Configuring SMS Sites Systems

A SMS site system is a Windows server that carries out one of multiple SMS roles for the SMS site. When installing SMS, the default configuration is that all SMS roles are installed on an SMS site server.

After SMS is installed, you can assign these site system roles to computers:

  • Client access points (CAPs): This is a SMS site system that operates as the exchange point between SMS clients and the SMS site server. At the client access point; inventory, and status information and discovery information is collected. Advertisement information can also be retrieved from the CAP.

  • Distribution points: This is a SMS site system that installs the following components which deal with running a package at a SMS client computer:

    • Package files

    • Programs

    • Scripts

  • Logon points: This is a SMS site system that is the initial connection point between a SMS site and client computer. Functions performed by logon point includes:Configuring SMS Site Systems

    • Collection of discovery information on the client.

    • Determines the site assignment of the client.

    • Pass the client a list of client access points (CAPs).

  • Software metering servers: This is a SMS site system which enables administrators to perform a number of management activities:

    • Grant/deny licenses for applications running on an SMS client.

    • Monitor and track application usage on SMS clients.

    • Restrict application usage on SMS clients.

  • Component server: This is a SMS site system that runs one or multiple SMS executive thread components to reduce the site server's processing load or to supply duplicate threads.

The requirements for installing the different site system roles and a few recommendations are summarized here:

  • For client access points (CAPs); you would need additional CAPs when your existing CAPs have a heavy load. Remember that the CAPs processes all objects created by SMS client processes, and also host most of the client components. Therefore, when you deploy SMS, the CAP is usually under a heavy load. Once SMS is installed, the CAP processes objects created by SMS client activity and passes objects transmitted from clients to the site server.

There are a few SMS components that are known to place a load on a CAP:

    • Hardware inventory

    • Software inventory

    • Advertisements

    • Status messages

To improve performance, you should have at least two CAPS within a site.

  • For distribution points; consider the following:

    • Distribution points need sufficient disk capacity to obtain packages.

    • Distribution points need both fast and reliable access to client computers.

    • The load placed on distribution points is determined by the number of packages specified for distribution and the size of the packages being distributed.

    • For clients that utilize NetWare, one NetWare server is needed to perform the distribution point role in a site.

To improve distribution point performance and availability:

    • Deploy at least two distribution points in a site.

    • To control the processing load placed on distribution points, you should place and schedule software distribution.

  • For software metering servers; consider the following:

    • You need at least one or more software metering servers if you plan to use the SMS software metering eature in a site.

    • You should consider the traffic volumes created by user logon events and application start and shutdown events to determine how many software metering servers are required.

    • Consider the mode that the software metering clients will use as well. In offline mode, software usage is tracked without enforcing software compliance. In online mode, software usage is tracked with the enforcement of software compliance.

If online mode is being used, consider the following additional factors:

    • In online mode, a software metering server handles a fewer number of users than in offline mode.

    • Network traffic volumes increase because of the instant reporting of the client agent to the particular software metering server.

    • The load of the software metering server is directly impacted by the demand for licenses from clients.

  • For component site servers; consider the following:

    • You need 2 MB of RAM for component servers.

    • If component servers are being used for sending packages, you should ensure that you have adequate disk space for compressed packages.

You use the SMS Administrator console to create SMS site systems and to change previously configured site system roles.

To create a new site system,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Select the Site Systems node in the console tree.

  3. Click the Action menu.

  4. Select New.

  5. The different site systems types which you can create are:

    • Windows NT Server

    • Windows NT Share

    • NetWare Bindery Volume

    • NetWare NDS Volume

There are a number of user accounts which the SMS site server utilizes to access systems management data. The SMS Server Network Connection Account is used by the site server to connect to the site systems, by default. Another account which the site server can use to access a site system is the SMS Service account. However, because of the nature of the SMS Service account, it is recommended that you do not utilize this account for site system access.

There are a number of other accounts which SMS can utilize. These accounts are created automatically as determined by your site configuration, or you can manually create the accounts:

  • SMS Remote Service Accounts; the two types of SMS Remote Service Accounts are:

    • SMS Remote Service account:Used by the SMS Executive service to communicate with non site server client access points.

    • SMS Logon Service account: Used by the SMS NT Logon Discovery Agent service to communicate with non site server logon points.

  • SMS Software Metering Service Account; created when the SMS site contains software metering servers.

  • Site System Accounts; made up of the following set of accounts:

    • SMS Server Network Connection account:Used by the SMS Executive service to access logon points and to collect inventory information from the CAPs.

    • Windows NT Site System account: Created automatically when the SMS site server is installed.

    • NetWare NDS Site System account, NetWare Bindery Site System account: Provide site server access to Netware site systems.

  • SMS Site Address Account; used for site to site communication.

How to set the account which the SMS site uses to access site systems

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Move to the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  4. Expand the Connection Accounts folder.

  5. Right-click the Site System folder, select New, and then select the appropriate account type from the shortcut menu.

  6. If you have selected the Windows NT account type, enter the account name and password in the Connection Account Properties dialog box.

  7. If you have selected the NetWare NDS account type, enter the account name, tree reference and password information in the Connection Account Properties dialog box.

  8. If you have selected the NetWare Bindery account type, enter the account name and password in the Connection Account Properties dialog box.

  9. Click OK.

How to assign client access points (CAPs)

A SMS site server automatically becomes a client access point (CAP) when you install the site server. It is though recommended that you remove the CAP role from the primary site server and then assign it to other site systems. This strategy results in preservation of the resources of the site server, as well as enhancement of its performance.

To configure client access points,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Move to the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  4. Right-click the site system which you want to configure as a client access point and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

  5. The Site System Properties dialog box opens.

  6. Click the Client Access Point tab.

  7. Select the Use This System As A Client Access Point checkbox.

  8. Click OK.

How to remove the CAP role from a site server

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  3. Right-click the site system which you want to remove the client access point role from and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

  4. When the Site System Properties dialog opens, click the Client Access Point tab.

  5. Clear the Use This System As A Client Access Point checkbox.

  6. Click OK.

How to assign the distribution point role

A SMS site server automatically becomes a distribution point when you install the site server. It is though recommended that you remove the distribution point role from the site server and then assign it to other site systems. This strategy results in preservation of the resources of the site server, as well as enhancement of its performance.

To configure distribution points,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Move to the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  4. Right-click the site system which you want to configure as a distribution point and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

  5. The Site System Properties dialog box opens.

  6. Click the Distribution Point tab.

  7. Select the Use This System As A Distribution Point checkbox.

  8. Click OK.

How to create a distribution point group

Distribution point groups is a SMS feature that enables you to group a set of distribution points; so that packages are sent to the distribution point group rather than to specific distribution points.

To configure a distribution point group,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Move to the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  4. Right-click a site system that is configured as a distribution point, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

  5. The Site System Properties dialog box opens.

  6. Click the Distribution Point tab.

  7. In the Group Membership area of the Distribution Point tab, click New.

  8. The Distribution Point Group Properties dialog box opens.

  9. Provide a name for new distribution point group.

  10. Enable the Include This Site System In This Distribution point Group checkbox to include this site system in the distribution point group.

  11. Click OK

  12. Click OK in the Site System Properties dialog box.

To administer the new distribution point group, access the Site System Properties dialog box, click the Distribution Point tab, and perform either of the following actions:

  • In the Group Membership area of the Distribution Point tab, click the View button to view the properties of the existing distribution point group.

  • Click the Delete button to delete the distribution point group.

How to remove the distribution point role from a site server

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  3. Right-click the site system which you want to remove the distribution point role from and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

  4. When the Site System Properties dialog opens, click the Distribution Point tab.

  5. Clear the Use This System As A Distribution Point checkbox.

  6. Click OK.

How to assign the software metering role

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Move to the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  4. Right-click the site system which you want to configure as a software metering server and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

  5. The Site System Properties dialog box opens

  6. Click the Software Metering Server tab.

  7. Select the Use This Site System As A Software Metering Server checkbox.

  8. Specify the database location for storage of the software metering data.

  9. Ensure that the correct time zone setting is set.

  10. Provide the service account details.

  11. Specify the connection settings

  12. Click OK.

How to configure logon points

A logon point is installed when the following components are enabled:

  • Windows Networking Logon Discovery

  • Windows Networking Client Logon Installation

When you install a logon point, the SMSLOGON directory is created to contain the files listed below:

  • List of all sites.

  • List of all client access points.

  • The logon script.

  • Bootstrap programs to initiate computer resource discovery and installation

  • Programs to check for computers which are connected through low bandwidth connections.

How to enable Windows Networking Logon Discovery

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Move to the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  4. Expand the Discovery Methods folder.

  5. Right-click Windows Networking Logon Discovery and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

  6. The Windows Networking Logon Discovery Properties dialog box opens.

  7. Click the Enable Windows Networking Logon Discovery checkbox.

  8. Leave the Keep Logon Point Lists For Discovery And Installation Synchronized checkbox enabled. The checkbox is selected by default.

  9. In the Logon Points area of the Windows Networking Logon Discovery Properties dialog box, click the New button.

  10. The New Windows Networking Logon Point dialog box opens.

  11. Enter the domain name in the Domain Name text box, and click OK.

  12. Click OK in the Windows Networking Logon Discovery Properties dialog box.

How to enable NetWare Bindery Logon Discovery

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Discovery Methods folder.

  4. Right-click NetWare Bindery Logon Discovery and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

  5. The NetWre Bindery Logon Discovery Properties dialog box opens.

  6. Click the Enable NetWare Bindery Logon Discovery checkbox.

  7. Leave the Keep Logon Point Lists For Discovery And Installation Synchronized checkbox enabled. The checkbox is selected by default.

  8. In the Logon Points area of the NetWare Bindery Logon Discovery Properties dialog box, click the New button.

  9. The New NetWare Bindery Logon Point dialog box opens.

  10. Enter the server name in the Server Name text box, and click OK.

  11. Click OK in the NetWare Bindery Logon Discovery Properties dialog box.

How to enable NetWare NDS Logon Discovery

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Discovery Methods folder.

  4. Right-click NetWare NDS Logon Discovery and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

  5. The NetWare NDS Logon Discovery Properties dialog box opens.

  6. Click the Enable NetWare NDS Logon Discovery checkbox.

  7. Leave the Keep Logon Point Lists For Discovery And Installation Synchronized checkbox enabled. The checkbox is selected by default.

  8. In the Logon Points area of the NetWare NDS Logon Discovery Properties dialog box, click the New button.

  9. The New NetWare NDS Logon Point dialog box opens.

  10. Enter the tree information in the Tree textbox.

  11. Enter the container in the Container textbox.

  12. Specify the appropriate volume settings in the Volume textbox.

  13. Click OK.

  14. Click OK in the NetWare NDS Logon Discovery Properties dialog box.

How to configure client installation methods

To configure the Windows Networking Logon Client Installation method,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Client Installation Methods folder

  4. Right-click Windows Networking Logon Client Installation and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

  5. The Windows Networking Logon Client Installation Properties dialog box opens.

  6. Click the Enable Windows Networking Logon Client Installation checkbox.

  7. Leave the Keep Logon Point Lists For Discovery And Installation Synchronized checkbox enabled. The checkbox is selected by default.

  8. In the Logon Points area of the Windows Networking Logon Client Installation Properties dialog box, click the New button.

  9. The New Windows Networking Logon Point dialog box opens.

  10. Enter the domain name in the Domain Name text box, and click OK.

  11. Click OK in the Windows Networking Logon Client Installation Properties dialog box.

To configure the NetWare Bindery Logon Client Installation method,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Client Installation Methods folder

  4. Right-click NetWare Bindery Logon Client Installation and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

  5. The NetWare Bindery Logon Client Installation Properties dialog box opens.

  6. Click the Enable NetWare Bindery Logon Client Installation checkbox.

  7. Leave the Keep Logon Point Lists For Discovery And Installation Synchronized checkbox enabled. The checkbox is selected by default.

  8. In the Logon Points area of the NetWare Bindery Logon Client Installation Properties dialog box, click the New button.

  9. The New Server dialog box opens.

  10. Enter the server name in the Server Name text box, and click OK.

  11. Click OK in the NetWare Bindery Logon Client Installation Properties dialog box.

To configure the NetWare NDS Logon Client Installation method,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Expand the Site Settings folder.

  3. Expand the Client Installation Methods folder.

  4. Right-click Netare NDS Logon Client Installation and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

  5. The NetWare NDS Logon Client Installation Properties dialog box opens.

  6. Click the Enable NetWare NDS Logon Client Installation checkbox.

  7. Leave the Keep Logon Point Lists For Discovery And Installation Synchronized checkbox enabled. The checkbox is selected by default.

  8. In the Logon Points area of the NetWare NDS Logon Discovery Properties dialog box, click the New button.

  9. The New NetWare NDS Logon Point dialog box opens.

  10. Enter the tree information in the Tree textbox.

  11. Enter the container in the Container textbox.

  12. Specify the appropriate volume settings in the Volume textbox.

  13. Click OK.

  14. Click OK in the NetWare NDS Logon Client Installation Properties dialog box.

Monitoring SMS site systems

You can use the Network Trace utility to monitor your SMS site systems. Network Trace provides the following information with regard to the status of each site system within the SMS site:

  • Information on the physical connection status to the site systems.

  • Information on the roles performed by a site system.

  • Information on the process and thread status of the SMS components on the site system.

  • A map detailing the network between the site system and the site server computer.

The Network Trace utility provides the following two views:

  • Trace view; displays the specific site system and the site system roles performed by the site system, as well IP subnet or IPX network number information.

  • Site view; displays all site servers is the SMS site and not only the specific site server identified in the SMS Administrator console.

To start a network trace,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Select a site system.

  3. Click the Action menu.

  4. Select the Start Network Trace command.

Once the Network Trace utility is initiated, you can verify physical connectivity by:

  1. Click the Tools menu.

  2. Select one of the following options:

    • Ping All Servers and Routers

    • Ping Selected Server(s) and Router(s)

Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo requests are sent to verify physical connectivity, and then displays connection status information as follows:

  • Good connections

  • Broken connections

  • Network routes not found

To check the process and thread status of the SMS components on the site system, first initiate the Network Trace utility and then perform the following:

  1. Select the specific site system from the Network Trace window.

  2. Click the Tools menu.

  3. Select the Poll Components of Selected Servers command.

  4. The Component Poller dialog box opens.

  5. Each SMS component on the site system is displayed.

  6. To check the status of all SMS components select the Poll All button.

  7. To check the status of a specific SMS component, select the SMS component and then select the Poll Selected button.

You can also enable and configure SMS components to create log files. Log files are typically used for troubleshooting purposes. Before enabling the SMS components to create log files, you should bear in mind that logging needs additional resources on the site server.

To enable SMS log files,

  1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

  2. Expand the Tools folder.

  3. Right-click SMS Service Manager and select All Tasks and then Start SMS Service Manager from the shortcut men.

  4. The SMS Service Manager tool opens.

  5. Expand the site server folder.

  6. Select the Components folder.

  7. Select the component that you want to enable logging for by right-clicking the specific component and then selecting Logging from the shortcut menu.

  8. The SMS Component Logging Control dialog box opens.

  9. Click the Logging Enabled checkbox.

  10. Specify the appropriate log size. The default log size is 1 MB.

  11. Click OK.