Distribution points

Network Agents may be assigned a distribution point role. Distribution points distribute updates, installation packages, patches, and other types of files to other Network Agents. The distribution point clients download files from distribution points, instead of Administration Server. Thus, implementing distribution points helps to reduce inter-network traffic and reduce the load on the Administration Server.

The most important distribution point attribute is scope. Scope defines which Network Agents will use this distribution point. See Distribution point scope.

There are several ways how Network Agents may become distribution points:

• Administration Server automatically assigns distribution points and defines scope for them. This is the case if automatic distribution point assignment is enabled via UaControl.SetAssignUasAutomatically(). Administration Server may decide not to assign any distribution points if it considers them not required.
• If automatic distribution point assignment is disabled, an administrator may manually assign a Network Agent to be a distribution point and define the scope for it by using UaControl.RegisterUpdateAgent().
• If automatic distribution point assignment is disabled, an administrator may instruct the Administration Server to assign distribution points to NLA-defined network automatically. In this case, the distribution point scope is defined by the administrator, but the distribution point is chosen and assigned by the Administration Server. The Administration Server may decide not to assign distribution points to such an NLA network if it considers that distribution points are not required for that NLA-defined network.

See also:

• Connection gateways
• Distribution point settings