think there is much future left in SCCM Linux UNIX support management from the SCCM side. Microsoft intends to deprecate the Linux and UNIX client support in System Center Configuration Manager roughly one year from now. The clients will not be included in the SCCM 1902 release in early calendar 2019.

Microsoft announced great news Endpoint Manager Intune Linux Support. The MEM Intune Linux support is for Linux Desktop experience scenarios.  Endpoint Manager Intune Linux Support Details Not Chromebook Management HTMD Blog (anoopcnair.com).

SCCM Linux UNIX Support

SCCM CB 1802 and 1810 will have their UNIX and Linux SCCM clients. Are you using SCCM CB to manage Linux and UNIX servers? I have not seen many of us using this feature.

If you are one of them, please start the Linux and UNIX management migration plans. Linux UNIX SCCM support is almost dead from my perspective.

The SCCM (ConfigMgr) 1810 release, scheduled for late 2018, will be the last release to include the Linux and UNIX clients.

Linux Unix SCCM Support is Dead Configuration Manager MEM - Fig.1
Linux Unix SCCM Support is Dead Configuration Manager MEM – Fig.1

What will Happen to Existing UNIX and Linux Clients?

Microsoft will continue Linux UNIX SCCM support until the end of support dates of SCCM CB 1810. I think that it is a good amount of time to develop a strategy to migrate Linux and UNIX devices from SCCM management. The end of support announcement for SCCM Linux UNIX support.

One advantage of having telemetry data from SCCM is that Microsoft can understand usability. I won’t be surprised to see very little SCCM usage in the Linux and UNIX worlds.

Linux Unix Management Options from Microsoft?
What are Microsoft’s Linux and Unix management options? I think Microsoft’s server management story is Operations Management Suite (OMS).
OMS provides Automation, Log Analytics, Recovery services, and Security for Linux servers. But I’m not very sure about the deployment of applications and patches. SCCM Linux UNIX support is ended.
Linux Unix SCCM Support is Dead Configuration Manager MEM – Table 1

Deprecation announcement for Linux and Unix client support

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Author

Anoop C Nair is Microsoft MVP from 2015 onwards for consecutive 10 years! He is a Workplace Solution Architect with more than 22+ years of experience in Workplace technologies. He is a Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group Community leader. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM and Intune. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security, Career etc.

4 thoughts on “Linux Unix SCCM Support is Dead Configuration Manager MEM”

  1. Hi Anoop!
    Ok, Microsoft wouldn’t include UNIX\Linux clients to new releases but can we continue to use current clients? As example, our company has a strong security rules and all computers should be managed only on-premise and Azure is not a solution for us.

    Reply
  2. Hi Anoop,

    This is awful, since we leverage SCCM Device Collection to update dynamic group in Azure Update Management using SCCM to Azure Connector, what will replace dynamic groups for Linux, to either leverage SCCM or AD Groups to target for maintenance windows. Dynamic Grouping is to help leverage core services like SCCM and AD but for Linux this looks like a big gap in MS design plan.

    Reply

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