Differences Between Distribution Points and Secondary Sites in SCCM

Question

What are the key differences between using a Distribution Point and a Secondary Site for the deployment of applications and updates in a Microsoft environment?

Specifically, I'd like to understand the distinct roles and functionalities of DPs and Secondary Sites in SCCM. Could anyone explain the advantages and disadvantages of each approach regarding content distribution and client communication?

Additionally, in what scenarios would it be more beneficial to utilize a DP over a Secondary Site, and vice versa? Insights or recommendations on choosing between a DP and a Secondary Site for content distribution in SCCM would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

The main (only, in my opinion) reason for a Secondary Site is that the location you are servicing is across a VERY unreliable, or latent networking connection. For example, a ship at sea, so information back and forth is over satellite, and is spotty. Or the location's internet is so bad, you really are only allowed by the company to let CM (the secondary site, and any DPs attached to that secondary) to get content on Saturday and Sunday, so you need to leverage that ability of the Secondary Site.

If you haven't already read this, read this: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/core/plan-design/hierarchy/design-a-hierarchy-of-sites#BKMK_ChooseSecondary

for the reasons to have a secondary, and what makes sense if you MIGHT have network reliability issues, but don't want secondaries everywhere either.

Lots of suggestions there on other content delivery options as well. I personally wouldn't want a secondary site unless it was the absolute only option (ship-at-sea / submarine / for that site in the middle of the nowhere, they only have internet AT ALL on Sundays, but still have to patch them <at least once every 6 months>, that kind of thing -- and even then for that middle-of-nowhere situation, I'd say forget CM, and move them to Intune only managed, and not have to worry about secondary sites anyway)

Answer 2

Hi,

Distribution points are recommended for locations that have fewer than 500 clients

Secondary sites are recommended for sites that have more than 1000 clients and are on a slow WAN link. Each primary site supports up to 250 secondary sites

Plan for site system servers and site system roles in Configuration Manager