SMS: PCM Does Not Follow Correct Distribution Server Logic

The 32-bit versions of Package Command Manager (Pcmwin32.exe and Pcmsvc32.exe) do not correctly follow the distribution selection logic as described below.

Package Command Manager (PCM) Distribution Server Selection Logic:

1. Check the distribution server list for the package to see if the current logon server exists in the list. If it does exist, then use that server as the distribution server.
2. Check the server names for each currently connected drive letter. If any of the server names for the currently connected drives match a server in the package distribution list, then use that server as the distribution server.
3. Check the current logon server for the package, using the explicit path to the package share. This is to ensure that the current logon server does actually contain the package, even if it is not in the list of 10 package servers.
4. If steps 1-3 fail, randomly select a server from the package distribution list, and connect to that server. If the connection fails for any reason, randomly pick another server from the package server list, until either a server is connected, or the list is exhausted.

Up to and including Systems Management Server 1.2 Service Pack 1, the 32-bit implementation of Package Command Manager did not successfully find a match for steps 1-3 indicated above. Because steps 1 through 3 fail to return a match, the 32-bit implementation of Package Command Manager randomly chooses a distribution server from those listed in the PCM instruction.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.2 Service Pack 1. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about PCM, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: