SCCM ConfigMgr DP Roles have PXE and Throttling Options. See, the interesting changes are done on the Configuration Manager 2012 DP and PXE….. (more details)
In Configuration Manager 2012, unify infrastructure and simplify administration are two of the three key pillars of the release (the third is user empowerment). Keeping with those pillars, we have updated both the distribution point and PXE service point to make it easier to use and deploy.
Latest Posts – Fix Report Server Cannot Open A Connection Error ConfigMgr | SCCM HTMD Blog (anoopcnair.com) and How To Disable SCCM Application Deployment | ConfigMgr | MEMCM – HTMD Blog #2 (howtomanagedevices.com).
SCCM ConfigMgr DP Roles have PXE and Throttling Options
To explain this, let’s start by going over the Configuration Manager 2012 Distribution Point.
In Configuration Manager 2007, there were three basic distribution points Standard, Server Share, and Branch Distribution Points. Each role had benefits, but there was not always one type that met all the administrator requirements.
Starting with Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2, we have updated the distribution point role to become one standard distribution point. Let’s go over some of the details of the 2012 distribution point.
Configuration Manager 2012 Distribution Point:
•One Distribution Point role (merges Standard, Branch, and Server Share distribution points)
•Can run on client operating systems Windows Vista SP2 and later
•Can run on server operating system Windows Server 2003 SP2 and later
•Requires Internet Information Services (IIS) and defaults to BITS download for clients
•SMB download option for clients available for most package types
•PXE service point is now just an option of the distribution point
•Ability to set scheduling and throttling for content distribution (no secondary site required)
•Ability to prestage content and new functionality around managing prestage distribution points (more details in a later post)
•Single instance storage of content on a distribution point
The Configuration Manager 2012 distribution point now has a new storage format called the Content Library. The Content Library replaces SMSPKG shares as the default folder structure to host content. SCCM ConfigMgr DP Roles have PXE and Throttling Options.
The Content Library now stores all content on the distribution point in single instance storage; this means each file is only stored once on the distribution point, regardless of how many times a package references it. It also keeps the file once on the distribution point, even if it is contained in multiple packages!
The Content Library contains three components: File Library, Data Library, and Package Library. The Data Library has all the Metadata about the files stored on the distribution point. The Package library contains all the references to the files for each package stored on the distribution point. SCCM ConfigMgr DP Roles have PXE and Throttling Options.
The Data Library and Package library will only reside on the drive with the lowest priority. The File Library is the location that stores all the actual files that are used in packages. The files in the File library are renamed and stored based on the hash of the files. So when you browse the File library, you will most likely not recognize the individual files. Since the File library will contain GB – TB of data, the File library can be spanned across multiple volumes. (we will go into more detail in a later post).
Now let’s transition over to the changes we have made with our PXE service point. Before, we think we changed a lot; let’s go over a couple of things we did not change. First, PXE services in Configuration Manager 2012 still required Windows Deployment Services (WDS). WDS needs to be installed before enabling PXE.
This is still only available on server operating systems. Secondly, the PXE provider in Configuration Manager 2012 is mostly unchanged (aside from what we mention below and some bug fixes ). So all the troubleshooting you have learned in Configuration Manager 2007 will still be helpful. SCCM ConfigMgr DP Roles have PXE and Throttling Options.
In Configuration Manager 2007, our capacity planning states, “Up to 10 PXE service points per site, with a maximum of 75 PXE service points per primary site database”. One of the reasons for this is due to reliance on the Site Component Manager. Learning from our customer’s requirements, we have redesigned portions of our PXE service point. SCCM ConfigMgr DP Roles have PXE and Throttling Options.
Starting with Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2, the PXE service point is a property of the Distribution Point role and is no longer a separate site system. Since it is a distribution point property, it is no longer monitored or installed by SiteComp. The Distribution Manager now does this. This change will allow Configuration Manager 2012 to improve the capacity beyond the numbers published for Configuration Manager 2007. Final capacity numbers are not available at the time of the blog post, but we are expecting to greatly increase this number (I will update later as numbers become available).
Another change to the PXE service point is updating the way we interact with the site database. In Configuration Manager 2007, the PXE service point directly contacts the database to access deployment information about the client PXE booting. In Configuration Manager 2012, the PXE service point will route through the management point just like a client. This is mostly an infrastructure optimization, but important to know the flow of traffic.
Above is an overview of the infrastructure changes surrounds operating system deployments. I will start deep diving into more features in functionality over the next days to weeks. Feel free to comment if you have a specific ask for more information on portions of this overview.
Anoop is Microsoft MVP! He is a Solution Architect in enterprise client management with more than 20 years of experience (calculation done in 2021) in IT. He is a blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group HTMD Community leader. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM 2012, Current Branch, and Intune. E writes about ConfigMgr, Windows 11, Windows 10, Azure AD, Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, AVD, etc…