SMS: Registry Change Turns Off Package Target Deletion During Distribution Point Update

ID: Q235184

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

Systems Management Server 2.0 removes and then recreates the entire package on the distribution points whenever an update is made to the package. This prevents administrators from sending another package to update specific files on the distribution point.

An Example

Package A distributes a program and data file. This package is advertised.
Package B is an updated data file. This package is distributed to the same share/directory as Package A.

As a result, Package A is overwritten by Package B. This is a change in behavior from System Management Server 1.2.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 2.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. service pack for Systems Management Server version 2.0. 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


MORE INFORMATION

Service Pack 1 provides a registry key to control whether or not Update Distribution Points delete the directory.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).


  2. Locate the following key in the registry: 
    
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS\Components\SMS_DISTRIBUTION_MANAGER
    NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.


  3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value: 


    4. 
   Value Name: Reserved Flags
   Data Type:  REG_DWORD
   Value:      0 (Default, Delete target) or 1 (Overwrite target)
  4. Quit Registry Editor.


Additional query words: prodsms 


Keywords          : kbSMS200 kbSMS200bug kbPackage 
Version           : winnt:2.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 9, 1999