Configuration Manager 2007 site hierarchies are made up of sites joined together in parent-child relationships. You connect sites by changing a site's parent. You can connect sites to form any kind of hierarchy you prefer, but no site can have more than one parent site. A primary site that has no parent is known as the central site. Every Configuration Manager 2007 site hierarchy must have a central site.

By creating the parent-child primary site relationships, you create the hierarchical reporting structure used by Configuration Manager 2007. Plan the order in which you will attach sites, thereby creating data flow between sites in a hierarchy branch. If a primary site contains a large amount of client data, for example, and you attach the site to another site, be aware that such client data propagates up the hierarchy to the primary parent site. Be sure to plan for this, and configure the appropriate address schedule and rate limits based on the amount and type of data you expect to flow up to the parent primary site.

Note
It is not supported to attach a native mode child site to a parent primary site configured for mixed mode operations.

Do not confuse the terms "child site" and "secondary site." You can configure parent sites for primary sites only by using this procedure. Secondary sites are attached to a primary site when they are created.

Important
Before joining Configuration Manager 2007 sites, you must first configure the site-to-site communication between them by creating the appropriate addresses between sites.

To set the parent site for a primary site

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Site Management / <site code> - <site name>.

  2. Right-click <site code> - <site name> and click Properties.

  3. On the General tab, click Set Parent Site.

  4. Select the Report to parent site option.

  5. Using the drop-down selection list, select the site that you want this site to report to as its parent.

See Also