SCCM Interview Questions/FAQs - Part 8 (Software Distribution)

Part # 8 Software Distribution

1) Does a Configuration Manager Branch distribution point require a secondary site in which to operate?

Ans: No.

Explanation: A Branch distribution point is intended to allow smaller or distributed offices to host a SCCM 2007 distribution point on an existing client computer without requiring the installation of a secondary site.

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632688.aspx & http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680853.aspx

2)  Can you prevent certain clients from accessing a particular distribution point?
Ans: Yes.
Explanation: You can protect a Configuration Manager Distribution point to prevent clients outside of its protected boundaries from accessing content stored on it.

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb892788.aspx

3) Can you copy multiple packages to a distribution point simultaneously?

Ans: Yes.

Explanation: In Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003, you had to copy packages one at a time to a distribution point. In SCCM 2007, you can use the Copy Packages Wizard to copy multiple packages to a distribution point simultaneously.

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb693746.aspx

4) If an advertised program with a maximum allowed run time of Unknown is still running at the end of a maintenance window, will the advertisement fail?

Ans: No.

Explanation: When SCCM attempts to determine whether there is enough time to run a program in a maintenance window, it looks at the maximum allowed run time option. If this option is set to Unknown, it is evaluated as a program run time of Zero (0) minutes. In this case, the advertisement will succeed even if it falls outside of a defined maintenance window

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb694197.aspx.


5) Can you install a Branch Distribution Point on to a computer that is not a Configuration Manger Client?

Ans: No.

Explanation: To install a branch distribution point, the target computer must be a Configuration Manager 2007 client running Windows XP or later.

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680335.aspx

6) Do maintenance windows always control whether or not an advertised program will run on a client computer?

Ans: No.

Explanation:  Although maintenance windows are designed to allow administrators to control when client computers will download or run advertised programs, they are not intended to be universally restrictive. When creating a mandatory advertisement for a package, an administrator can elect to have that assignment ignore maintenance windows set on the target collection.

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb694295.aspx

7) Can you use Configuration Manger 2007 software distribution to uninstall a software package?

Ans: Yes.

Explanation: You can advertise any package or command to client computers using software distribution. If the software package has an uninstall command line, advertise this to the clients from which you want to remove the software package. If the software package does not have an uninstall routine, you might be able to build a script to accomplish this.

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680422.aspx

8) Can you re-run an advertisement that has previously run successfully on client computers?

Ans: Yes.

Explanation: You can re-run an advertisement that has previously completed successfully, but only if the original advertisement had a mandatory scheduled assignment that has not yet expired.

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb681010.aspx


9) To install a branch distribution point, must Internet Information Services (IIS) be installed on the branch distribution point computers?

Ans: No.

Explanation: A computer hosting a Branch Distribution point does not need to have IIS installed.

Reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680335.aspx