Choose Between a Standard and Branch Distribution Point

Although they are not limited to installation in branch offices, Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 branch distribution points are specifically designed to support branch offices, which typically have fewer clients and use a slow network connection.

Configure a distribution point as a branch distribution point if any of the following conditions apply:

  • You have a remote location connected to the main Configuration Manager 2007 site location by a slow connection and want to optimize software distribution to clients in that location without creating a primary or secondary site for that location.

  • You do not have a computer running Windows Server 2003 that can function as a distribution point in a branch location, but you want to allow clients in that office to access content from a local distribution point.

  • You want to use a client operating system to provide the distribution point function and do not need more than 10 concurrent connections.

  • You want the package to be copied to the distribution point only when a client actually requests to install the package. For more information, see About On-Demand Package Distribution.

Do not configure a distribution point as a branch distribution point if any of the following conditions are true:

  • The computer does not yet have the Configuration Manager 2007 client installed or it is not assigned to the site.

  • You have not yet configured one standard distribution point for the branch distribution point to retrieve content.

  • The computer needs to roam between Configuration Manager 2007 sites.

  • The computer is an Internet-based client.

  • The distribution point must provide content to Internet-based clients.

  • The distribution point is a server share instead of a server.

  • The distribution point must support mobile device clients.

  • The computer is running Windows 2000 Server or Windows 2000 Workstation

  • The computer is not joined to an Active Directory domain.

  • The computer is likely to be turned off when Configuration Manager 2007 needs to process advertisements. For example, if an end user uses the branch distribution point as a workstation, you must educate the user not to shut down the computer when it might be needed by other users in the office.

  • You want clients to download content from the distribution point using Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS).

    注意

    Configuring a distribution point for BITS does not guarantee that the download will use BITS. However, clients always use server message blocks (SMBs) when communicating with a branch distribution point, even when the site is configured for native mode. Branch distribution points download their content using BITS from a BITS-enabled distribution point, but they cannot be BITS-enabled themselves.

  • You want to use multicast with operating system deployment in Configuration Manager 2007 R2.

See Also

Concepts

About Standard and Branch Distribution Points
About Multicast for Operating System Deployment
About Protected Distribution Points
How to Configure Distribution Points

Other Resources

How to Configure Branch Distribution Points