SMS: Existing UNC Connection to Distribution Server Is Not Reused

• Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2

SYMPTOMS

If a client has an existing Universal Naming Convention (UNC) connection to a Microsoft Systems Management Server distribution server, Program Group Control (PGC) will not use that connection, but instead will randomly select a distribution server.

If the randomly selected server is not the one to which there is currently an open connection, an additional connection will be made to the new server.

Systems Management Server will not reuse a UNC connection, although it will use a drive letter connection, and consequently, will randomly select a distribution server.

WORKAROUND

This behavior is only exhibited when using a UNC connection. If a drive is mapped to the same location on the distribution server, Systems Management Server will reuse the connection.

NOTE: Although you can use a drive mapping to reuse a connection to a distribution server, this connection must be to the distribution location on the server. A connection to another share on the same server will not result in a reused connection and a server will be randomly selected.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 1.2. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. service pack for Systems Management Server version 1.2. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

Additional query words: prodsms VSMSNET UNC distribution

Keywords : kbfix1.20.sp4 kbbug1.20
Version : winnt:1.2
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug