Client Software Distribution 2.0 application

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated June 25, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Client Software Distribution 2.0 application

    The Client Software Distribution 2.0 (CSD 2.0) application allows administrators to distribute software via the service catalog using third-party management systems. It automates software deployment and revocation, enabling the creation of necessary records like software models and catalog items. CSD 2.0 integrates with Software Asset Management (SAM) to manage software licenses efficiently.

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    Key Features

    • Third-Party Integration: Supports Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, Jamf, and Microsoft Intune for deployment and revocation.
    • Custom Flows: Automate deployment and revoke software using specific flows, subflows, and actions.
    • Lease Management: Defines lease periods for software, including options for lease extensions with approval.
    • License Management: Allows tracking of licenses and entitlements associated with distributed software.
    • Improved Data Discovery: Utilizes REST protocols for data discovery, enhancing performance and reducing server load.

    Key Outcomes

    With CSD 2.0, customers can streamline software distribution, ensuring compliance with licensing, and improve operational efficiency through automation. The ability to integrate with existing software management tools enables better oversight and control of software assets across the organization.

    Client Software Distribution 2.0 application (CSD 2.0) application enables administrators to distribute software from the service catalog using third-party management systems.

    CSD 2.0 enables an administrator to create all the records necessary to deploy software from service catalog requests, including software models and catalog items. You can use the CSD 2.0 application to automate the deployment and revocation of software from a third-party software provider using the custom flows. You can define lease periods for software distributed from the Service Catalog and allow lease extensions in some cases, pending approvals. Deployment is accomplished using provider-specific spoke flows, subflows, and actions. For example, deployment is accomplished using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager spoke.

    CSD 2.0 also integrates with Software Asset Management (SAM Professional or SAM Foundation) to manage license information of the deployed software.
    Note:
    CSD 2.0 is different from Client Software Distribution using Integration Hub. CSD 2.0 is available on ServiceNow Store.
    Figure 1. CSD 2.0 process flow when CSD is integrated with SAM
    CSD 2.0 process flow
    Note:
    To integrate CSD 2.0 with SAM, navigate to Client Software Distribution 2.0 > Properties and select the check box for Determines whether to use SAM plugin(SAM Foundation or SAM Professional) tables for managing software models and licensing information.Option to integrated with SAM.

    Important considerations

    Ensure that you are aware of these differences between CSD and CSD 2.0:
    CSD CSD 2.0
    Supported providers Microsoft System Center Configuration Management (SCCM). Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, Jamf, and Microsoft Intune.
    Procedure to add new provider User must write extension point scripts. User can use subflows in Flow Designer. This is easier than writing extension point scripts in CSD.
    License compliance check and entitlements Tightly coupled with the SAM license data. Flexibility to choose either the SAM tables or CSD 2.0 tables.
    Data discovery Microsoft SCCM provider uses PowerShell cmdlets for data discovery. Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager spoke is updated to use the REST protocol for data discovery. This improves the performance and reduces load on MID Server as REST supports pagination.
    Software revocation

    CSD can revoke software requested using the CSD catalog. CSD can also uninstall software using SCCM when revocation is triggered from the reclamation candidates for SCCM provider.

    CSD 2.0 can revoke software requested using the CSD 2.0 catalog. CSD 2.0 can also uninstall software using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager ( Microsoft Intune and Jamf are not supported currently) when revocation is triggered from the reclamation candidates.

    Application version

    CSD 2.0 v1.2.2 is the latest version.