Create Cloud Distribution Point in SCCM 2012

 

Cloud Distribution Point Implementation

As I mentioned in my previous post following are the Prerequisites to use a Cloud Distribution Point

• A subscription to Windows Azure.
• A management certificate (self-signed or PKI) for communication from a Configuration Manager primary site server to the cloud service in Windows Azure.
• A service certificate (PKI) that Configuration Manager clients use to connect to cloud-based distribution points and download content from them by using HTTPS.
• Before a device or user can access content from a cloud-based distribution point, they must receive the client setting for Cloud Services of Allow access to cloud distribution points set to Yes. By default, this value is set to No.
• Clients must be able to resolve the name of the cloud service, which requires a DNS alias (CNAME record) in your DNS namespace.
• Clients must be able to access the Internet to use the cloud-based distribution point.

Implementation Steps:

In Windows Azure:

• Login to your Windows Subscription ID and click Settings and select management certificate in the center pane.
• In the bottom of the browser window, select Upload Certificate and browse for a .CER file of the Management Certificate.

• Once you uploaded the .CER file, make a note of the SUBSCRIPTION ID, which we will use it in SCCM console while creating Cloud DP.

In SCCM Console:

• In SCCM Console, Click on Administration and Right click on Cloud to "Create Cloud Distribution Point"
• On the Specify details for this cloud service page, this is where we’ll use the copy/pasted Subscription ID we saved, as well as the .pfx file that we exported earlier. 

• In Specify additional details for this distribution point select the specific region and in PKI certificate select the .pfx file which you have created earlier. 

We can use the wildcard certificate (.pfx) as well with our specific FQDN name.

• On the configure alerts for this distribution point page, make note of the different alert thresholds that can be set. We leave the defaults and click next.

• On the summary page, review the details and then click next.
• And now you’ll see your new Cloud Distribution Point listed in the main part of the page, that will have a status of Provisioning.  Eventually that status will change to Ready.
• You can follow the process by looking in the CloudMgr.log as well