Configuring Discovery And Boundaries In SCCM

Configuring SCCM Discovery

Configure discovery methods to find resources to manage from from network and Active Directory. Discovery creates a discovery data record (DDR) for each discovered object and stores this information in the SCCM database. When a resource is discovered the information about the resource is put in a file that is referred to as a discovery data record (DDR).
For More Info:- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sccm/core/servers/deploy/configure/configure-discovery-methods

Discovery Methods

Active Directory Forest Discovery – This method discovers Active Directory sites and subnets.
Active Directory Group Discovery – This method discovers groups from the defined location in the Active Directory.
Active Directory System Discovery –This method discovers the computers in your organization from specified AD locations.
Configuration Manager Active Directory User Discovery – This Discovery process discovers the user accounts from your Active Directory domain.
HeartBeat Discovery – This is the only discovery method that is enabled by default. The HeartBeat Discovery runs on every SCCM client and is used by Active Configuration Manager clients to update their discovery records in the database. Furthermore the records are sent to the management point in specified duration of time.
Network Discovery – The Network Discovery searches your network infrastructure for network devices that have an IP address. It can search the domains, SNMP devices and DHCP servers to find the resources. This includes printers, routers, and bridges.

Below is the discovery methods from Console

Enable Active Directory Forest Discovery

  In the Configuration Manager console, click on Administration and select Hierarchy Configuration, click on Discovery Methods. The first discovery method listed is Active Directory Forest Discovery. To discover Active Directory network locations and convert those locations into boundaries right click Active Directory Forest Discovery for the primary site and right click, choose Properties. Enable Active Directory Forest Discovery

 

Review the discovery of objects via ADForestDisc.log file located in <InstallationPath>\LOGS path

Enable Active Directory Group Discovery 

In the ConfigMgr console, in the Administration workspace, select Hierarchy Configuration, then select Discovery Methods and right click Active Directory Group Discovery and choose properties.  The Active Directory Group Discovery Properties window appears. Select the option to Enable Active Directory Group Discovery and click on Add to see two more choices, Groups and Location. Select Location and select the previously created windowsnoob Organizational Unit (OU) which will contain your servers, users, computers and devices.

Review the discovery of objects via ADsgDis.log file

Enable Active Directory System Discovery 

In the ConfigMgr console, in the Administration workspace, select Hierarchy Configuration, then select Discovery Methods and right click Active Directory System Discovery and choose Properties, place a check mark in Enable Active Directory System Discovery. Click on the yellow starburst to add Active Directory containers. For path click on browse and browse to the location you want to discover systems in.

Review the discovery of objects via ADsysDis.log file

Enable Active Directory User Discovery 

In the ConfigMgr console, in the Administration workspace, select Hierarchy Configuration, then select Discovery Methods and right click Active Directory User Discovery and choose Properties. Place a checkmark in Enable Active Directory User Discovery  and click on the yellow starburst to add active directory locations to discover users.

Review the discovery of objects via ADusrDis.log file

Review discovered resources in the console

Discover enabled view from Console

Discovered System resources

Discovered User resources

Configure SCCM Boundaries

As per Microsoft, a boundary is a network location on the intranet that can contain one or more devices that you want to manage. Boundaries can be either an IP subnet, Active Directory site name, IPv6 Prefix, or an IP address range.
To use a boundary, you must add the boundary to one or more boundary groups. Boundary groups are collections of boundaries. By using boundary groups, clients on the intranet can find an assigned site. In addition to that they can locate content such as applications, software updates, and operating system images. Active Directory Forest Discovery discovers boundaries automatically.

To create boundries in SCCM,
Open the SCCM Console-Go to Administration / Hierarchy Configuration / Boundary-Right-click Boundaries and select Create Boundary

Here i have used Active Directive Site

Here boundary has been created and reflected in Console

Create Boundary Group

We need to add the Boundary to the Boundary groups. To do so Select Boundary Groups, right Click and create a boundary group. Provide a name as First Boundary Group. Click Add. Select the boundary which we created Vcloud.com AD Site and Click OK. Click on references tab, check Use this Boundary group for site assignment. To add the site system servers, click Add and select the Site System Server. Click OK.

Newly Created Boundary group reflected in Console