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SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr

SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr

Written By Anoop C Nair
Last Updated July 30, 2024
Posted In SCCM
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SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr. This post provides useful details about removing, uninstalling, or deleting Site server (s) rather than Decommissioning sites and Hierarchies. 

Also, we will discuss the difference between the options Uninstall and Delete (Secondary site/s). This blog post teaches us how to uninstall and delete secondary site servers.

We must follow a bottom-up approach when we want to remove the entire SCCM/ConfigMgr hierarchy with many site servers (primary and secondary etc.).

That means, Removing secondary sites attached to primary sites, primary sites from the central administration site (CAS), and then the central administration site (CAS) itself.

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SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr

SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr - Fig.1
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr – Fig.1

Another way to uninstall /remove SCCM 2012 CAS server from hierarchy  https://configmgrblog.com/2013/07/24/want-to-get-rid-of-your-configmgr-2012-central-administration-site/

We can REUSE the site code of the secondary server/s if it is no longer used in your Configuration Manager hierarchy or the Active Directory forest.

However, Site codes cannot be used more than once in a ConfigMgr hierarchy for a CAS or primary sites. If you reuse a site code, you risk having object ID conflicts in your ConfigMgr hierarchy.

When we want to remove the entire SCCM/ConfigMgr hierarchy with many site servers (primary and secondary, etc.), we’ve got to follow a bottom-up approach. That means Removing secondary sites attached to primary sites, primary sites from the central administration site (CAS), and then the central administration site (CAS) itself.

More Details on decommissioning of sites and Hierarchies through TechNet.

Uninstall/Remove/Decommission Secondary Site

Go To Administration—> Site Configuration –> Sites, click on the secondary site you want to delete, and select the Delete option in the ribbon.

SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr - Fig.2
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr – Fig.2

There are two options in the uninstallation wizard.

a) Uninstall the Secondary Site

Use the first option, Uninstall the secondary Site, when you want to remove a functional secondary site accessible on the network.

When you uninstall a secondary site, ConfigMgr is removed from the secondary site server, and all information about the site and its resources is deleted from the ConfigMgr hierarchy.

b) Delete the Secondary Site

Use the Delete the Secondary Site option if one of the following conditions is true:
– A site has failed to install
– The site remains visible in the ConfigMgr console after uninstalling it.

When you delete a secondary site, this action deletes information about the secondary site and its resources from the ConfigMgr hierarchy and leaves ConfigMgr installed on the secondary site server.

SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr - Fig.3
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr – Fig.3

Uninstall/Remove/Decommission Primary or CAS Site

You must follow the same steps to remove the standalone/CAS attached to the primary server. The same applies to CAS server removal. But the approach should always be BOTTOM UP.

What does Bottom-Up mean? – You need to remove in the following order

  1. Remote Site Roles (MP, SUP etc)
  2. Secondary servers
  3. Primary servers
  4. CAS

1. Log in to the primary or CAS server and Click Configuration Manager Setup from the Start menu

SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr - Fig.4
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr – Fig.4

2. Select the Uninstall a Configuration Manager Site option.

When a secondary site is attached to the primary site, we must remove the secondary site before you can uninstall the primary site. Otherwise, it won’t allow you to proceed with the uninstallation.

When a primary site is attached to the central administration site (CAS), we must uninstall the primary site before we can uninstall the central administration site.

SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr - Fig.5
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr – Fig.5

3. Click Yes and Next

SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr - Fig.6
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr – Fig.6

4. We can verify the ConfigMgrSetup.log file for more details about the uninstallation of the site.

INFO: Uninstallation the CAS site
INFO: Configuration Manager Setup - Uninstallation
INFO: Entering THREAD_Deinstall
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr - Fig.7
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr – Fig.7

5. Review the ConfigMgrSetup.log file to check whether Uninstallation has been completed successfully or not.

INFO: Completed the uninstall of the Configuration Manager Site
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr - Fig.8
SCCM Uninstall Remove CAS Primary Secondary Server ConfigMgr – Fig.8

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Author

Anoop C Nair has been Microsoft MVP from 2015 onwards for 10 consecutive years! He is a Workplace Solution Architect with more than 22+ years of experience in Workplace technologies. He is also a Blogger, Speaker, and leader of the Local User Group Community. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM and Intune. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security, Career, etc..

Written by

Anoop C Nair is Workplace Technology solution architect with 25+ years of experience in global enterprise organizations such as JP Morgan, Capgemini, etc. Microsoft Certified Trainer. Microsoft MVP from 2015 onwards for consecutive 11+ years! He also conducts Intune and modern workplace tech training for enterprise organizations. He is Blogger, Speaker, and Founder of HTMD Community and HTMD Conference. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like Intune, Windows, Cloud PC. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security.

Discussion · 12 comments

  2. Hi Anoop,

    This was such an informative article. However I am facing a problem where I am unable to remove the primary configuration site, I am being shown an error that says “Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation”. I have all the admin rights and still am seeing this error. Kindly help me out.

    Regards,
    Lohith

    Reply

    1. StaffHi ! – Have you removed all the secondary sites (if you’ve any) under this primary site? That would be the first step you must try.

      Anoop

      Reply

  6. What about the roles installed on the Secondary Site servers ? Is it required to remove the roles (eg. SUP, MP, DP etc) prior to Uninstall of secondary site?

    Reply

  9. Hi Anoop!
    I have a disconnected network withsome primary site and secondary sites with a CAS on top. the CAS has developed some issues( SMS Executive is getting switched of every minute and the component manager is not available. Kindly suggest how to recover or reinstall CAS
    Thanks and Regards
    Kshitij

    Reply

  10. I’m facing a challenge since the beginning After installation of CAS and Primary server I found there’s a replication process going for long long time even more than 48hrs Primary to CAS replication wasn’t happened, also updating to 1706 was also stuck so I decided to delete Primary site and instead of 1606 I will install 1802 in both the sites. Now I’ve uninstalled Primary site successfully but whenever I’m trying to uninstall CAS it’s showing “There are sites attached to this site. You must uninstall the attached sites before you can uninstall this site”

    I had only one Primary server and uninstalled successfully but CAS isn’t uninstalling.

    Please help I can share my PC if you need to see it in person.

    Reply

    1. StaffI will try – check the log files to get more details or check the registry/SQL DB to confirm whether there is any trace of primary server. I will give a restart as well

      Reply

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