FAQShop.com : How do I stop the SMS Client from being installed on DCs?

How do I stop the SMS Client from being installed on DCs?

Our Domain Admins group does not want the SMS Client on the Domain Controllers. Will this cause any problems with SMS? Can we block the SMS client on DCs?

Contributed By: Cliff Hobbs [MVP SMS]
You can use the information detailed in Knowledge Base Article 207729 "SMS: Excluding Computers from Windows NT Remote Client Installation" which should help.

Contributed By: Wally Mead [MS]
You can only prevent SMS from pushing out the installation of the SMS client to your DCs. However, if a user logs on and runs either SMSLS.BAT or SMSMAN.EXE, the SMS client will be installed regardless of the ExcludeServers key.

Not having the client installed on DCs won't cause any problems with SMS, but of course, you won't have any ability to perform automated inventory cycles, or upgrades of OS service packs, security patches, etc.