System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection support for Azure Virtual Machines

Note

CentOS referenced in this article is a Linux distribution and will reach End Of Life (EOL). Consider your use and plan accordingly. For more information, see CentOS End Of Life guidance.

This article introduces the support policy for Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection to manage server software in the Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine environment (infrastructure-as-a-service).

Original product version:   Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection
Original KB number:   2889321

Supported scenarios and features

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later versions and System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection SP1 or later versions support two specific scenarios to manage server software in the Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine environment.

The following table lists the scenarios and supported Configuration Manager features in each scenario.

Supported scenarios Supported Configuration Manager features
Use an existing on-premises Configuration Manager infrastructure to manage Azure Virtual Machines that are running Windows Server or Linux. For Windows Server:
  • Application Management
  • Compliance Settings
  • Endpoint Protection
  • Inventory - Software, Hardware, and Asset Intelligence
  • Network Access Protection
  • Software Updates Deployment
  • Software Metering
  • Remote Control
  • Reporting
For Linux:
  • Software Distribution
  • Endpoint Protection
  • Inventory - Hardware, Software
  • Reporting
Set up a single stand-alone primary site in the Azure Virtual Machine environment to manage Azure Virtual Machines that are running Windows Server or Linux in the same virtual network.

The all-in-one, stand-alone primary site is a single Azure Virtual Machine that runs all required site system roles and Microsoft SQL Server locally without using any remote site systems or roles.
For Windows Server:
  • Application Management
  • Compliance Settings
  • Endpoint Protection
  • Inventory - Software, Hardware, and Asset Intelligence
  • Software Updates Deployment
  • Software Metering
  • Remote Control
  • Reporting
For Linux:
  • Software Distribution
  • Endpoint Protection
  • Inventory - Hardware, Software
  • Reporting

The following Linux distributions are endorsed for Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines in the supported scenarios:

  • Canonical Ubuntu 12.04
  • OpenLogic CentOS 6.3
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP2

Note

The Linux-based virtual machines must be running version 1.0.0.4648 or later versions of the Linux client for Configuration Manager.

References

For more information about the endorsed Linux distributions for Azure Virtual Machines, see Endorsed Linux distributions on Azure.

For more information about supported Microsoft server software in the Azure Virtual Machine environment, see Microsoft server software support for Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines.

Third-party information disclaimer

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.