What is CMTrace SCCM LOG Viewer
CMTrace SCCM LOG Viewer is a tool from Microsoft to view their “*.log” files from different tools – Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), Microsoft Software Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), DISM and many others. Though, mostly for SCCM as it is part of “Configuration Manager Tools”. Information about the application and usage can be found in CMTrace Microsoft Docs.
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Several Updates: As of SCCM CB 1806, CMTrace is installing with SCCM Client by default to: %WinDir%\CCM\CMTrace.exe.
As of SCCM CB 1906, CMTrace SCCM Log Viewer is deprecated and replaced by “Support Center OneTrace” – read more on Microsoft Docs. You can install OneTrace with “Support Center”. The setup file is located on the site server in:
cd.latest\SMSSETUP\Tools\SupportCenter\SupportCenterInstaller.msi
After installation, by default, the application will be in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Configuration Manager Support Center\CMPowerLogViewer.exe
The only problem with OneTrace – you cannot use it in WinPE (as is), since it is using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), unlike CMTrace.
Reading SCCM LOGs with CMTrace SCCM LOG Viewer
The LOGs are not easy read and contain amounts of valuable information. CMTrace can help viewing the LOGs by arranging all the information in simple GUI. When reading LOGs, the application might show you red and yellow lines. This does not mean that there is a real problem – everything is a matter of context.
CMTrace marks every line that has a word “Error” / “Failed” in it with red color. Same goes for yellow color with “Could not”. When something is failing, in most cases the task will execute again and it will succeed. Therefore, read the LOGs carefully and try to understand the meaning of the message.
Downloading and Installing CMTrace – System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Toolkit
CMTrace SCCM log viewer comes with “Configuration Manager Tools” or “System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Toolkit”. Which you can obtain from System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Toolkit download page (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=50012).
Update: Currently Microsoft has removed the toolkit from the official site and it is not available for download anymore. You can scroll to the bottom of this article for information about obtaining CMTrace from “arhive.org”.
. After the toolkit installation, you can find it in:
\PrimarySite\c$\Program Files\Microsoft Configuration Manager\tools\cmtrace.exe
. You can copy the file to the computer (that you want to view the logs from) to:
C:\Windows\system32\cmtrace32.exe
This destination path is only for the convenience – you can copy it anywhere.
. Run the tool. For the first run, it will ask if you want this tool to be the default log viewer => [Yes]
*** If you do not see the prompt:
. Right click on any "*.log" file => [Properties] => Opens with: Click [Change] => Navigate to the cmtrace.exe => [OK] => [OK]
Download CMTrace from Archive.Org
There is a much older version available
Creation Time 2012-11-22 07:57:10 File Version 5.00.7804.1000 (hermbld.121121-2357)
for download from “archive.org”. While Arhive.Org looks like a legitimate site through its excessive history from 1996, anyone can upload a file there. If you trust the source, you can download CMTrace.exe from archive.org.
At the time of writing, CMTrace with the version number stated above had SHA256 hash of
7be373903180156db95a7c1fb4792a812ba09447b63fbb89f9e8817890ac5954
And was checked against VirusTotal: CMTrace.exe 5.00.7804.1000 on VirusTotal. The current file is official from Microsoft and is signed by the company. If for some reason the hash of the file is not as above – upload it to VirusTotal to check that it is legitimate.