SMS: How to Select the PCM Distribution Server Selection Logic

• Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.1 and 1.2

SYMPTOMS

Package Command Manager (PCM) is designed to be robust in its capability to select a distribution server to find a given package. The selection logic algorithm for PCM to find a package is:

1. Check the client's current Systems Management Server logon server.

2. If necessary, check each of the client's drive mappings.

3. If necessary, select a server at random from the client's PCM instruction file (<SMS_ID>.ins), located in the SMS\Logon.srv\Pcmins.box directory on the client's Systems Management Server logon server.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, obtain the hotfix mentioned in the STATUS section of this article, or wait for the next Systems Management Server service pack. The hotfix should have the following timestamps:

      1/20/98   12:49pm      261,072 Pcmsvc32.exe
      1/20/98   12:49pm      449,232 Pcmwin16.exe
      1/20/98   12:49pm      461,712 Pcmwin32.exe

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server versions 1.1 and 1.2. A supported fix is now available, but has not been 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.

MORE INFORMATION

With the hotfix, it is now possible to set the selection logic level for PCM by adding a value to the [Local] section of the Sms.ini file on the client. To do this, do the following:

• To disable any selection attempts beyond trying the client's current Systems Management Server logon server, add the following line to the [Local] section of the client's Sms.ini file:

        DisableRandomServers=LOCALONLY
  

• To disable any selection attempts beyond trying the client's current Systems Management Server logon server and any servers to which the client has a drive mapped, add the following line to the [Local] section of the client's Sms.ini file::

        DisableRandomServers=DRIVEMAPPINGS
  

• To leave the behavior at the default algorithm, you can either not modify the client's Sms.ini file, or you can add the following line to the [Local] section:

        DisableRandomServers=RANDOM