Configuration baselines in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager contain predefined configuration items and optionally, other configuration baselines. After a configuration baseline is created, you can deploy it to a collection so that devices in that collection download the configuration baseline and assess their compliance with it.
Configuration baselines in Configuration Manager can contain specific revisions of configuration items or can be configured to always use the latest version of a configuration item. For more information about configuration item revisions, see How to Manage Configuration Items for Compliance Settings in Configuration Manager.
There are two methods that you can use to create configuration baselines in Configuration Manager:
- Import configuration data from a file. To
start the Import Configuration Data Wizard, in the
Configuration Items or Configuration Baselines node
in the Assets and Compliance workspace, click Import
Configuration Data.
- Use the Create Configuration Baseline
dialog box to create a new configuration baseline.
Use the following procedure to create a configuration baseline by using the Create Configuration Baseline dialog box.
To create a configuration
baseline
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In the Configuration Manager console, click Assets and Compliance.
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In the Assets and Compliance workspace, expand Compliance Settings, and then click Configuration Baselines.
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On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create Configuration Baseline.
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In the Create Configuration Baseline dialog box, enter a unique name and a description for the configuration baseline. You can use a maximum of 255 characters for the name and 512 characters for the description.
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The Configuration data list displays all configuration items or configuration baselines that are included in this configuration baseline. Click Add to add a new configuration item or configuration baseline to the list. You can choose from the following:
- Configuration Items
- Software Updates
- Configuration Baselines
- Configuration Items
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Use the Change Purpose list to specify the behavior of a configuration item that you have selected in the Configuration data list. You can select from the following:
- Required The configuration baseline is
evaluated as noncompliant if the configuration item is not detected
on a client device. If it is detected, it is evaluated for
compliance
- Optional The configuration item is
only evaluated for compliance if the application it references is
found on client computers. If the application is not found, the
configuration baseline is not marked as noncompliant (only
applicable to application configuration items).
- Prohibited The configuration baseline
is evaluated as noncompliant if the configuration item is detected
on client computers (only applicable to application configuration
items).
NoteThe Change Purpose list is available only if you clicked the option This configuration item contains application settings on the General page of the Create Configuration Item Wizard. - Required The configuration baseline is
evaluated as noncompliant if the configuration item is not detected
on a client device. If it is detected, it is evaluated for
compliance
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Use the Change Revision list to select a specific or the latest revision of the configuration item to assess for compliance on client devices or select Always Use Latest to always use the latest revision. For more information about configuration item revisions, see How to Manage Configuration Items for Compliance Settings in Configuration Manager.
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If you want to remove a configuration item from the configuration baseline, select a configuration item, and then click Remove.
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Click OK to close the Create Configuration Baseline dialog box and to create the configuration baseline.