Application Manager Only guide · Step 4 of 5

First-time configuration

The first configuration must be done on the server, from the localhost binding. This is a security measure so that remote connections cannot change critical settings for SoftwareCentral.

1 Open the localhost site

Go to the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager. Locate the SoftwareCentral site and click Browse *:8080 (https).

Browser Do not use Internet Explorer. If you must, disable Enhanced Security on the web server before you configure SoftwareCentral. Some steps only appear if the required data is not already available.
IIS Manager with SoftwareCentral site and Browse 8080 https highlighted
In IIS Manager, select the SoftwareCentral site and click Browse *:8080 (https).

SoftwareCentral launches in your browser. Depending on your authentication type you may be prompted to sign on. If you use Azure OpenID, you may be prompted to accept sign-in on behalf of your organization — accept that.

2 Database connection

The first screen is the database connection screen, already populated with your database information. Test the connection to verify that the SoftwareCentral web site can reach the database. Once successful, save the configuration and proceed.

Database connection screen
Test the database connection, then save.

3 Azure / Entra Intune configurator

If you chose the Intune option but did not configure the Intune settings during installation, you now reach the Intune configurator. If you do not see this screen, proceed to the next step.

  1. Generate a new certificate and upload it to the Azure app registration. Follow the description and links in the interface.
  2. Assign the required permissions to the app registration and test the connection.
  3. Once successful, click Save Azure configuration and proceed.
Give permissions a minute Newly assigned Intune permissions can take a few minutes to take effect. If the test fails, wait a couple of minutes and try again. You can add additional Intune tenants later from the Settings menu.
Intune configurator screen
Generate the certificate, assign permissions, test, then save.

4 Administrator group

Next, choose an administrator group. You must be a member of this group. If you use Entra ID, you also see an option to create an administrator group — you are automatically added to it when it is created in SoftwareCentral. Select the group and click Save.

On-premise Active Directory only If you just created the group, or just added yourself to it, it may take some time before the change takes effect. Restarting the server can help. The SoftwareCentral configuration resumes where you left off — just launch the IIS Manager and browse the local https binding again.
Administrator group selection screen
Select the administrator group and save.

5 SoftwareCentral license

Enter the license for SoftwareCentral. If your installation has internet access, enter the user name and password provided by your retailer. The Installation Title helps identify your installations if you have more than one.

If your installation is offline, you see an installation key. Send this key to your retailer, who returns your offline license key. You cannot proceed without a valid license.

SoftwareCentral license screen
Enter your license (online) or exchange the installation key (offline).

6 Verify settings

You are redirected to the SoftwareCentral main interface and configuration menu. The interface and the available or required fields vary depending on your configuration. Any required settings that are missing are highlighted in red.

ConfigMgr environments For a ConfigMgr environment you must enter server details such as the reporting server and package share(s); the required settings are highlighted. You must also go to Settings → SCCM Folders and Collections and configure all root folders and collections.

Intune-only installations usually only need the following setting:

  • Application Base URL — the standard base URL to SoftwareCentral, for example https://softwarecentral/
Application Manager Only settings interface with mandatory fields marked Required in red
The Settings interface shown after the license step. Mandatory fields are marked * Required in red — here Central Site Code, SCCM Server, SCCM Database Server Name, SCCM Database Name and Application Base URL. Fill them in and click Save Settings.

SCCM Folders and Collections ConfigMgr

After you save the mandatory settings, go to Settings → SCCM Folders and Collections and set up the default collections and folders. SoftwareCentral uses this structure to find the correct collection to use when it creates, deploys and reads packages and applications.

Assign each root by selecting a node in the tree and saving it:

  • SCCM root collection (devices) and SCCM root user collection
  • Package root folder
  • Application Distribution Devices and Application Distribution Users

Use Create default structure to have SoftwareCentral build its own default structure automatically, or point the roots at your existing structure and use Create collection / Create folder as needed.

Only one install collection under this structure SoftwareCentral resolves the install and uninstall collection from the structure defined here. Your wider SCCM environment may contain more than one install collection in some scenarios, but only one install collection may exist under the SoftwareCentral root structure — otherwise SoftwareCentral cannot determine the correct collection to use. An application that has no collection, or several install collections with none under this structure, must be mended before it will work.
SCCM Folders and Collections page with the root collection tree and Create default structure button
SCCM Folders and Collections — assign the SCCM root collection (and user collection), the package root folder and the application distribution roots, then Save.

For a full explanation of the structure SoftwareCentral expects — and how to use your own — see Default Collection Structure and Custom Collection Structures.

Finish in the Setup Guide The Application Manager Only edition provides a guided, in-app checklist at Settings → Setup Guide that walks through Intune, mandatory settings, Robopack and templates. See Application Manager Setup Guide.

7 SoftwareCentral service

SoftwareCentral uses a Windows service to process long-running tasks and schedules. This service is installed automatically during configuration. To verify it, go to Settings → Service Manager and confirm the service is running. If it is not, open the Log in SoftwareCentral — there will be one or more error messages explaining why, with information on how to resolve them.

Service Manager showing the running SoftwareCentral service
Service Manager — confirm the service is running.

8 Improve performance (optional)

SoftwareCentral is installed with default IIS values. You can improve loading speed with the advanced settings below.

Trade-off These settings significantly increase the memory usage of SoftwareCentral.
  • On the application pool, set Start Mode to AlwaysRunning and Idle Time-out (minutes) to 0. You may additionally extend or disable application pool recycling, although this is not recommended.
  • On the site, under Advanced Settings, set Preload Enabled to True.
Application pool advanced settings with AlwaysRunning and Idle Time-out 0
App pool — AlwaysRunning and Idle Time-out = 0.
Site advanced settings with Preload Enabled set to True
Site — Preload Enabled = True.

9 Set up remote access

The basic configuration is now complete. To let users reach SoftwareCentral from their own browsers, set up a host name with an SSL certificate. Continue to Hostname & HTTPS.

📄 Original page: Configure SoftwareCentral for the first time

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