Messed up the SCCM ContentLib

Dave21 20

Hello,

I think the contentlib of our configMgr (CB) is corrupt.

Many Windows 11 clients cannot download the cumulative updates for Windows 11 from the distribution point. The download remains at 0% in the software center (I have checked the boundary groups and whether the clients are perhaps using a metered connection...).

The background history: We had once started the ConfigMgr without its secondary VHD after a server change, as a result the DP role had created a new contentlib under C:. I then made the mistake of simply removing the new library (instead of merging with the old one).

As if that wasn't enough, I also later ran the Contentlibrary Cleanup Tool on the server (unfortunately it is a primary site with DP role, so not supported and Microsoft states that you should not run the tool there). After the tool removed countless packages, the ConfigMgr console showed me the distribution status of many packages as failed (which tells me that the tool removed active packages from the contentlib).

I then removed the packages and simply redistributed them. After that, the packages were distributed successfully. Deployments worked for over a year without any problems.

As already mentioned, however, we are currently having problems distributing the cumulative updates for Windows 11 and I think that this is a problem caused by the contenlib.

Is there a chance to repair the ContentLib or should I just start over and setup a new ConfigMgr environment?

1 answer

Sherry Kissinger 5,521 Reputation points

2024-12-17T12:19:45.91+00:00

Note: I don't claim to be an expert, just another admin like you.

If it were me, based on your description, I wouldn't start with trashing contentlib completely and starting over from scratch.

I'd try this first...

Since it is (in air quotes) "just" the CUs for Win11 from December... I would delete (from that package) just the win11 CUs; so they are 'no longer downloaded or distributed'.

Then, make a new software update package, and add just the Win11 December CUs, distribute that to your DPs, and monitor a box or three and see if "now that it is a new package and newly downloaded", that they see the new content there.

"Just my opinion I could be wrong and likely am wrong".

In my scary and shady past... for software updates specifically I've had to "make a new SU Package" a few times; usually self-inflicted pain and/or just didn't have "time" to figure out what was really wrong (you know, patch week etc.) and instead just made a "new" SU Package and started using that for 'new stuff'.
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Dave21 20 Reputation points

2024-12-17T18:00:58.7033333+00:00

Sorry, my comment were deleted (don‘t know why…)

I already have created a new package for the Windows 11 updates and distributed it to my DP (primary site-server) - the cumulative updates (november & december) still stuck at 0% in softwarecenter.

Just some thoughts:

What if I‘m going to delete the contentlib-folder? Think of a case where a vhd/harddisk get lost that contains the library? Do I have to recreate the whole site? (of course we do backups).

Kind regards

Dave

Sherry Kissinger 5,521 Reputation points

2024-12-17T19:48:21.88+00:00

From another thread: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/742287/if-i-lost-my-content-library

basically, if you want to pretend to (or for real) "oopsies, lost the entire contentlib"...

you have to re-download and re-distribute anything/everything that has content.

That can... take a while.

You may want to open a case with Microsoft, so you can get them every single log file, so they can tell you want is or isn't happening. Since you've already recreated the package, I don't know if deleting and recreating the contentlib would make a difference.

If it were me, at this point I would open a case. I certainly wouldn't yet be contemplating "create a whole new site" (unless it's my lab, with all of 3 lab virtual machines, that, sure, I'll do... but production? I'd open a case). But that's me, I guess. You do you.

Dave21 20 Reputation points

2024-12-18T05:51:15.8833333+00:00

Thank you. I also found this thread on my first research.

I tend to delete the whole contentlib and distribute all of my content. I will save the status of the vm before (checkpoint) in case anything goes wrong.

About contacting MS-Support:

I‘m not onehundred percent sure about it but I think they canceled the support contingent out of software assurance… so I don‘t have the possibility to open a case.

Kind regards

Dave

Simon Ren-MSFT 37,401 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-12-20T09:04:36.6333333+00:00

Hi,

Hope everything is going well.

A similar thread here: Backup content library vs rebuild it

Note: This is non-Microsoft link, just for your reference.

Best regards,

Simon

Dave21 20 Reputation points

2024-12-20T11:14:09.2933333+00:00

Hi there,

for me it was easier to rebuild.

We‘re small company with only one side under ConfigMgr and we deploy ~15 Apps + Updates (ADR).

it seems that there are other problems too, some clients don‘t get the required-status for some updates… have to work this out after the holidays.

Kind regards

Sherry Kissinger 5,521 Reputation points

2024-12-20T15:45:34.37+00:00

In regards to compliance... it's a known 'thing' where clients may have THOUGHT they told the server whether or not they deserve "patch x"... but the server never got the message. So from the client, you ask the client to 'refreshservercompliancestate'

Here's a way to do that with a configItem.

https://tcsmug.org/blogs/sherry-kissinger/515-configmgr-refreshservercompliancestate-as-a-configuration-item

If you have the recast right-click tools, you can do that from there, too:

https://docs.recastsoftware.com/help/client-tools-on-collection-refresh-updates-compliance-state

(If you don't have the right-click tools, at your size of a company, they to have a free version https://docs.recastsoftware.com/help/right-click-tools-community-edition, I recommend installing it, if you do not have it already) The for-pay version has more functionality of course.

Dave21 20 Reputation points

2024-12-20T16:35:21.8666667+00:00

Hi,

compliance looks good.

The problem is that under the group of devices, that require an certain update, a lot of devices are not listed, altough they not have this update installed.

Do you guys know, how the process of enumerating, which Client needs which update works?

Think it has something to do with hardware-inventory?

Kind regards

Dave21 20 Reputation points

2024-12-20T16:40:59.5066667+00:00

Posted twice, sorry.

Simon Ren-MSFT 37,401 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-12-25T04:03:50.1066667+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

==>Do you guys know, how the process of enumerating, which Client needs which update works?

Running the software updates scan cycle from the configuration manager control panel applet will force the device to check update compliance. The client notification for software update deployments will only evaluate existing deployment policies (which won't exist if updates aren't deployed). You can amend the schedule that the software update scan runs on the clients under the software updates section of client settings.

For each software update, a state message is created that contains the compliance state for the update. The state messages are sent in bulk to the management point and then to the site server, where the compliance state is inserted into the site database. The compliance state for software updates is displayed in the Configuration Manager console. You can deploy and install software updates on computers that require the updates.

The following official article provides information about the compliance states and describes the process for scanning for software updates compliance.

Software updates compliance assessment

Hope it helps. Have a nice day!

Best regards,

Simon

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Messed up the SCCM ContentLib

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