A backlog in schedule.box slows performance and delays site-to-site communication in SMS (836553)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 SP1

SYMPTOMS

In large Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) hierarchies with many primary and secondary sites, the SMS Scheduler component may slow down or pause on the primary site. In this scenario, the Schedule.box folder may become backlogged with job files.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the SMS Scheduler component becomes backlogged from trying to clean up completed jobs and from sending requests that are used for site-to-site communication. In this scenario, it is very difficult for the Scheduler component to work through the backlog of jobs even after the job-creation rate returns to standard levels. The main factors that contribute to job backlogs include the following:
  • The distribution of large software packages.
  • An SMS hierarchy that includes offline sites.

    Note In a large SMS hierarchy, the SMS primary site does not have an address for a third-tier SMS site or cannot communicate with a third-tier SMS site.
  • Restrictive bandwidth-utilization policies -- for example, outbox scheduling or the use of bandwidth controls in the SMS site.

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Systems Management Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

885643 How to obtain the latest Systems Management Server 2003 service pack

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next SMS service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
SMS 2.0 English download file:
   Date         Time   Version         Size      File name
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12-Mar-2004  21:48  2.0.1493.5188  1,231,080  Sms2.0-sp5-kb836553-x86-enu.exe
SMS 2.0 English install file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   25-Feb-2003  20:20  2.0.1493.5188  1,632,672  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2.0 International Client Pack 1 (ICP1) download file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12-Mar-2004  21:48  2.0.1493.5188  1,230,056  Sms2.0-sp5-kb836553-x86-icp1.exe
SMS 2.0 International Client Pack 1 (ICP1) install file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   25-Feb-2003  20:20  2.0.1493.5188  1,632,672  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2.0 International Client Pack 4 (ICP4) download file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12-Mar-2004  21:48  2.0.1493.5188  1,229,032  Sms2.0-sp5-kb836553-x86-icp4.exe
SMS 2.0 International Client Pack 4 (ICP4) install file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   25-Feb-2003  20:20  2.0.1493.5188  1,632,672  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2.0 International Client Pack 5 (ICP5) download file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12-Mar-2004  21:48  2.0.1493.5188  1,229,032  Sms2.0-sp5-kb836553-x86-icp5.exe
SMS 2.0 International Client Pack 5 (ICP5) install file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   25-Feb-2003  20:20  2.0.1493.5188  1,632,672  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2003 English download file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   13-May-2004  13:24  2.50.2726.132  1,149,160  Sms2003-rtm-kb836553-x86-enu.exe
SMS 2003 English install file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   25-Dec-2003  09:35  2.50.2726.132  1,740,800  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2003 International Client Pack 1 (ICP1) download file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   13-May-2004  13:24  2.50.2726.132  1,149,160  Sms2003-rtm-kb836553-x86-icp1.exe
SMS 2003 International Client Pack 1 (ICP1) install file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   25-Dec-2003  09:35  2.50.2726.132  1,740,800  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2003 International Client Pack 2 (ICP2) download file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   13-May-2004  13:24  2.50.2726.132  1,149,160  Sms2003-rtm-kb836553-x86-icp2.exe
SMS 2003 International Client Pack 2 (ICP2) install file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   25-Dec-2003  09:35  2.50.2726.132  1,740,800  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2003 (post-SP1) English download file:
   Date         Time   Version         Size     File name
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   30-Nov-2004  21:33  2.50.3174.1108  786,664  Sms2003-sp1-kb836553-x86-enu.exe
SMS 2003 (post-SP1) English install file:
   Date         Time   Version         Size       File name
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   20-Oct-2004  08:40  2.50.3174.1108  1,765,376  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2003 International Client Pack 1 (post-SP1) download file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   30-Nov-2004  21:33  2.50.3174.1108  787,176  Sms2003-sp1-kb836553-x86-icp1.exe
SMS 2003 International Client Pack 1 (post-SP1) install file:
   Date         Time   Version         Size       File name
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   20-Oct-2004  08:40  2.50.3174.1108  1,765,376  Basesvr.dll

SMS 2003 International Client Pack 2 (post-SP1) download file:
   Date         Time   Version        Size       File name
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   30-Nov-2004  21:33  2.50.3174.1108  787,688  Sms2003-sp1-kb836553-x86-icp2.exe
SMS 2003 International Client Pack 2 (post-SP1) install file:
   Date         Time   Version         Size       File name
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   20-Oct-2004  08:40  2.50.3174.1108  1,765,376  Basesvr.dll

Note Because of file dependencies, the most recent hotfix that contains these files may also contain additional files.

Installation information

  1. Create a shared folder that can be accessed by all the site servers in your SMS hierarchy.
  2. Copy the Version-KB836553-X86-Language.exe update file to the new folder.
  3. From each SMS primary and secondary site server in your environment, use an account that has administrative credentials.
  4. Close the SMS Administrator console if it is open.
  5. On each primary and secondary site server, connect to the shared folder that contains the hotfix, double-click Version-KB836553-X86-Language.exe, and then follow the instructions in the SMS Update Wizard.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Systems Management Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

To improve scalability and backlog-processing of the Scheduler component in SMS, the following changes are implemented after you install this hotfix:
  • The life cycle of a job is reduced by 25 percent.
  • Completed jobs and send requests are deleted sooner.
  • The handling of send requests by the Scheduler component is more efficient because the process now uses less processor resources and less disk I/O.
  • The Scheduler component cleanup process no longer runs every hour. Instead, this process now runs every 12 hours and after each complete work cycle.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/12/2006
Keywords:kbQFE kbHotfixServer kbSMS200preSP6fix kbfix kbbug KB836553 kbAudITPRO
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