Quickly Create SCCM Collection for All Windows Clients

I was deploying a handful of updates today and I wanted to deploy the updates to all of my Windows clients, but not my servers.  I am using System Center Configuration Manager 2012 for the deployment so it is easy to create custom computer collections.  I used the following steps to include all computers that have a Windows client OS in a collection called All Windows Clients.

1.  Open the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Console.

2.  Navigate to Assets and Compliance > Device Collections.

3.  Click Create Device Collection.



4.  Enter the name All Windows Clients

5.  Set the Limiting Collection to All Systems and click Next.



6.  Click Add Rule > Direct Rule.

7.  In the Create Direct Membership Rule Wizard window, change the Attribute Name to Operating System Name and Version.

8.  In the value field, type %workstation% and click Next.



9.  You should now see all of the devices that match the value we typed in.  If they match, click Select All to add them and click Next.

10.  A summary of all the workstations that match the rule will now be displayed.  Review it and click Next.  Click Close when the wizard completes.

11.  From the Create Device Collection Wizard window, place a check next to Use Incremental Updates for this Collection.

12. Change the schedule if desired and click Next.

13.  Review the changes and click Next to create the new collection.  Close the wizard.

14.  Click on the All Windows Clients device collection and select Refresh.

To create an All Windows Servers group, replace %workstation% with %server%.  This will gather all computers with a Windows Server OS.