SMS Cache - Applications

[chriscj21]

All, hope someone can assist...

I have created an XP SP2 build. In this build I have added roughly 15 applications - these applications will be standard for all users, therefore I have added them to the build, not through SMS.

My question is this...If I install them from a local directory, can I make this directory the SMS cache and consequently have all applications (build and SMS) repair from the same location?


Many thanks


Chris

ChrisCj21
MCSE, A+, N+

 

[tbrennans]

As long as the cache never exceeds the size limit assigned to it. If it does it will auto delete the oldest files 1st.

 

[chriscj21]

Many thanks TBrennans...

To confirm, I can prestage this directory as a repository for build applications, install them from this location and is it THEN that I would tell SMS this is the local cache?

Size is not a problem as I plan to have the SMS cache as over 5GB

Is this all ok then?

ChrisCj21
MCSE, A+, N+

 

[tbrennans]

Well a prestaged app isn't going to say anything to SMS as it will not have the information in sms, nor would the installation be SMS aware, it would simply use that as the installation source.

I think what your'e getting at is if you had a SMS package of say Office, but prelocated the SMS directory folder of the package on the workstation, would sms reload it to the cache.....or just use what was there.

To be honest, I never tried it, but as a guess I would say if it had the same folder name and contents of what was on the DP it would see it is there and not try to reload it.

If you simply installed the package/application from that directory so the MSI would have the source files for self repair I would think you would be fine no matter where it was and SMS really wouldnt be a part of this process.

As I said I'm completely guessing and could be wrong but a test would show pretty quickly if there was an overwrite or new folder made in the cache from a new push to the test box.

 

[tbrennans]

One last thing is that there would be the consideration of the registry tree in the hklm\software\microsoft\sms\Mobile client\software distribution\execution history\ along with the correct hash marks, if you wanted the machine to think it was installed by SMS, and if that was not there would it just reload the package down.

 

[tbrennans]

Ah.. I think I was missing the point, yes, you can set the location and size of the cache however you like.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d.../en-us/smssdk03/hh/sms/smsref30_CacheInfo.asp

 

[chriscj21]

Thanks for getting back to me on this...here's a star for your troubles...

I will test this theory today and get back to you...

To confirm...I am trying to have a software repository AND the SMS cache in the SAME PLACE on the workstation...this is to act as the installation/repair point for build and SMS applications...Hope this is possible



Chris

ChrisCj21
MCSE, A+, N+

 

[tbrennans]

Yup that will work! As I said the main thing to be concerned with would be that you never ran out of space in the folder so it didn't delete something on you