The dreaded "Evaluated to False" message in SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) can be a real head-scratcher. It indicates that a condition within a deployment, query, or other SCCM component didn't meet the specified criteria, preventing the intended action. This isn't a specific error, but rather a symptom pointing to a problem in your configuration. This comprehensive guide will walk you through troubleshooting this issue in various SCCM scenarios.
Understanding the "Evaluated to False" Message
Before diving into specific scenarios, it's crucial to understand what this message signifies. It simply means the logic within your SCCM object (like a deployment or collection) resulted in a false boolean value. This could stem from incorrect operator usage, flawed query construction, mismatched data types, or even issues with client health or reporting. Effectively troubleshooting requires isolating the exact location and cause of the false evaluation.
Common Scenarios and Troubleshooting Steps
Here are some common scenarios where you might encounter the "Evaluated to False" message and how to tackle them:
1. Deployment Type Evaluation Failing
Problem: You've created a deployment type, but it's showing "Evaluated to False" for target devices. This means the criteria you defined for the deployment aren't met by the clients.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Review the Deployment Type's Requirements: Carefully examine the deployment type's requirements. Are there specific operating systems, architectures, or applications that need to be present? Are these requirements accurately reflecting the target devices? Double-check for typos or inconsistencies.
- Check for Conflicting Requirements: Do multiple requirements need to be met simultaneously? Ensure you're using the correct logical operators (AND, OR). A single conflicting requirement can cause the entire evaluation to fail.
- Verify Client Health: Ensure that the target clients are healthy and reporting correctly to the SCCM server. Check for client agent issues, network connectivity problems, and certificate issues. Run a client health check using the SCCM console.
- Examine the Deployment's Targeting: Ensure the deployment is targeted to the correct collection. Verify the collection's membership rules and ensure the target devices are indeed members of that collection. Use the "Show Members" option in the collection properties to confirm.
- Examine the Application's Deployment Settings: Check deployment settings for conflicting conditions such as prerequisites not met. Review any custom scripts or settings within the deployment type.
2. Collection Membership Rules Evaluating to False
Problem: Devices aren't appearing in a collection because the membership rule evaluates to false.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Analyze the Query: Carefully review the query used to define collection membership. Look for syntax errors, incorrect operators, or inaccurate attribute values. Test the query in the SCCM console's query builder.
- Verify Attribute Values: Ensure the attributes used in your query accurately reflect the data on the client machines. Check for typos and inconsistencies in how attributes are named or stored.
- Use the "Show Members" Option: Utilize the "Show Members" feature to see which devices meet specific parts of the query. This helps pinpoint the exact condition causing the
falseevaluation. Isolate conditions one by one. - Check for Data Type Mismatches: Make sure you are using the correct data type in the query (e.g., string, integer). A mismatch can lead to an unexpected
falseevaluation.
3. Software Update Deployment Evaluation Failing
Problem: Software updates aren't deploying because the evaluation is failing.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Check for Update Compliance: Confirm the target devices are reporting accurate software update compliance information to the SCCM server.
- Review Update Rules: Examine the criteria specified for deploying specific software updates. Ensure these rules align with the devices' actual software update states.
- Verify Client Settings: Confirm the software update client settings on the target devices are correctly configured.
- Check for WSUS issues: If updates come from WSUS, investigate any possible issues on your WSUS server.
4. Compliance Settings Evaluating to False
Problem: Compliance settings within SCCM are not working as expected, resulting in an "Evaluated to False" message.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Verify Configuration Items: Ensure your configuration items (CI) are correctly configured. This includes verifying the rules, baselines, and settings within each CI.
- Examine Compliance Rules: Analyze the compliance rules used to determine the compliance status of the CI. Are the rules properly evaluating the system state?
- Check Data Consistency: Verify data consistency across the SCCM infrastructure.
Addressing the Root Cause
Remember, the "Evaluated to False" message is just a symptom. Effective troubleshooting requires systematically investigating the specific SCCM component causing the issue. Utilize the SCCM console's built-in tools, logs, and monitoring features to identify the root cause. Carefully examine the logic of your deployments, collections, and queries. Pay close attention to details and test your configurations thoroughly. Often, a simple typo or misconfiguration is the culprit.
By following these steps and carefully analyzing your SCCM configuration, you can effectively troubleshoot and resolve the "Evaluated to False" message and ensure your deployments are working as intended.
