How to Use the SCCM 2012 Upgrade Assessment Tool Smoothly Planning an upgrade to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (SCCM) requires careful preparation. The SCCM 2012 Upgrade Assessment Tool (UAT) simplifies this process. It evaluates your existing environment to ensure compatibility before you install the new software.
Follow this guide to configure and run the tool without technical hitches. Prerequisites and System Requirements
Before installing the tool, you must gather specific operational data. The UAT relies on asset information to measure your upgrade readiness.
Source Environment: Ensure your current SCCM 2007 site is actively collecting inventory.
SQL Server Compatibility: You need SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services installed.
Application Compatibility Toolkit: Download and install Microsoft ACT 6.0 or later.
Access Rights: Secure administrative permissions for both the SCCM and ACT databases. Step 1: Install the Upgrade Assessment Tool
The installation process links your asset management infrastructure with your compatibility databases.
Download the SCCM 2012 Upgrade Assessment Tool from the official Microsoft site.
Run the installer (.msi) on your SCCM 2007 site server or a dedicated administrative machine.
Follow the setup wizard prompts to accept the license agreement. Specify the installation directory and complete the wizard. Step 2: Configure the Database Connections
The tool bridges the gaps between your current hardware inventory and application compatibility data. Proper synchronization prevents data gaps. Open the Upgrade Assessment Tool configuration console.
Enter the server name and database name for your SCCM 2007 site.
Input the connection details for your Microsoft ACT database.
Click Test Connection for both databases to verify communication. Save the configuration settings. Step 3: Synchronize and Analyze Data
Once connected, the tool maps your existing hardware and software against SCCM 2012 system requirements. Initiate a data synchronization within the UAT console.
Wait for the tool to pull hardware inventory and application data.
Review the execution logs if the synchronization process slows down.
Allow the tool to finalize its automated risk assessment calculations. Step 4: Review Reports for Deployment Risks
The ultimate value of the UAT lies in its reporting capabilities. These reports show exactly what needs fixing before deployment day.
Application Compatibility Report: View which software packages will fail or conflict in SCCM 2012.
Hardware Readiness Report: Identify legacy client machines that lack the CPU, RAM, or disk space for the upgrade.
Device Driver Report: Spot missing or incompatible device drivers that could break client communication. Best Practices for a Smooth Experience
Clean Your Data First: Run a maintenance task in SCCM 2007 to delete obsolete or inactive client records before analyzing.
Allocate Dedicated Resources: Run the synchronization during off-peak hours to avoid performance drops on your SQL server.
Address Red Flags Immediately: Fix the “Not Ready” items highlighted in the reports before running the actual SCCM 2012 setup wizard.
To help tailor this process to your specific infrastructure, tell me: What is the size of your environment (number of clients)?
Are you planning an in-place upgrade or a side-by-side migration?
I can provide targeted troubleshooting steps for your exact migration path.
Leave a Reply