Now you can have a better understanding of the ConfigMgr collection dependency relationships with the view relationships graph. Microsoft introduced a new feature to represent collection relationships in a graphical format with the version 2010. You can view dependency relationships between collections in a relationship graph.
The impact analysis of SCCM collections has been made easy with this new feature. Now SCCM admins can easily understand the include and exclude dependencies of collections. This might also help to reduce accidental deletions and deployments.
The following are some of the related posts:
- Walkthrough of SCCM Console
- What is Collection, How to Create SCCM Static Collections Part 1
- How to create dynamic collections? Create Collection Folders Part 2
- Create AD Group Based SCCM Collection
Prerequisite
There is no specific prerequisite required to access the collection relationship feature from the console.
- ConfigMgr 2010 version or later.
- The admin should have appropriate permissions to access all related collections.
- You can only see relationships between collections to which you have permission:
- If you have permission for All Systems or All Users and User Groups, then you’ll see all relationships.
- If you don’t have permission for a specific collection, you don’t see it in the graph, and can’t view its relationships.
The relationship graph might show an incomplete graph if you don’t have permission to access all those related collections.
Dependency Lines
There are SIX types of dependencies are represented in the graph with different types of lines as shown in the picture. This is key to having a better understanding of collection dependencies.
SIX types of Dependency Lines:
- Mixed – When the collection has more than one type of dependency.
- Exclude – When there are some excluded collections.
- Limiting – Limiting collections are shown using this type of dependency.
- Include – The collections that are included are shown with this type of dependency.
- Limiting + Include – When the limiting collection is included.
- Limiting + Exclude – When the limiting collection is excluded.
Launch Options
You can launch the collection dependency relationships graphical view from the Configuration Manager console itself. You don’t have to use an additional tool to view this graph. It opens up a new pop-up window within the console to give you a proper view of all the dependent collections.
- Navigate to \Assets and Compliance\Overview\Device Collections or \Assets and Compliance\Overview\User Collections
- Right-click on the collection
- Select the View Relationships option
Actions
There are different options available with the view relationships graph for each collection. Make sure you have appropriate permissions as explained in the prerequisite section of this blog.
- You can expand the dependency graph using the + symbol to get a full view of relationships.
- Click on Dependency or Dependent tree to have a holistic view of the relationship.
- On the right side top corner, the relationship lines are visible.
- On the right side bottom corner, you have further actions:
- Actual Size – The actual size of the graph.
- Fit Screen – The full-screen view of the graph.
- Print – Printing options are available with this bottom.
- Drag – This button gives drags the graphs.
- Zoom in & Zoom out – There are two options to enlarge and reduce the graphical representation.
Resources
- View collection relationships – here
- SCCM Collections How to Create Direct Membership Collection
- Introduction to collections in SCCM – here
- Create SCCM Static Collections (Programmatically or using script) – here
- Best Practices of Collection by Roger – here
Author
Anoop is Microsoft MVP! He is a Solution Architect in enterprise client management with more than 20 years of experience (calculation done in 2021) in IT. He is a blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group HTMD Community leader. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM 2012, Current Branch, and Intune. E writes about ConfigMgr, Windows 11, Windows 10, Azure AD, Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, AVD, etc…