How to manually install SCCM 2012 client with PSEXEC.EXE remotely.

Obviously the preferred client installation method is either via an automatic client push or manually pushing out the client using the SCCM Administration Console:

However, this method sometimes doesn’t work either because of permissions issues or WMI corruption.  Of course, you want to fix the underlying problem that is causing a manual client push not to work.

For those of you interested in an alternative way to install the client, you can use the excellent PSEXEC.EXE command-line tool from Mark Russinovich Sysinternals Suite:

PSEXEC.EXE command window with server names blurred.

psexec.exe \\RemoteComputer -s -d \\SCCMServer\SMS_SiteCode\Client\ccmsetup.exe /logon SMSSITECODE=ABC /MP:MPServer.domain.local CCMHOSTNAME=cm.domain.com

In the above example, PSEXEC.EXE initiates a remote connection to “\\RemoteComputer” using the System Account (/S) and then passes the command and terminates immediately (/D).

For a list of PSEXEC.EXE switches go to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897553.

For a list of CCMSETUP.EXE switches go to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg699356.aspx.