Where is the SCCM Task Sequence Available Deployment Options in Distribution Points Tab? And how to use this option in Task Sequence?
Let’s understand the available options in the Distribution Points tab during task sequence deployment using Configuration Manager. These dynamically depend on the selections in the deployment and attributes of the task sequence, so you may not be able to see all three deployment options available.
This post will help you to select the desired Deployment options on the Distribution Point pane when you deploy the task sequence to a collection.
Introduction
There are three deployment options available in the Distribution Points tab that appears when you deploy a Task Sequence.
Let’s check the options available –
- Download content locally when needed by the running task sequence – Specify that clients download content from the distribution point as it’s needed by the task sequence. The client starts the task sequence. When a step in the task sequence requires content, it’s downloaded before the step runs.
- Download all content locally before starting task sequence – Specify that clients download all the content from the distribution point before the task sequence runs.
- Access content directly from a distribution point when needed by the running task sequence – Specify that clients run the content from the distribution point.
Scenario 1: One Deployment Option
You deploy an Operating System Deployment (OSD) task sequence that wipes the disk and applies an image. During the deployment process, we configured the following settings –
- On the Deployment Settings page, for the Make available to the following setting selected Only media and PXE.

On the Distribution Points page, there is only one deployment option: Download content locally when needed by the running task sequence:
- The option to Download all content locally before starting the task sequence is not available because the deployment is made available to media and PXE.
- The option to Access content directly from a distribution point when needed by the running task sequence is not available. As all the referenced content in the task sequence is not uses a package share.

Scenario 2: Two Deployment Options
You deploy an Operating System Deployment (OSD) task sequence that wipes the disk and applies an image. During the deployment process, we configured the following settings –
- On the Deployment Settings page, for the Make available to the following setting selected Only Configuration Manager clients.

On the Distribution Points page, there are two deployment options available:
- Download content locally when needed by the running task sequence
- Download all content locally before starting task sequence
The option to Access content directly from a distribution point when needed by the running task sequence is not available As all the referenced content in the task sequence is not uses a package share.

Scenario 3: Three Deployment Options
You deploy a task sequence that has several Install-Package steps associated with it. In that, you need to make sure all the referenced package in the task sequence has the following setting on the Data Access tab selected Copy the content in this package to a package share on distribution points.
For Example – I am accessing the below package for validation.
- In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Software Library workspace, expand Application Management, and select the Packages node. Select the package and Right click, choose properties.

- On the Data Access tab of this package properties, selected Copy the content in this package to a package share on distribution points.

- On the Deployment Settings page, for the Make available to the following setting selected Only Configuration Manager clients. This option is the only available. The task sequence is not for OS deployment, because it does not have a boot image associated with it.

On the Distribution Points page, there are three deployment options available:
- Download content locally when needed by the running task sequence
- Download all content locally before starting task sequence
- Access content directly from a distribution point when needed by the running task sequence

Modify Existing Task Sequence Deployment Options
To change the deployment options for existing task sequence deployment. You must change the Deployment option “Make available to the following:” in the deployment properties. Here’s how –
- In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and select Task Sequences. Select the deployed task sequence to modify the deployment, and select Deployments tab.

- When you view the properties of existing task sequence deployment, the Deployment Settings tab appears on properties of the Deployment.

- On the Distribution Points tab, the following settings are available. You can change the deployment options from the drop-down list.

Resources
- Deployment Options – Microsoft Docs
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How does checking the “pre-download content for this task sequence” work for each of these 3 options?
Hello Dagon, Mostly when you choose pre-cache content, You have two options.
Download content locally when needed by running task sequence,
Download all content locally before starting task sequence
The option “Download all content locally before starting task sequence” is being used when pre-caching as it option allows to download all the content locally. More you can get details about pre-cache here – https://www.anoopcnair.com/sccm-task-sequence-pre-cache-content/
If any further questions please use HTMD Forum – http://htmdforum.com/