Child configuration items in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager are copies of configuration items that retain a relationship to the original configuration item; therefore, they inherit the original configuration from the parent configuration item.

When you view the properties of a child configuration item in the Configuration Manager console, you can view, but not edit the inherited objects and settings with their validation criteria. However, you can add and then edit additional validation criteria to the child configuration item, and you can also add new objects and settings to the child configuration item. Therefore, the usual purpose for creating and editing a child configuration item is that it refines the original configuration item to meet your business requirements.

Note
You cannot create a child configuration item from a mobile device configuration item.

To create a child configuration item

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Assets and Compliance.

  2. In the Assets and Compliance workspace, expand Compliance Settings, and then click Configuration Items.

  3. In the Configuration Items list, select the configuration item for which you want to create a child configuration item, and then in the Home tab, in the Configuration Item group, click Create Child Configuration Item.

  4. On the General page of the Create Child Configuration Item Wizard, you can choose a specific revision of the parent configuration item to use to create the child. Other steps in this wizard are identical to those you would use to create a standard configuration item. For more information, see How to Create Windows Configuration Items for Compliance Settings in Configuration Manager.

  5. Complete the wizard. The new child configuration item displays in the Configuration Items list.

See Also