1 Computer or user
In the left menu you switch between Computer and User, and pick the resource in the drop-down below.
You can type a part of the name. For a computer you can also search for the MAC address or the IP address. When a resource is selected, the centre of the page shows the software assigned to it. The User option is only shown if your role may manage users. When Intune is used, an Intune tenant selector is also shown.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Computer / User | Chooses what you search for. Your security role decides which of the two you may use; if you may manage only one of them, that one is selected for you. Changing it clears the selection. |
| The drop-down | Search by typing part of the name; the list loads more results as you scroll. For a computer you can also search for the MAC address or the IP address. When Intune is used, Intune devices are listed together with ConfigMgr computers. When you search for an Intune user, the names contain both the full name and the user principal name. |
| Select site | Only shown when your organisation has more than one Configuration Manager site. |
| Select tenant | Only shown when Intune is used. Switches to another Intune tenant. |
You only find the computers and users your security role is allowed to manage. If you paste a complete name and press Enter before the list has suggested it, SoftwareCentral selects it when exactly one resource matches.
2 Select a resource from the address bar
Add one of these to the page address to open it with a resource already selected:
| Resource | Add to the address |
|---|---|
| ConfigMgr computer | ?computername=PCNAMEFor example https://softwarecentral/ManageSoftwareSingle?computername=pc008 |
| Local AD user | ?username=domain\usernameFor example https://softwarecentral/ManageSoftwareSingle?username=dom\mmp |
| Intune device | ?IntuneTenant=tenantName&computername=DeviceNameFor example https://softwarecentral/ManageSoftwareSingle?IntuneTenant=Default&computername=CLIENT09 |
| Entra ID user | ?IntuneTenant=tenantName&upn=user@contoso.comFor example https://softwarecentral/ManageSoftwareSingle?IntuneTenant=Contoso&upn=mmp@contoso.com |
The address parameters are not case sensitive. The same rules apply as when you search: if the resource is not one your security role may manage, the page shows an access-denied message instead of selecting it. username and upn only work when you may manage users. For an Intune link, IntuneTenant must be a tenant your role may use; if it is not the tenant you are working in, SoftwareCentral switches to it and reloads the page.
3 Computer status
When you select a computer, a colour-coded marker next to the name shows whether it is online.
| Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | The computer is offline. Click the marker to check its status again. |
| Green | The computer is online. You can do more with it, such as view client logs and rerun software installations. Click the marker to open the computer details. |
| Loading symbol | SoftwareCentral is still checking whether the computer is online. |
Click View more to open a window with details about the computer: its assigned IP addresses, last heartbeats and more.
4 The information box
Below the search boxes in the left menu, an information box shows the key facts about the selected resource.
| Resource | Fields shown |
|---|---|
| ConfigMgr computer | Computer name (hold the pointer over it to see the resource ID), Operating System, Last Online Time, Currently Logged on User and Primary Users. |
| Intune device | Computer name, Operating System, User, User Principal Name and Last Check-in. |
| Intune user | Display Name, User Principal Name and Primary Devices. A primary device is a link that opens the device window when your role may manage that device. |
When you have selected a computer, the Quick-find installed software box appears under the search box. Hold the pointer over the box for a tip: press Enter to search for all items containing the search values.
5 Best practice
- Bookmark or send the deep link when you hand a computer over to a colleague, so they land on the same resource.
- If the marker is red, click it to check again before you rerun anything or open the client logs; those functions need the computer to be online.
- Check the Last Online Time or Last Check-in before you deploy: a computer that has not been online for a while does not install anything until it is back.