Application Deployment for Device Collections

Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

When an application is deployed to a Device collection, the policy is targeted to all the devices in the collection regardless of the deployment purpose. This article explains the policy download and deployment processing on the client.

Tip

All the information necessary to review the client logs can be obtained by running the SQL query referenced in the Before you begin section.

Policy Download

After the policy for the application deployment is targeted to the client, the client would download the policy at the next policy polling cycle. When the client downloads the policy, it downloads related policies in addition to the deployment policy. These related policies include the policy for the application, deployment type, global conditions, etc. Policy download activity can be tracked in the PolicyAgent.log on the client, using either the Application or Assignment Unique ID.

Download of policy CCM_Policy_Policy5.PolicyID="{3AC57DFE-3F87-4C59-930B-B9F57CB41B91}",PolicySource="SMS:PS1",PolicyVersion="1.00" completed (DTS Job ID: {AE88E639-0E59-40D7-AAA9-4403AAE6EE82})
Policy state for [CCM_Policy_Policy5.PolicyID="{3AC57DFE-3F87-4C59-930B-B9F57CB41B91}",PolicySource="SMS:PS1",PolicyVersion="1.00"] is currently [Active]

After the policies are downloaded on the client, the Scheduler component creates schedules for deployment activation and enforcement.

Deployment Activation

Application evaluation is initiated when the deployment is activated. Scheduler component creates a schedule to activate the assignment at the Available Time configured in the deployment. This activity can be tracked in Scheduler.log on the client using the Application Assignment Unique ID.

  • For Required deployments, the activation schedule is created, but has a delay of up to two hours to avoid resource contention on Site Servers and Distribution Points. The delay helps avoid contention since application content may be downloaded during evaluation if the application is applicable based on defined Requirement Rules.

    SMSTrigger '15AF8C4000080000' for scheduler 'Machine/{5F2FA409-C9B2-4100-8BC8-051820311DE1}' will fire at 08/15/2019 01:44:00 PM with randomization.
      
  • For Available deployments, the activation schedule is created to be fired off at the Available Time configured in the Deployment.

    SMSTrigger '1E4F8C4000080001' for scheduler 'Machine/{3AC57DFE-3F87-4C59-930B-B9F57CB41B91}' will fire at 08/15/2019 01:13:33 PM without randomization.
      

When the schedule time arrives, Scheduler component sends the activation message to DCM Agent to perform application evaluation.

Sending message for schedule 'Machine/{3AC57DFE-3F87-4C59-930B-B9F57CB41B91}' (Target: 'direct:DCMAgent', Name: '')

DCM Agent receives the activation message, and creates a job to evaluate the application.

CDCMAgent::HandleMessage - Message received for machine: '<?xml version='1.0' ?><CIAssignmentMessage MessageType='Activation'><AssignmentID>{3AC57DFE-3F87-4C59-930B-B9F57CB41B91}</AssignmentID></CIAssignmentMessage>'

Deployment Enforcement

Application installation is initiated when the deployment is enforced.

  • For Required deployments, Scheduler creates a deadline schedule after policy is downloaded to enforce the application at deployment deadline. The deadline schedule isn't randomized by default. Randomization behavior for activation can be controlled by the Disable deadline randomization client setting.

    SMSTrigger '15EF8C4000080000' for scheduler 'Machine/DEADLINE:{5F2FA409-C9B2-4100-8BC8-051820311DE1}' will fire at 08/15/2019 03:05:00 PM without randomization.
      

    At the deadline, Scheduler component sends the deadline message to DCM Agent.

    Sending message for schedule 'Machine/DEADLINE:{5F2FA409-C9B2-4100-8BC8-051820311DE1}' (Target: 'direct:DCMAgent', Name: '')
      

    DCM Agent receives the deadline message, and creates a job to enforce the application.

    CDCMAgent::HandleMessage - Message received for machine: '<?xml version='1.0' ?><CIAssignmentMessage MessageType='EnforcementDeadline'><AssignmentID>{5F2FA409-C9B2-4100-8BC8-051820311DE1}</AssignmentID></CIAssignmentMessage>'
    

    Note

    For deployments with deadline in the past, the application is activated and enforced immediately by the same DCM Agent job which performs the evaluation, download and installation actions.

  • For Available deployments, there's no deadline schedule since the enforcement occurs when the application installation is initiated by the user from Software Center. When the user starts an installation, a DCM Agent job is created to perform application evaluation, download, and installation. This activity can be tracked in DCMAgent.log on the client.

Next Steps