Accessing SCCM Data using Device42

Introduction

SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) is a comprehensive tool used by organizations to manage a large number of devices. WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) provides a standardized method to access data about those managed devices, system configurations, and operations performed by SCCM. This document outlines the high-level steps and requirements to access SCCM with WMI using Device42, focusing on the root\SMS namespace and various classes like SMS_R_System and SMS_G_SYSTEM_*.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure the following:

1. Access Permissions: You need access to the root\SMS namespace on the SCCM server. This typically requires administrative rights or permissions specifically granted to your user account to query WMI on the SCCM server.
2. Ability to query SCCM Site Code: The specific site code of your SCCM installation is essential since the WMI queries will be targeted at the site-specific namespace, formatted as root\SMS\site_<YourSiteCode>.
3. Familiarity with WMI Client Tools for diagnosing discovery issues: Tools such as WMI Explorer can facilitate browsing namespaces and classes. For scripting and automation, familiarity with PowerShell or VBScript is also beneficial to diagnose issues.

Accessing SCCM through WMI with Device42

Connect to the SCCM Namespace

To access SCCM data via WMI, Device42 connects to the root\SMS namespace, appending your specific SCCM site code. This site code is dynamically retrieved from SCCM using a WMI call. This action often requires administrative privileges.

Key Classes for Data Query

SCCM's WMI interface exposes multiple classes that are queried to retrieve information. Each class represents different types of data related to devices managed by SCCM. Here are some notable classes:

• SMS_R_System: Provides comprehensive information about each system or device managed by SCCM.
• SMS_G_SYSTEM_COMPUTER_SYSTEM: Offers details about the computer systems, including manufacturer, model, and roles.
• Other SMS_G_SYSTEM_* classes capture specific aspects of managed systems:
• SMS_G_SYSTEM_OPERATING_SYSTEM: Operating system details.
• SMS_G_SYSTEM_PC_BIOS: BIOS information, including version and manufacturers.
• SMS_G_SYSTEM_X86_PC_MEMORY: Memory configuration and capacity.
• SMS_G_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR: Processor type, speed, and status.
• SMS_G_SYSTEM_NETWORK_ADAPTER_CONFIGURATION: Network adapter settings, IP addresses, and MAC addresses.
• SMS_G_SYSTEM_Add_Remove_Programs & SMS_G_SYSTEM_Add_Remove_Programs_64: Installed applications and software inventory.

Querying Data

Device42 extracts information from these classes using appropriate queries formulated for Discovery

Security and Permissions

Ensure that you operate within the security policies of your organization. Access to sensitive data through SCCM and WMI must be carefully controlled and monitored.

Best Practices

• Compare with SCCM Console: Validate and compare the Device42 results with the data visible in the SCCM console to ensure accuracy.
• Secure Access: Manage and restrict access to the WMI namespaces and SCCM data for authorization by Device42.

Conclusion

Leveraging WMI to access SCCM data with Device42 offers powerful and flexible options for system management and reporting. By understanding the structure of the SCCM WMI namespace and following best practices, Device42 can safely and effectively query the SCCM environment for device and system information.