Systems Management Server 2003 Distribution Manager Recompresses a Package from the Source Files Directory When You Have Selected to use a Compressed Copy of the Source Directory

The Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 Distribution Manager recompresses a package from the source files directory even though you have selected to use a compressed copy of the source directory.

This behavior occurs when the following conditions are true in the order that they appear:

• You have selected the Use a compressed copy of the source directory option on the Data Source tab of the Package Properties dialog box.
• The compressed copy of the package on the parent site is corrupted or is deleted.
• A new distribution point is added for the package.

To work around this behavior, make sure that the correct source files exist on the parent site and then use the Manage Distribution Wizard to update all target distribution points with the new package. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, click Systems Management Server, and then click SMS Administrator Console.
2. In the left pane of the SMS Administrator Console, expand Site Database, expand Packages, and then expand the package that you want to update.
3. Under the Package name, right-click Distribution Points, click All tasks, and then click Manage Distribution Points.
4. On the Welcome page of the Manage Distribution Points Wizard, click Next.
5. On the Manage Distribution Points screen of the Manage Distribution Points Wizard, click the Update all distribution points with a new package source version button, and then click Next.
6. On the Completing the Manage Distribution Points Wizard screen, click Finish.

The package is now updated on distribution points.

This behavior is by design.

When you select the Use a compressed copy of the package option on the Package Properties screen, the SMS 2003 Distribution Manager will only access the source directory when the package is created or when the administrator updates the package. One exception to this behavior is if the compressed copy of the package is corrupted or is deleted.

When you add a new distribution point for the compressed package the SMS 2003 Distribution Manager recompresses the files in the source directory on the parent site, and then resends an empty or corrupted compressed package to the distribution point in the child site.