Distribute referenced content

Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

Before clients run a task sequence that references content, distribute that content to distribution points. At any time, you can select the task sequence and distribute its content to build a new list of reference packages for distribution. If you make changes to the task sequence with updated content, redistribute the content before it's available to clients.

Distribute content

Use the following procedure to distribute the content that is referenced by a task sequence:

1. In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then select the Task Sequences node.

2. In the Task Sequence list, select the task sequence that you want to distribute.

3. On the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Deployment group, select Distribute Content. This action starts the Distribute Content Wizard.

4. On the General page, verify that the correct task sequence is selected for distribution.

5. On the Content page, verify the content to distribute, such as the boot image referenced by the task sequence.

6. On the Content Destination page, specify the collections, distribution point, or distribution point group where you want to distribute the task sequence contents.

   Important

   If the task sequence that you selected references content that's already distributed to a specific distribution point, the wizard doesn't list that distribution point.

7. Complete the wizard.

Prestage content

You can also prestage the content referenced in the task sequence. Configuration Manager creates a compressed, prestaged content file that contains the files, associated dependencies, and associated metadata for the content that you select. Then you manually import the content at a site server, secondary site, or distribution point. For more information about how to prestage content files, see Prestage content.

Next steps

Reduce the size of task sequence policy

Deploy a task sequence