SMS: PCM Processes .Ins File Only When .Ins File Is Modified

• Microsoft Systems Management Server, version 1.2

SYMPTOMS

When a job's Offer After and/or Mandatory After attributes are set to a time that arrives after the initial detection of the package's arrival to the workstation, Package Command Manager (PCM) does not display the package until one of the following two situations occurs:

• PCM is restarted, requiring either a log off and subsequent log on, or a restart of the computer.
• Another package arrives, causing the .ins file to be changed.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because PCM only processes the .ins file when it detects that the file has been changed since its last polling cycle. If the .ins file has not been modified since it was last checked, PCM goes back to sleep. Therefore, any delayed instruction is not processed either until the file is modified by another job, or until PCM is restarted on a computer (causing PCM to process the file regardless of a change).

WORKAROUND

If the job has already been sent, and the computers are not available to log off and log back on, send a dummy package to the targeted computers to start the job.

Otherwise, if you are sending new jobs, make sure the Offer After and/or Mandatory After dates are before the time the package instructions reach the workstation.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 1.2. A supported fix is now available, but is not fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.