Optional roles

An optional role is one that should be installed along with the ConfigMgr server to add certain functionalities. The number of optional roles depend on the planned functionalities of the server. Each and every role needs to be properly configured. Some roles, such as a distribution point, might need to be configured differently on each server.

The following is the list of optional server roles that are added to the environment after the server is installed:

• Application Catalog website point: A role handling the communication between software library and Application Catalog website point; a website where users can browse applications that have been published for them.
• Asset Intelligence synchronization point: A server role that gains data from the Asset Intelligence catalog and sends all application signatures to the Asset Intelligence catalog. It is installed only on a central administration site or standalone primary site server.
• Certificate registration point: The server role that provides and maintains certificates used by the ConfigMgr client.
• Distribution point: The server role that provides source files with clients for tasks that have been created by an administrator. It's one of the roles that might be automatically installed when installing ConfigMgr server.
• Endpoint Protection point: The server role that manages the endpoint system protection system.
• Fallback status point: The role that saves data about the status of the ConfigMgr client's installation. Thanks to this, it is possible to find clients that are not able to connect to the management point.
• Management point: The server role that enables communication between clients and the server.
• Data Warehouse service point: The server role that synchronizes data from Configuration Manager database to Data Warehouse database.
• Cloud management gateway connections point: The server role that manages the endpoint system protection system.
• Enrollment point: This provides complete mobile device enrollment.
• Enrollment proxy point: This manages enrollment requests from mobile devices.
• Reporting services point: This provides reporting from the SQL server database.
• Software update point: This provides integration of the ConfigMgr server with WSUS, which enables you to manage patching from the ConfigMgr server.
• State migration point: This keeps user profiles during the operating system deployment.
• Service connection point: This connects to Microsoft Cloud. Thanks to this role, the server is instantly informed about new updates and new server versions. This role can be installed directly during server deployment or later.

The following are the roles that might be automatically installed when installing the ConfigMgr server:

• Distribution point: The server role that provides source files with clients for tasks that have been created by an administrator.
• Management point: The server role that enables communication between clients and the server.
• Service connection point: This connects to Microsoft Cloud. Thanks to this role, the server is instantly informed about new updates and new server versions. This role can be installed directly during server deployment or later.

Now let's take a closer look at roles that are configured during server deployment.