Deploy operating systems, applications, updates, and patches
Monitor and enforce compliance settings and policies
Inventory hardware and software assets
Remotely control and troubleshoot devices
Create reports and dashboards
SCCM uses a client-server architecture, where the SCCM server hosts the central administration console and the SCCM client is installed on each device. The SCCM server communicates with the SCCM clients through distribution points, which are servers that store the content to be deployed to the devices.
What is Chocolatey?
Chocolatey is a software management automation platform that wraps installers, executables, zips, and scripts into compiled packages. Chocolatey packages can be installed, upgraded, uninstalled, and configured using a single command-line interface. Chocolatey integrates with several infrastructure automation tools, such as Ansible, Chef, PowerShell DSC, Puppet, Salt, and Otter. Chocolatey also has a community repository of over 8,000 packages that are maintained by volunteers. Chocolatey can be used to manage software on both personal and organizational levels.
How to integrate SCCM and Chocolatey?
To integrate SCCM and Chocolatey, you need to do the following steps:
Install Chocolatey on the SCCM server and the distribution points. You can use the community cookbook for Chef or the win_chocolatey module for Ansible to automate this process.
Create Chocolatey packages for the software you want to deploy. You can use existing packages from the community repository, create your own packages using the Chocolatey packaging tools, or use third-party tools such as Package Builder or Npackd.
Publish the Chocolatey packages to an internal repository. You can use tools such as Nexus Repository OSS, ProGet, or Artifactory to host your own repository. Alternatively, you can use a file share or a web server as your repository source.
Create SCCM applications for the Chocolatey packages. You can use the Client Center for Configuration Manager tool to automate this process. This tool allows you to create SCCM applications from Chocolatey packages in bulk, with predefined detection methods, requirements, dependencies, and uninstall commands.
Distribute the SCCM applications to the distribution points. You can use the SCCM console or PowerShell cmdlets to do this.
Deploy the SCCM applications to the target devices. You can use the SCCM console or PowerShell cmdlets to create collections, assignments, schedules, and notifications for the deployment.
What are the benefits of integrating SCCM and Chocolatey?
By integrating SCCM and Chocolatey, you can enjoy the following benefits:
You can use Chocolatey as a universal installer for any type of software package, regardless of its format or source.
You can take advantage of Chocolatey's features such as versioning, dependencies, configuration settings, scripts, checksums, and offline installation.
You can leverage SCCM's features such as compliance enforcement, inventory reporting, remote control, and user experience customization.
You can reduce the network bandwidth consumption by using distribution points as local sources for Chocolatey packages.
You can simplify the software management workflow by using a single command-line interface for Chocolatey and a single graphical interface for SCCM.
Conclusion
SCCM and Chocolatey are two powerful tools that can complement each other in managing software on Windows devices. By integrating them, you can achieve a high level of efficiency and reliability in your software management processes. If you are interested in learning more about SCCM and Chocolatey, you can visit their official websites or read their documentation .
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