SMS Software Distribution

Overview

Explaining How SMS Distributes Software Managing Distribution Points Configuring Software Distribution and the

Advertised Programs Client Agent

Explaining How SMS Distributes Software

The Benefits of SMS Software Distribution How the Client Handles Software Distribution Administrative Tasks Involved in the Software

Distribution Process The Process of Configuring Site Settings in Software

Distribution The SMS Objects Used to Distribute Software The Monitoring Phase of Software Distribution

The Benefits of SMS Software DistributionSMS software distribution: Eliminates the process of providing thousands of

software compact discs to users, along with programs and instructions

Reduces user errors Allows users to successfully run programs and install

software without needing to know how to run these programs or which setup options are best for them

Allows you to centrally define and control how and when programs run on client computers

The client:

Checks for new applications to runChecks for new applications to run

How the Client Handles Software Distribution

Advanced ClientLegacy Client

Distribution Point

11Primary SitePrimary Site

CAPRuns the application according to how it is configured at the siteRuns the application according to how it is configured at the site

Sends its status back to the siteSends its status back to the site33

22

Management Point

Administrative Tasks Involved in the Software Distribution Process

Distribution Point

Management Point

Prepare the sitePrepare the site11Create software distribution objectsCreate software distribution objects22

SMS client runs software distributionSMS client runs software distribution

33Advanced

Client

Monitor software distributionMonitor software distribution44

SMS client runs software distributionModule 8, Lesson 5

SMS client runs software distributionModule 8, Lesson 5

33Advanced

Client

The Process of Configuring Site Settings in Software Distribution

Prepare the sitePrepare the site

Distribution Point

Management Point

11

Designate one or more servers as distribution points

Configure the software distribution component

Configure the Advertised Programs Client Agent

Define the roaming boundaries, if applicable

Designate one or more servers as distribution points

Configure the software distribution component

Configure the Advertised Programs Client Agent

Define the roaming boundaries, if applicable

11

44

33

22

Configuring the site settings includes four steps :Configuring the site settings includes four steps :

Distribution Point

Management Point

Prepare the siteContent covered in Module 7, Lesson 2 and 3Prepare the siteContent covered in Module 7, Lesson 2 and 311

SMS client runs software distributionModule 8, Lesson 5

SMS client runs software distributionModule 8, Lesson 5

33Advanced

Client

Monitor software distributionModule 8, Lesson 6Monitor software distributionModule 8, Lesson 644

The SMS Objects Used to Distribute Software

Create software distribution objectsCreate software distribution objects22

Software distribution uses the following SMS objects:Software distribution uses the following SMS objects:

Collections

Packages

Programs

Advertisements

Collections

Packages

Programs

Advertisements

Create software distribution objects Module 8, Lessons 1-4Create software distribution objects Module 8, Lessons 1-4

SMS client runs software distributionSMS client runs software distribution

33

22

The Monitoring Phase of Software Distribution

AdvancedClient

Monitor software distributionMonitor software distribution44

A best practice is to monitor the software distribution once the process has begunA best practice is to monitor the software distribution once the process has begun

Distribution Point

Management Point

Managing Distribution Points

The Benefits of BITS, Delta Replication, and Compression In Managing Network Performance

Guidelines for Configuring a Site System to Be a Distribution Point

What is a Distribution Point Group? Demonstration: How to Configure a

Distribution Point and a Distribution Point Group

SMS manages network performance by:

The Benefits of BITS, Delta Replication, and Compression in Managing Network Performance

Using BITS to provide checkpoint restart download of packages from distribution points to Advanced Clients

Using delta replication to only send the updated package files that have changed since the last time the package was distributed

Using compression to automatically compress package source files when it sends the package to other SMS sites

Using BITS to provide checkpoint restart download of packages from distribution points to Advanced Clients

Using delta replication to only send the updated package files that have changed since the last time the package was distributed

Using compression to automatically compress package source files when it sends the package to other SMS sites

Guidelines:

Guidelines for Configuring a Site System to Be a Distribution Point

Configure all of the distribution points that you want to use at the preliminary stage of the processSpecify a distribution point in close proximity to a group of clientsEnable BITS on the distribution points that support Advanced ClientsDesignate protected distribution pointsAdvanced ClientLegacy Client

CAP

Management Point

Distribution Point

Use it to:

What Is a Distribution Point Group?

A distribution point group is a set of distribution points that you can manage as a single entity

A distribution point group is a set of distribution points that you can manage as a single entity

Manage a group of distribution points in a similar manner, such as when you want to assign a package to several distribution points all at the same time

Manage a group of distribution points in a similar manner, such as when you want to assign a package to several distribution points all at the same time

Distribution Point

Distribution PointDistribution

Point

Distribution Point

The Advanced Client can use it when:

What Is the Advanced Client Network Access Account?

The Advanced Client Network Access Account is a domain-level account that you can create for Advanced Clients

The Advanced Client Network Access Account is a domain-level account that you can create for Advanced Clients

An advertised program needs to access a distribution point or a share on a server other than the distribution point

An advertised program needs to access a distribution point or a share on a server other than the distribution point

Distribution Point

Advanced Client

Software Distribution component settings that administrators typically specify on the Retry Settings tab:

The number of retries for updating distribution points

The number of retries for updating CAPs

The number of retries for updating distribution points

The number of retries for updating CAPs

Software Distribution component settings that administrators typically specify on the General tab:

The drive on the site server on which compressed package files are stored

The number of threads to allocate to package processing

The user name and password for the Legacy Client Software Installation Account

The user name and password for the Advanced Client Network Access Account

The drive on the site server on which compressed package files are stored

The number of threads to allocate to package processing

The user name and password for the Legacy Client Software Installation Account

The user name and password for the Advanced Client Network Access Account

Software Distribution Component Settings that Administrators Typically Specify

Guidelines:

Guidelines for Configuring the Software Distribution Component

Increase the number of threads if you need to process multiple packages simultaneously, and when the site server’s load and network bandwidth permit

Change the Number of retries and the Retry delay settings to reflect the traffic on your network

Increase the number of threads if you need to process multiple packages simultaneously, and when the site server’s load and network bandwidth permit

Change the Number of retries and the Retry delay settings to reflect the traffic on your network

Display a visual indicator when new advertisements are received

Play a sound when new advertisements are received

Provide a countdown and countdown length when scheduled programs are set to run

Play countdown sounds when a scheduled program is about to run

Show a status icon in the notification area for advertised programs

Display a visual indicator when new advertisements are received

Play a sound when new advertisements are received

Provide a countdown and countdown length when scheduled programs are set to run

Play countdown sounds when a scheduled program is about to run

Show a status icon in the notification area for advertised programs

Advertised Programs Client Agent Settings that Administrators Typically Specify

Enable or disable the agent

Whether you want Legacy Clients to be able to change agent settings

Program or policy polling intervals

For Advanced Clients, whether you want a new program notification icon to open Add or Remove Programs

Enable or disable the agent

Whether you want Legacy Clients to be able to change agent settings

Program or policy polling intervals

For Advanced Clients, whether you want a new program notification icon to open Add or Remove Programs

Advertised Programs Client Agent settings that administrators typically specify on the General tab:

Collections

Packages

Programs

Advertisements

Collections

Packages

Programs

Advertisements

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33

22

How Software Distribution Objects Are Created

The software distribution object creation process:All Users11

4444

Office 2003

22

33 Setup.exe

What Is a Collection?

Computers running Windows XP

Computers with Office 2003 Installed

Microsoft®

OfficeXP

What Do Packages and Programs Do?

A program allows a package to run on

the client

Office 2003 Setup

Office 2003

Office 2003

A program allows a package to run

on the client

Office 2003 Setup

Office 2003

What Are Advertisements?

Advertised programs are found in Control Panel:

Add or Remove Programs

Run Advertised Programs

An advertisement is an object configured by the site administrator on an SMS site, which in turn becomes a notification or a policy for the client

An advertisement is an object configured by the site administrator on an SMS site, which in turn becomes a notification or a policy for the client

Look for them in SMS Administrator ConsoleLook for them in SMS Administrator Console11

Verification of programs and

advertisements

Verification of programs and

advertisements

Setup.exeSetup.exe

Look in C:\SMSPKGC$Look in C:\SMSPKGC$11

Use Report Viewer to see the All Collections reportUse Report Viewer to see the All Collections report22

Verification of packages

Verification of packages

Office 2003

Manually update collectionsManually update collections11

View the resources in the collectionView the resources in the collection22

Verification of collections

Verification of collections

Review the migration log for errorsReview the migration log for errors233

How the Configuration of Software Distribution Objects Is Verified

Office 2003

How the Distribution of Files on the Distribution Point Is Verified

Software Distribution Points

SMS Site Server

Package did not arrive

Package did not arrive

Office 2003Office 2003

Office 2003

Office 2003

Office 2003 Setup

Packages must be created first

The Relationship Between Packages and Programs

Once package is created, then you create a programA program allows an application in a package to be installed

Office 2003

SMS Site Server

How to Distribute Packages to Distribution Points

Office 2003 package to be distributed from distribution points A and B

Distribution Point A

Distribution Point B

How the Client Runs Advertised Programs

To manually run an advertised program:

Click Start, and then click Control Panel

In Control Panel, double-click Run Advertised Programs

In the Run Advertised Programs dialog box, double-click the program you want to run

You can also find advertised programs in Add or Remove Programs

Click Start, and then click Control Panel

In Control Panel, double-click Run Advertised Programs

In the Run Advertised Programs dialog box, double-click the program you want to run

You can also find advertised programs in Add or Remove Programs

112233

SMS clients automatically run advertised programs that have mandatory assignments

Advertised programs that do not have mandatory assignments are run manually by the user

Locations of Software Distribution Log Files

Log files on the SMS server are found in:

%Windir%\System32\CCM\Logs %Windir%\System32\CCM\Logs

C:\SMS\Logs C:\SMS\Logs

Advanced Client Log files are found in:

Legacy Client Log files are found in:

%Windir%\MS\SMS\Logs %Windir%\MS\SMS\Logs