Hands-On Guide to Improving SCCM Distribution with Connect

Overview

Both Resilio and Microsoft System Centre Operation Manager (SCCM) provide centralized services for working with agents, providing tools for IT managers to perform mass changes to a fleet of devices. SCCM is designed as a security compliance, patching and auditing system for Windows whereas Resilio is a file distribution and synchronization platform designed for agnostic use over multiple operating systems including mobile devices.

Where Resilio Can Complement SCCM

Resilio compliments the SCCM platform when it performs its primary task of moving data, site to site. For an agent to receive an application, patch or file in the SCCM model, the file is first uploaded to a Central Administration site then downloaded to primary, secondary and additional distribution points (depending on the architecture) before being deployed to endpoints. This model completes the entire file transfer at each level before delivery.
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Under the Resilio model, file parts are transferred as available by any peer (including endpoints) making efficient distributed use of every devices’ available bandwidth and processing power. If an endpoint has the required files available it can distribute this to a peer on the same LAN directly instead of relying on an upstream server.

Some examples of SCCM and Resilio in a complementary model:

Scenario #1:

A new training application is required for all operations managers with videos and interactive activities for crew(new videos and activities are changed weekly).

• Resilio distributes the media to each laptop in the “Store_Managers” group. As the laptops move between networks they can continue to receive updates even at home. Media files can be added and removed by the training department as required, with confidence that all other laptops will be synchronized.
  

• SCCM handles the base application installation and compliance checks, informing the training department of any outdated devices.
  

Scenario #2:

A new OS image is developed and made available at the Head Office, 50 remote sites require this image available locally to deploy to POS devices.

• Resilio handles the image synchronization over the WAN from the Head Office servers and can synchronize parts between remote sites providing redundancy and expanded capacity.
  

• SCCM utilities the images to deploy and reimage POS devices with updated OS images.
  

Where Resilio can Replace SCCM

SCCM struggles with large file transfers and transfers to devices in untrusted or unstable networks, Resilio is ideal for deployment in these scenarios to replace SCCM. With SCCM, files are bundled into executable packages and then distributed using TCP (SMB or HTTPS) with a lot of loss to overhead and limited mechanisms for failure and retry should a device connection quality change.
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Resilio utilities UDP and a proprietary peer to peer protocol, breaking down files into parts for transfer. Endpoints can easily handle network disruptions and changes without impact to the overall file transfer, receiving small parts of the total files as and when they are available.

Some examples of Resilio replacing SCCM:

Scenario #1:

Store managers and assistant managers need to watch a 20MB training video and answer a short questionnaire around compliance

• Resilio distributes the files required to each laptop in the “Store_Managers” group.
  

• On file transfer completion, Resilio executes a script to update the users laptop login scripts (regardless of OS)to display the video and questionnaire on login.
  

• Resilio consolidates questionnaire responses to a central server in the Head Office, organizing responses into folders by state, store and user.
  

Scenario #2:

Self-checkout POS Devices in each restaurant have a catalogue of product images that are updated regularly by the marketing team.

• Resilio distributes the media files over WAN from a central location to an in-store local server. A list of incomplete transfers is available in the Resilio management console for action by remote support teams.
  

• Resilio distributes files locally over the LAN to each POS device.
  

• POS devices synchronize to each other over LAN to ensure a consistent catalogue of images in store
  

Comparison Table

SCCM

Connect

OS Focus

Windows (Other OS support provided through Intune MDM)

Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS and Android

Network Focus

LAN / WAN

Internet / LAN / WAN

NAT Traversal

Via Proxy or Distribution Points with direct access to Central Administration servers

Native NAT Traversal

Network Protocol

TCP

UDP or TCP

Platform Focus

• Agent Auditing
• Security Compliance
• OS Deployment
• OS Patching

• File Transfer
• File Sync
• Remote script execution
• Bandwidth limiting and Scheduling

File Transfer Model

Client-Server

Peer to Peer

Max Agents per Distribution Point

4000

10,000

Workflow Differences

The below examples provide a workflow difference between some common IT deployment and maintenance tasks achievable through both SCCM and Resilio. The examples below are simplified and do not contain all of the required steps.