Automatically Updating the Configuration Manager Client

Students always ask me about the ability to automatically update the Configuration Manager client.  The ability to do this has been available since System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1.  With the release of a Cumulative Update (CU), administrators can now take advantage of this feature.

If the automatic client upgrade feature is enabled on a site server, cumulative update 1 will present a new option during the installation process as seen below.

Choosing the “Automatically apply” option results in the installer performing the following steps:

1. Places the most recent client patch file on the site server.
2. Updates content on the distribution points for this site and any child site…if the CU runs on the Central Administration Site (CAS)
3. Updates the client package on the Management Point of the local site.  In the event of a hierarchy configuration, the CU should be run at child sites to update their local Management Point.

All future client installations using the Client Push method will apply the new patch automatically.