Package Server log shows error:"The maximum number of package server policy requests has been reached" or "Download package sources failed"

Products

• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

Why does the Package Server log show the error, "Download package sources failed: The maximum number of package info requests has been reached (-2147213300)"?

Altiris.NS.Exceptions.NSComException (Altiris.NS.StandardItems): The maximum number of package server policy requests has been reached. Tune the core setting "MaxPkgSvrConfigRequests" for optimal performance. Current maximum is 2.

 

 

Environment

ITMS 7.x, 8.x

Cause

       

Resolution

There are two action items needed to resolve this.

First

There is a setting in coresettings.config which allows you to throttle the amount of Package Servers which may request a package info request. This setting is "MaxPkgSvrConfigRequest". This setting needs to be adjusted. Currently there is a hard coded maximum of 3 so there is no need to set it any higher than 3.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

You can find out the number of Package Servers you have:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

7.x and 8.x = Settings tab > Notification Server > Site Server Settings, open Site Management then Site Servers

You will need to do some testing in your environment as to the appropriate values. 

To change this setting, use the Altiris NS Configurator. If it's not installed, run the following:

For SMP 7.x use %ProgramFiles%\Altiris\Notification Server\bin\Tools

 Second

Create a client side task to Update Client Configuration using the following settings:

• Under the Jobs and Tasks section of the console right click on your desired location and select New> Task.
• On the Create New Task wizard, under the Notification Server section, select Update Client Configuration.
• Select "Update client configuration after a random period", set the Minimum delay to 1 and the Maximum to 10
• Make sure the "Randomize next configuration update time" option is selected.
• Click OK
• Schedule it for now to the "Site Servers" filter