SMS: PCM Does Not Remind Users of Pending Commands (187287)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2
This article was previously published under Q187287

SYMPTOMS

When a new package is available, Package Command Manager (PCM), during its polling cycle, will appear and show the user that there is a pending command. If the user is busy and closes PCM at that time, the user will not be reminded of the pending command again until either the package mandatory date passes or PCM is restarted.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 1.2. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. service pack for Systems Management Server version 1.2. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, obtain the hotfix mentioned in the STATUS section of this article, or wait for the next Systems Management Server service pack. The hotfix should have the following timestamp: 
      3/24/98   3:49pm        463,264 Pcmwin32.exe (Intel)
      3/24/98   3:49pm      1,164,560 Pcmwin32.exe (Alpha)
Note that this fix only applies to the 32-bit desktop version of PCM.

In addition to applying the hotfixed file mentioned above, you must add the following entry to the [Local] section of the Sms.ini file: 
PCMPackageReminderInterval=
This value should be set to a value (in minutes) greater than the PCM polling interval. PCM will remind the user of pending commands (by reappearing), if all of the conditions below are true:

  • There is at least one pending package.
  • The reminder interval is greater than zero.
  • The internal timer is at or below zero by the time the next polling pass is done.
Setting the value above to zero or removing the value completely causes PCM to return to the default behavior of no reminders. Note that manually starting PCM does not reset the internal timer.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/23/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbPCM kbQFE KB187287
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