Hello,

I am trying to understand what is the technical test performed by an SCCM client (typically installed on a laptop) to understand if he is currently located inside (intranet) or outside (internet) our company. Does it try to communicate with intranet MP ? or is it something else ?

Regards.

The domain has to be reached in order to set the connection to 'intranet' as far as I know. 

Hello Torsten,

Thanks for your quick feedback...

I am surprised about the potential dependency with Active Directory in this context... Theoretically speaking (it is not my case) but SCCM client might be installed on a workgroup computer... In such a case, domain test would not be necessary relevant, would it not ?

Regards.

A client that supports both intranet and Internet client management can seamlessly move between being managed on the intranet as an intranet client, and being managed on the Internet.  This can even include switching from an Internet-based distribution point to an intranet-based distribution point in the middle of a download.  When the client detects a change in network, this kicks off service location to find its intranet management point (the default management point in its assigned site or proxy management point if it's within the boundaries of a secondary site that belongs to its assigned site).  If service location fails, the client deduces that it must be on the Internet and so tries to communicate with its assigned Internet-based management point.  The assigned Internet-based management point always directs the client to the Internet-based site systems in the site, and never to intranet-based site systems or to Internet-based site systems in another site.

• Proposed as answer by Jason SandysMVP 14 hours 1 minutes ago

To summarize, it's a global catalog lookup.

Workgroup clients cannot be configured as "Internet or Intranet" for this exact reason. They can be Internet-only or Intranet only.