In this article, we will demonstrate multiple methods to restart SMS agent host service on a remote computer. Restarting the SCCM client will fix any problems it may be having, such as crashes or error messages.
The SMS agent host service (ccmexec.exe) provides change and configuration services for computer management systems. This service is installed when you install the SCCM client, and it runs on the client agent systems and management points.
The CcmExec.log on the client computer tracks the client’s activities and SMS agent host service information. This log file is located in C:\Windows\CCM\Logs on the client computer. Take a look at all the important client logs in SCCM.
To restart the SCCM client, the remote computer should be online and the SMS agent host service should be running. Let’s get started.
Permissions
Listed below are the permissions required to restart the SCCM client on a remote Windows device.
- The account requires administrator permission on the remote device.
- If you are using RCT, the tool needs remote WMI access.
Manually Restart SMS Agent host service on a computer
You can manually restart the SMS agent host service from the services console.
- Launch the services console by running the command services.msc.
- From the list of services, right-click the SMS Agent Host service and select Restart.
- This action will restart the SCCM client on the computer.
After the ccmexec.exe service is restarted successfully, the status of the SMS agent host service changes from stopped to running.
Read: Find Installed service using CMPivot in SCCM
Restart SMS Agent Host Services using Right Click Tools
Right Click Tools is a suite of tools designed to work with Configuration Manager. The Restart SMS Agent Host Service tool restarts the ConfigMgr Client on a device.
This tool can be run on device collections or with a similar tool designed for single and multi-selected tools.
The SMS agent host service can be restarted using Right click tools from the ConfigMgr console with the following steps:
- Launch the Configuration Manager console.
- Navigate to Assets and Compliance\Overview\Devices.
- Right-click a device and select Right Click Tools > Client Tools > Restart SMS Agent Host Service.
Note: With Right Click Tools, you can run the restart SMS Agent host service action on individual devices and on entire device collections. If you want to restart the SCCM client service on multiple computers, you can trigger the client restart on the entire device collection.
Also Recommended: Learn how to install Right Click Tools console extension for SCCM
Restart SMS Agent Host Service using CMD Prompt
On Windows devices, you can manage services using the command prompt. For example, you can list all the services running on a computer, start the services and stop them.
You can use the command prompt to start and stop the SCCM client service:
- Launch the command prompt as an administrator.
- To stop the service, run the command net stop ccmexec
- To start the service, run the command net start ccmexec
Also Read: How to restart SCCM SMS EXECUTIVE Service
Restart SCCM Client using PowerShell
You can restart the SCCM using PowerShell with the following steps:
- Launch the PowerShell as an administrator.
- Run the command Restart-Service -Name CcmExec.
- The SMS agent host service is stopped and then restarted.
To confirm if the ccmexec.exe service is up and running, run the PowerShell command “Get-Service -Name CcmExec“. In the below screenshot, we see the status as Running which confirms the ccmexec.exe service is successfully restarted.
Also Read: How to repair SCCM Client agent
CCMExec.log – Monitor SMS Client Restart Process
After you restart the SCCM client on a computer, you can monitor the client restart process using ccmexec.log. The ccmexec.log records the activities of the client and the SMS Agent Host service. This log file is located in C:\Windows\CCM\Logs on the client computer.
The below log snippet shows the activity after the SMS agent host service is restarted. During the SCCM client restart, the Software Center and Configuration Manager client actions are unavailable.
Shutting down CCMEXEC…
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('PreShutdown')
Invoking system task 'StatusAgentShutdown'.
Invoking system task 'PolicyEvaluator_PreShutdown' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'MtcShutdown'.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('PreShutdown')
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('Shutdown')
Invoking system task 'CliSrvShutdown' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'SchedulerShutdown'.
Invoking system task 'MtrMgrShutdown'.
Invoking system task 'SCShutdown' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'CertEnrollAgentShutdownTask'.
Invoking system task 'PwrAgentShutdownTask'.
Invoking system task 'BgbAgentShutdownTask'.
Invoking system task 'ComplRelayAgentShutdownTask'.
Invoking system task 'ExecmgrShutdown'.
Invoking system task 'WinPEBranchCacheShutdown'.
Invoking system task 'DeltaDownloadServiceShutdown'.
Invoking system task 'SrvWinMgrShutdown'.
Invoking system task 'DCMAgent_Shutdown'.
Invoking system task 'UpdatesDeploymentShutdownTask'.
Invoking system task 'CIAgent_Shutdown'.
Invoking system task 'CIDownloader_Shutdown'.
Invoking system task 'CIStateStore_Shutdown'.
Invoking system task 'CIStore_Shutdown'.
Invoking system task 'CcmProfilerShutdown' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('Shutdown')
CUpdatesAgent::FinalRelease entered CcmExec
Waiting up to 2 seconds for active tasks to complete…
Finished shutting down CCMEXEC.
Unregistering Power Events CcmExec
ServiceWindowManager::FinalRelease entered CCMEXEC
ServiceWindowManager::FinalRelease entered CCMEXEC
Starting CCMEXEC service… CcmExec
Running on machine CORPAD as user SYSTEM. CcmExec
Initializing COM. CcmExec
Registering for logging change notifications. CcmExec
Setting default logging component for process. CcmExec
Setting service status to RUNNING. CcmExec
Checking configuration. CcmExec
Successfully Created Thread for CheckConfiguration. Waiting for Configuration to Complete CcmExec
Starting phase 0 initialization. CcmExec
Initializing exception handlers. CcmExec
Initializing performance counters. CcmExec
Initializing thread pool. CcmExec
Initializing task engine. CcmExec
Initializing system task processor. CcmExec
Initializing network entry points. CcmExec
Registering for Network Change Events. CcmExec
Creating global objects. CcmExec
Initializing power state manager. CcmExec
Detected not running on Windows Virtual Desktop CcmExec
*** Keep the system awake CcmExec
Initializing network state manager. CcmExec
CCMExec is currently NOT hosting a Management Point.
[Resource-Network] CONNECTED
Queued timer to detect if network is changed.
[Resource-NetworkCost] UNRESTRICTED CcmExec
Initializing task scheduler.
Refresh CCM Identity using any registered identity stores
Entering Certificate Maintenance
Loading service settings. CcmExec
Completed phase 0 initialization. CcmExec
Asynchronously verifying WMI performance counter classes.
Posting task to perform phase 1 initialization.
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChanged, 0) CCMEXEC
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChangedEx, 0) CCMEXEC
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChanged, 0) CCMEXEC
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChangedEx, 0) CCMEXEC
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChanged, 0) CCMEXEC
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChangedEx, 0) CCMEXEC
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChanged, 0) CCMEXEC
[Resource-Idle] User is present CCMEXEC
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChangedEx, 0) CCMEXEC
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChanged, 0) CCMEXEC
[Resource-CS] Leaving CS CCMEXEC
Starting phase 1 initialization.
Initializing messaging subsystem.
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PowerChangedEx, 0) CCMEXEC
Entering main message loop.
Registering for Logon/Logoff notifications.
Found user S-1-5-21-390587728-612061534-3871974757-500 on session 1
Added CCM (user, session) is: (S-1-5-21-390587728-612061534-3871974757-500,1).
Cached user 'S-1-5-21-390587728-612061534-3871974757-500' is logged on to session 1 during RegisterForLogon.
Invoking task to monitor cached logged on user every 600 seconds.
Registering built-in COM class objects.
Registering hosted COM class objects.
Error registering hosted class '{53C46006-E1C5-4AD1-89B3-B8332D1B17EA}'. Code 0x80040111
Allowing activation requests on class objects.
Registering endpoint notifications.
IsTerminalServer: 1, IsSingleUserTS: 1
Starting system task processor.
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('PreStartup')
Invoking system task 'DynamicRegPreStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'CliSrvPreStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'StatusAgentInitialization' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'LSPreStartupTask'.
Invoking system task 'ClientRegistrationStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'TSAgentPreStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'MtcPreStartup'.
Invoking system task 'StateMessageManagerStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('PreStartup')
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('Startup')
Invoking system task 'ClientIDManagerStartup'.
Invoking system task 'CcmEvalTaskStartup'.
Invoking system task 'EndpointProtectionAgentStartup'.
Invoking system task 'CcmCloudStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'UserAffinityTaskStartup'.
Invoking system task 'EEAStartup'.
Invoking system task 'StatusAgentStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'CoMgmt_Startup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'M365A_Startup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'CertificateMaintenance'.
Invoking system task 'LSMaintenance'.
Successfully raised pending event
Invoking system task 'MtrMgrStartup'.
Invoking system task 'CTMStartup'.
Invoking system task 'CMBITSManagerStartup'.
Invoking system task 'SrcUpdateStartup'.
Invoking system task 'FileBITSStartup'.
Invoking system task 'RebootCoordStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'SrvWinMgrStartup'.
Invoking system task 'DTSStartup'.
Invoking system task 'ScanAgentStartupTask'.
Invoking system task 'ExecmgrStartup'.
Successfully raised pending event
Invoking system task 'WinPEBranchCacheStartup'.
Invoking system task 'DeltaDownloadServiceStartup'.
Invoking system task 'SensorStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'SysPerfStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'CIStore_Startup'.
Invoking system task 'CIStateStore_Startup'.
Invoking system task 'CIDownloader_Startup'.
Invoking system task 'CIAgent_Startup'.
Successfully raised pending event
Successfully raised pending event
Notifying endpoint 'LS_ScheduledCleanup' of __InstanceModificationEvent settings change on object SMS_MPProxyInformation=@ for user 'S-1-5-18'.
Successfully raised pending event
Notifying endpoint 'LS_ScheduledCleanup' of __InstanceModificationEvent settings change on object SMS_MPProxyInformation=@ for user 'S-1-5-18'.
Successfully raised pending event
Notifying endpoint 'LS_ScheduledCleanup' of __InstanceModificationEvent settings change on object SMS_LocalMP=@ for user 'S-1-5-18'.
Invoking system task 'UpdatesDeploymentStartupTask'.
Successfully raised pending event
Invoking system task 'DCMAgent_Startup'.
Invoking system task 'SettingsAgentStartup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'SCStartUp' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
CSoftwareCenterStartUpTask:: Start Software Center System startup task to launch notification system.
Shortcut already exists CcmExec
Invoking system task 'CertEnrollAgentStartupTask'.
Invoking system task 'SoftwareCatalogUpdateStartupTask'.
Invoking system task 'ComplRelayAgentStartupTask'.
Invoking system task 'BLM_Startup' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'BgbAgentStartupTask'.
Invoking system task 'PwrAgentStartupTask'.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('Startup')
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChanged')
Running PostStartup tasks.
SystemTaskProcessor::QueueEvent(PostStartup, 1)
Invoking system task 'PowerStateManager_PowerChanged' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'PwrMgmtPowerChanged' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChanged')
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChangedEx')
Invoking system task 'PwrMgmtPowerChangedEx' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChangedEx')
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChanged')
Invoking system task 'PowerStateManager_PowerChanged' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'PwrMgmtPowerChanged' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChanged')
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChangedEx')
Invoking system task 'PwrMgmtPowerChangedEx' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChangedEx')
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChanged')
Invoking system task 'PowerStateManager_PowerChanged' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
Invoking system task 'PwrMgmtPowerChanged' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChanged')
BEGIN ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChangedEx')
Invoking system task 'PwrMgmtPowerChangedEx' via ICcmSystemTask2 interface.
END ExecuteSystemTasks('PowerChangedEx')
Fix The CcmExec.exe service is not automatically restarted
In some cases, the CcmExec.exe service is not automatically restarted after the WMI service is paused and restarted. This problem occurs because WMI cancels all requests when it is paused and does not restart those requests when the service is resumed or restarted. To resolve this issue, you must manually restart the SMS Agent Host service. The periodic client health check will also detect that the SMS Agent Host service isn’t functioning and restart the service when it executes.
