Microsoft has released a second SCCM version for 2019. Microsoft still uses the same standard naming versions. You can begin upgrading your SCCM Current Branch environment to the latest SCCM 1906 release. If you want to install the latest updates, this post is a complete step-by-step SCCM 1906 upgrade guide.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive SCCM installation guide, see our blog series which covers it all. You won’t be able to install SCCM 1906 if you are running SCCM 2012, 1902 is the latest baseline version. This means that if you’re downloading the source from Volume Licensing, 1902 will be the starting version of your new SCCM site.

To install SCCM 1906 as an update, you must have installed at least SCCM 1802,SCCM 1806SCCM 1810 or SCCM 1902

SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

Keeping your infrastructure up to date is essential and recommended. You will benefit from the new features and fixes, which some of them can apply to your environment. It’s easier than ever to upgrade since Microsoft has implemented the servicing model directly from the console.

SCCM 1906 New Features and Fixes

SCCM 1906 includes an incredible amount of new features and enhancements in the site infrastructure, content management, client management, co-management, application management, operating system deployment, software updates, reporting, and configuration manager console. This release is packed with interesting feature to try.

You can consult the What’s new in version 1906 of System Center Configuration Manager Technet article for a full list of changes.

Here’s our list of favourite features. We’ll do blog posts on the most interesting feature in the coming weeks :

  • Azure Active Directory user group discovery
  • Readiness insights for desktop apps
  • Add joins, additional operators and aggregators in CMPivot
  • CMPivot standalone
  • Delivery Optimization download data in client data sources dashboard
  • Use your distribution point as an in-network cache server for Delivery Optimization
  • Support for Windows Virtual Desktop
  • Support Center OneTrace (Preview)
  • Configure client cache minimum retention period
  • Improvements to co-management auto-enrollment
  • Multiple pilot groups for co-management workloads
  • Application groups
  • Install an application for a device
  • Task sequence debugger
  • Clear app content from client cache during task sequence
  • Pre-cache driver packages and OS images
  • More frequent countdown notifications for restarts
  • Additional options for WSUS maintenance
  • Configure the default maximum run time for software updates
  • Drill through required updates
  • Office 365 ProPlus upgrade readiness dashboard
  • Role based access for folders

Support for SCCM Current Branch Versions

Ensure to apply this update before you fall into an unsupported SCCM version. Read about the support end date of the prior version of the following Technet article.

SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

Windows and SQL Support

Before installing, make sure that you are running a supported Operating System and SQL version. Older SCCM version was giving a warning during Prerequisite check but 1906 is giving an error which prevents the installation from continuing.

SCCM 1906 supports only Windows 2012+ and SQL 2012 SP3+.

Important Info

Version 1906 client requires SHA-2 code signing support.
Due to weaknesses in the SHA-1 algorithm and to align to industry standards, Microsoft now only signs Configuration Manager binaries using the more secure SHA-2 algorithm. The following Windows OS versions require an update for SHA-2 code signing support:
Windows 7 SP1
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
Windows Server 2008 SP2

Before you Begin

Downloading and installing this update is done entirely from the console. There’s no download link, the update will appear on your console once the Service Connection Point is synchronized.

If you’re running a multi-tier hierarchy, start at the top-level site in the hierarchy. After the CAS upgrade, you can begin the upgrade of each child site. Complete the upgrade of each site before you begin to upgrade the next site. Until all sites in your hierarchy are upgraded, your hierarchy operates in a mixed version mode.

Before applying this update, we strongly recommend that you go through the upgrade checklist provided on Technet. Most importantly, initiate a site backup before you upgrade.

In this post, we will update a stand-alone primary site server, consoles, and clients. Before installing, check if your site is ready for the update:

  • Open the SCCM console
  • Go to Administration \ Updates and Servicing
  • In the State column, ensure that the update Configuration Manager
    1906 is Available
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • If it’s not available, right-click Updates and Servicing and select Check for Updates
Warning

The SCCM 1906 update is not yet available for everyone. If you need it right away you can run the Fast-Ring script and the update will show up.

  • If the update is not downloading, click on the button Download on the upper node. The update state will change to Downloading
  • You can follow the download in Dmpdownloader.log or by going to Monitoring / Updates and Servicing Status, right-click your Update Name and select Show Status
  • The process will first download .CAB file and will extract the file in the EasyPayload folder in your SCCM installation directory.
  • It can take up to 15 minutes to extract all files.

SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

Step 1 | SCCM 1906 Prerequisite Check

Before launching the update, we recommend launching the prerequisite check first. To see the prerequisite checklist, see the Microsoft Documentation

  • Open the SCCM console
  • Go to Administration \ Updates and Servicing
  • Right-click the Configuration Manager 1906 update and select Run prerequisite check
  • Nothing will happen, the prerequisite check runs in the background and all menu are unavailable during the check
  • One way to see progress is by viewing C:\ConfigMgrPrereq.log
SCCM 1902 Upgrade Guide
  • You can also monitor prerequisite check by going to Monitoring / Update and Servicing Status, right-click your Update Name and select Show Status
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • When completed the State column will show Prerequisite check passed
TLS 1.2 Support

You might get a warning for TLS 1.2 support. Make sure to check ConfigMgrPrereq.log and look why the error occurs. In our situation, a higher version of SQL Server Native Client was required.

  • Right-click the Configuration Manager 1906 update and select Install Update Pack
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

Step 2 | Launching the SCCM 1906 Update

We are now ready to launch the SCCM 1906 update. At this point, plan about 45 minutes to install the update.

  • On the General tab, click Next
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • On the Features tab, checkboxes on the features you want to enable during the update
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • Don’t worry, if you don’t select one of the features now and want to enable it later, you’ll be able to so by using the console Administration \ Updates and Servicing \ Features
SCCM 1902 Upgrade Guide
  • In the Client Update Options, select the desired option for your client update
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • On the License Terms tab, accept the license terms and click Next
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • On the Summary tab, review your choices, click Next and close the wizard on the Completion tab
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

The whole process took a minute but the installation begins on the back end.

SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • During installation, the State column changes to Installing
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • We suggest you monitor the progress, by navigating to Monitoring / Updates and Servicing Status, right-click your Update Name and select Show Status
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

Unfortunately, the status is not updated in real-time. Use the Refresh button to update.

  • Open the SCCM log SCCM Installation Directory\Logs\CMUpdate.log with CMTrace
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
Important Info

We’ve done numerous SCCM upgrades. Some installation start a couple of minutes after you complete the wizard but we’ve seen some installation starts after a 10 minutes delay. Do not reboot or restart any services during this period or your update can be stuck in “Prerequisite check passed” status. There’s actually no officially documented methods by Microsoft to fix that. Patience is the key!

  • When completed, you’ll notice the message There are no pending update package to be processed in the log file
  • Monitoring / Updates and Servicing Status, right-click your Update Name and select Show Status, the last step will be Installation Succeeded
  • Refresh the Updates and Servicing node in Administration, the State column will be Installed
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

Updating the Outdated Consoles

As a previous update, the console has an auto-update feature. At the console opening, if you are not running the latest version, you will receive a warning and the update will start automatically.

  • Since all updates operations were initiated from the console, we didn’t close it during the process. We received a warning message when clicking certain objects. You will have the same message when opening a new console
  • Click OK, console restart and update will start automatically
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • Wait for the process to complete. You can follow the progress in C:\ConfigMgrAdminUISetup.log and C:\ConfigMgrAdminUISetupVerbose.log. Once completed, the console will open and you’ll be running the latest version

Verification

Consoles

After setup is completed, verify the build number of the console. If the console upgrade was successful, the build number will be 8853 and the version is now Version 1906.

SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

SCCM Servers

  • Go to Administration \ Site Configuration \ Sites
  • Right-click your site and select Properties
  • Verify the Version and Build number
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

SCCM 1906 Clients

The client version will be updated to 5.00.8853.1006 (after updating, see the section below)

SCCM 1906 Client Package distribution

You’ll see that the 2 client packages are updated:

  • Navigate to Software Library \ Application Management \ Packages
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide
  • Check if the update is successful, otherwise, select both packages and initiate a Distribute Content to your distribution points

Boot Images

Boot images will automatically update during setup. See our post on upgrade consideration in a large environment to avoid this if you have multiple distribution points.

  • Go to Software Library / Operating Systems / Boot Images
  • Select your boot image and check the last Content Status date. It should match your setup date

Updating the Clients

Our preferred way to update our clients is by using the Client Upgrade feature: (You can refer to our complete post documenting this feature)

  • Open the SCCM Console
  • Go to Administration / Site Configuration / Sites
  • Click the Hierarchy Settings in the top ribbon
  • Select Client Upgrade tab
  • The Upgrade client automatically when the new client update is available to the checkbox is enabled
  • Review your time frame and adjust it to your needs
SCCM 1906 Upgrade Guide

Monitor SCCM Client Version Number

SCCM Reports Client Version

You can see our SCCM Client version reports to give detailed information about every client version in your environment. It’s the easiest way to track your client updates.

Collections

In conclusion, you can create a collection that targets clients without the latest client version because is very useful when it comes to monitoring a non-compliant client.

Here’s the query to achieve this: (You can also refer to our Set of Operational Collection Powershell Script which contains this collection)

select SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceID,SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceType,SMS_R_SYSTEM.Name,SMS_R_SYSTEM.SMSUniqueIdentifier,SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceDomainORWorkgroup,SMS_R_SYSTEM.Client from SMS_R_System where SMS_R_System.ClientVersion != '5.00.8853.1006'

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Comments (14)

Jasmine

11.21.2019 AT 03:54 PM
Greetings, I hope you can help me. Whenever I upgrade afterwards we can no longer pxe boot and the error is something like "Unsuccessful in getting MP key information. untrusted certificate . . . ." How to find the new cert and install it? Thank you!~

Firdosh

11.20.2019 AT 04:19 PM
planning to upgrade to SCCM 1906 Existing Setup: Current Branch 1806 Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (SP4-GDR) (KB4057116) - 11.0.7462.6 SQL Native Client - 11.4.7462.6 Base Server:Windows Server 2012 6.2 Build 9200 Can we move ahead with the plan with the above setup ? Do we meet the requirements ?

Ravi J

10.31.2019 AT 11:46 PM
[Failed]:Checks if the specified SQL Server meets the minimum requirements for site upgrade.

svtrainings

10.23.2019 AT 01:07 AM
Its a really nice website. Thanks for giving full information about SCCM Training.

Peter Jackson

09.25.2019 AT 03:33 AM
Hi, we did the Upgrade from 1806 with High Availabilty yesterday. But the Passive system is stuck in "Upgrading" the logs that I can find dont really show and real information. In the CMUpdate.log the update shows as running, but the log just say "Waiting for the inbox manager to create the inboxes" Does any one have an idea what to look at?

Dilip Raju

09.19.2019 AT 08:55 AM
Hi Benoit, After upgrading to 1906, If we click on the Details Tab under Distribution Configuration Status, it takes a long time to load the messages. Is this a known issue after upgrading to 1906? Regards - Dilip

Rob Callan

09.12.2019 AT 02:59 AM
Hi, great blog, however my upgrade failed a pre-requisite check which I think has now been rectified but I am unable to run just the pre-req check again as it is greyed out. I don't want to run a complete upgrade yet until I know the pre-upgrade checks are good. Any advice please? Many thanks Rob

Juraj

08.22.2019 AT 12:17 AM
Hi Benoit, thank you for the upgrade guide. Unfortunately I'm facing osd ts issue after the upgrade. I have installed SCCM 1906 through console (5.0.8853.1600). So the version is little bit newer than in blog post. Everything went smoothly, but I got into weird error during OSD TS. Machine gets IP, image loads via TFTP, after the message Windows is starting.. the machine reboots. smsts.log contains this: There are no task sequences available to this computer.. Please ensure you have at least one task sequence deployed to this computer. Unspecified error (Error: 80004005; Source: Windows) There are several TS deployments pointed to the machine (unknown machines collection). I have tried to recreate boot images, update ADK, recreate OSD TS deployment but nothing solved the issue. I tried to ping the management point in F8 console and it is reachable. Have you faced such an issue?

L-I

08.29.2019 AT 06:29 AM
Hi, I got that exact same issue with my CB1906. Any newly created boot images fail but old bootimages created before the upgrade work.

Phil Flinn

10.02.2019 AT 01:03 PM
Did you upgrade ADK prior to the ConfigMgr upgrade?

Brendan

08.07.2019 AT 09:05 PM
Hi Benoit, Do you have any more details on the Sha-256 requirements. Our console is hiding the 1906 update due to SHA-256 not being enabled (based on the Applicability_1906Release1.sql), but i'm yet to find details on what needs to be configured to enable it. Cheers Brendan.

Dipesh Gohil

08.05.2019 AT 05:39 AM
Hi Benoit, Nice blog. Thank you for these information. I need to know if SCCM 1906 is compatible with client version for SCCM 1710. Do you have information like which SCCM version supports what all version of clients. Regards, Dipesh Gohil

Abhishek Yadav

08.19.2019 AT 03:58 AM
HI Dipesh, I guess there should not be any issue managing the 1710 client versions with SCCM CB 1906. But its not recommended!! Please answer few questions to yourself first.. 1. Your client version is 1710, is your current SCCM Version is also 1710? >> If Yes, Then you need to first upgrade it to atleast 1802 and then 1906. 2. Do you want to keep the SCCM Client version to 1710 even after upgrading to 1906? >>If Yes, is there any solid reason behind this? If NO, Then you can very easily upgrade all your clients to the latest version after upgrading SCCM. Hope it clarifies!! Thanks, Abhishek Yadav