A diff file describes the differences between two versions of a file of a database or software module. The usage of diff files limits traffic on your company's network because diff files occupy less space than entire files of databases and software modules. If the Downloading diff files feature is enabled on a distribution point, the diff files are saved on this distribution point. As a result, devices that take updates from this distribution point can use the saved diff files to update their databases and software modules.
To optimize the usage of diff files, we recommend that you synchronize the update schedule of devices with the update schedule of the distribution point from which the devices take updates. However, the traffic can be saved even if devices are updated several times less often than is the distribution point from which the devices take updates.
Distribution points do not use IP multicasting for automatic distribution of diff files.
To enable the Downloading diff files feature:
The Downloading diff files feature is enabled. Diff files of updates will be downloaded in addition to the update files each time the Download updates to the repositories of distribution points task is run.
To check that the Downloading diff files feature is successfully enabled, you can measure the internal traffic before and after you perform the scenario.