SMS: How to Force Site-Wide Client Updates (166771)

SUMMARY

This article describes a fairly automated procedure that you can use to deliver updated Systems Management Server client files to all Systems Management Server clients site-wide.

Systems Management Server tracks updates to the client files' version by means of the CopyListVersion value in the following copy list files:

Cl_nt.txt
Cl_dos.txt
Cl_os2.txt
Cl_win95.txt
Cl_win.txt

When Client Setup runs, it compares this value to the value in the [SMS] section of the client's Sms.ini file. If the values differ, Client Setup forces the client to go into a "verifying_files" mode that causes the client to compare all of its Systems Management Server client files with those on the logon server. If differences are found, the client obtains the updated files from the logon server.

The upgrade that results from the procedure discussed in this article may cause the Systems Management Server client to behave unexpectedly until the client has completed a successful upgrade and been restarted.

MORE INFORMATION

The following example details each step of this process as it should occur on the server and the client.

On the Systems Management Server Site Server

Make certain that any client files that have been updated are copied to the appropriate location under the SMS\Site.srv\Maincfg.box directory structure on the site server.
Use a text editor such as Notepad to open the System.map file located in the SMS directory, and save it WITHOUT MAKING ANY CHANGES. Simply opening the System.map file in Notepad and saving it again gives it a new date/time stamp.

NOTE: Other than saving it with a new date/time stamp, Microsoft does not support the modification of the copy list files or the System.map file.
On its next pass, the Systems Management Server Maintenance Manager service will detect the changed date/time stamp on the System.map file and regenerate the copy list files, because it assumes the site has been upgraded. When the copy list files are regenerated from the "new" System.map file, they will get a new CopyListVersion value.

Additionally, the Maintenance Manager service will copy all of the updated client files to each of the Systems Management Server logon servers that this site manages.

On the Systems Management Server Client

After running the Systems Management Server logon script (SMSLS), the client setup program Cli_dos.exe (or Cli_nt.exe for client computers running Windows NT), compares the CopyListVersion value in the [SMS] section of its Sms.ini file with the value stored in the corresponding copy list file on the Systems Management Server logon server. If a difference is found, the client will display the following message twice during the client logon process:
Verifying Microsoft Systems Management Server client installation...
Systems Management Server will normally display this message during the execution of the SMSLS logon script. However, after this completes, another logon script dialog will appear displaying the above message again if a change in the CopyListVersion was detected in the client's Sms.ini file.
Client Setup then updates the CopyListVersion value in the [SMS] section of the Sms.ini file, and changes the SetupPhase= statement in the [Local] section to "verify_files".
As the client's system continues to start up, Smsrun16.exe (or Smsrun32.exe for client computers running Windows NT) is run from the client's LOAD= line of the Win.ini file (for client computers running Windows NT, there is a Load value in the registry). When Smsrun16.exe finds that the SetupPhase value is set to "verify_files," it actually makes another call to the client setup (either Cli_dos.exe or Cli_nt.exe).
The second time that Client Setup runs, it again displays the message "Verifying Microsoft Systems Management Server client installation..." At this point, the file comparisons are made and updated files are downloaded to the client.

NOTE: If it is determined that any of the client components normally started by Smsrun16.exe are running, no updates will be downloaded, and the SetupPhase will remain as "verifying_files." This will ensure that the files will be downloaded the next time the system is restarted and Smsrun16.exe is run.
After the updated files have been downloaded, the last step made by Client Setup is to change the SetupPhase value to "installed." Additionally, if any changes are made to any of the Systems Management Server client services, client computers running Windows NT may see a dialog box stating that the Systems Management Server Client has been modified and a restart is required for the changes to take effect.