CMG Connect

CMG stands for Cloud Management Gateway. It provides a simple and efficient way to manage the configuration manager clients on the internet. CMG CONNECT allows communities to become more efficient, better serviced, and allow clients to become more self-managed and smart.

This platform streamlines tasks, allowing you to full focus on the management. You can use the Cloud Management Gateway (CMG) feature in System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). It is best feature who gives you a best outcome.

The service connection point deploys and monitors the service in Azure, so needs to be online. The CMG connection point connects to the CMG to manage communication between the CMG and on-premises site system roles.

Cloud Management Gateway Architecture:

Features of CMG Connect (Cloud Management Gateway):

1. Engagement History: Quickly view what is happening within the apartment profile.
2. Resident Activity: Monitors the number of citizens that have moved in or out of the community.
3. Parking Pass: Owners can view data on the percentage of use and pending passes to be approved by the Manager.
4. Reports that require attention and respond to the report with comments or actions or resident reaction.
5. Pass On Log & Daily Reports.
6. Email Merge: Property Manager and Board of Directors can merge email communication to the Owner and citizens of the community.
7. Email Database: Offers a log of the emails on file, how many email accounts are currently active and using CMG Connect.
8. Owner Service Request: Offers Owners the ability to submit a service request so that we can know what our residents wants from the community.
9. Manager Service Requests: View data on persons involved, progress, closed requests, follow-up information, and most popular service requests.
10. Record Keeping:

• Directory: Find all Owner and citizen list and can be constrict by specific building.
• Parcels: View a log of any parcels that are accepted on behalf of occupier.
• Key Log: Monitor any keys that are released to Owners or Contractors.
• Documents: Owners and citizens can access documents for the apartment corporation.
• Amenities: Owners can view data on the percentage of use and persons involved, keys that are signed out, and requests.

Components of CMG:

• CMG cloud service – Authenticates and forwards Configuration Manager client requests to the CMG connection point.
• CMG Connection point – Site system role enables a consistent and high-performance connection from the on-premises network to the Azure.
• CMG service in Azure- It also publishes settings to the CMG including connection information and security settings.
• Service Connection point – It site system role runs the cloud service manager component, which handles all CMG deployment tasks. Additionally, it monitors and reports service health and logging information from Azure AD.
• Management Point – Site system role services client requests per normal.
• Software update point – Site system role services client requests per normal.
• Internet-based clients – Connect to the CMG to access on-premises Configuration Manager components.
• The CMG uses a certificate – HTTPS web service to help secure network communication with clients.
• Internet-based clients use PKI (Public key infrastructure) certificates or Azure AD for identity and authentication.
• Cloud distribution point – Provides content to internet-based clients, as needed.

What are the Requirements to Setup CMG Connect?

• An Azure subscription to host the CMG.
• Integrate the site with Azure AD for deploying the CMG using Azure Resource Manager, you need a Global Admin.
• Deploy the CMG, you need a Subscription Admin.
• Windows server to host the CMG connection point.
• The service connection point must be in online mode.
• A server authentication certificate for the CMG.
• Other certificates may be required, depending upon your client OS version and authentication model.
• Clients must use IPv4.
• It is type of SCCM (System Center configuration Manager).

Setup CMG Connect:

Step-1 In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Administration workspace and select Cloud Management Gateway.
Step-2 Select to Create Cloud Management Gateway in the ribbon.
Step-3 On the General page of the wizard, first specify the Azure environment for this CMG.
Step-4 Next choose “how you want to deploy the CMG in Azure”
Virtual machine scale set
Cloud service (classic)
Step-5 Select Sign in with an Azure Subscription Owner account.
Step-6 Own multiple subscriptions, select the Subscription ID of the subscription you want to use.
Step-7 Select Next, and wait as the site tests the connection to Azure.
Step-8 On the Settings page of the wizard, first Browse to the .PFX file for the CMG server authentication certificate (Certificate file).
Step-9 Specify a Description to further identify this CMG and select an Azure Region for this CMG.
Step-10 Next is the Alerts page of the wizard which helps too monitor CMG traffic with a 14-day threshold, enable the threshold alert.
Step-11 Choose the “Next” option when you’re done.
Step-12 Review the settings, and complete the wizard.
Step-13 Determine when the service is ready, view the Status column for the new CMG.
Step-14 If you are facing troubleshoot CMG deployments, use CloudMgr.log and CMGSetup.log.

What are the specific uses of CMG Connect?

• Roaming devices such as laptops.
• Remote/branch office devices that are less expensive and more efficient to manage over the internet than across a Wide area network (WAN) or through a Virtual private network (VPN).
• Mergers and acquisitions, where it may be easiest to join devices to Azure AD and manage through a CMG.
• These devices may require other configurations, such as certificates.
• Allows boards, managers, and residents to effortlessly view information (e.g. governing documents), communicate with management, check account balance and status, place service requests, and book amenities.