Remove Distribution Point In SCCM | Uninstall ConfigMgr DP Role

In this article, we will look at the steps to remove distribution point in SCCM. You can uninstall the ConfigMgr DP role from Windows Server using a PowerShell script or from the console.

In the previous post, we saw the installation of the SCCM distribution point role. Distribution points are a key part of delivering packages, programs, endpoint protection updates, applications, software updates, and operating system deployment (OSD).

It makes sense to remove the SCCM DP role from a distribution point server if it is not in use or is located in a remote area with low utilization. A DP role may be running on a physical server installed with Windows Server or on a virtual machine.

Listed below are some important guides that can be used for deploying and managing the DP role in SCCM:

• Install ConfigMgr Distribution Point on Windows 11
• Windows Server Core as SCCM Distribution Point
• Install SCCM Distribution Point on Windows 10
• Enable SCCM Distribution Point Maintenance Mode
• Install SCCM Distribution Point Using PowerShell Script

What happens when you uninstall ConfigMgr DP Role?

When you uninstall ConfigMgr DP role, all the packages distributed to that DP get removed. You might need to deploy application content to the distribution point again even if you reinstall the DP role.

Occasionally, when you uninstall ConfigMgr DP role, the content from the content library doesn’t get deleted. In these situations, you must delete the content manually from the drive. It is always recommended to perform the content cleanup on DP before reinstalling the distribution point role.

The procedure to remove the DP role in SCCM is easy and requires no major prerequisites as such. Just make sure the SCCM remote site server computer account is part of the Local Administrators group before removing the distribution point role on a site system server.

After removing the SCCM distribution point role from Windows Server, you can decommission that server. If required, you can reinstall the distribution point role on the same Windows server at a later point of time.

Steps to Remove Distribution Point In SCCM

You can use the following steps to remove distribution point in SCCM:

• Launch the SCCM console.
• Navigate to Administration > Overview > Site Configuration > Servers and Site System Roles.
• Select the Windows Server that is installed with DP role.
• Under Site System Roles, right click on Distribution Point role and select Remove Role.

You get a message box asking you, “Are you sure that you want to remove the selected role “Distribution Point” from server “Server name”? Select Yes to confirm the removal of the DP role.

After the Distribution Point role is removed in SCCM, right-click on the DP server and select Delete. The server entry is now deleted from the list of servers and site system roles.

Remove ConfigMgr DP role using PowerShell

You can use a simple PowerShell script that utilizes Remove-CMDistributionPoint cmdlet to completely uninstall the distribution point role from the server. Refer to the following guide on removing the DP role using a PowerShell script.

Log Files to Confirm Removal of SCCM DP Distribution Point

When you remove distribution points in SCCM, you can verify the role removal by reviewing the DP logs. There are two important SCCM DP log files that will confirm the removal of the ConfigMgr DP role from the server.

1. Distmgr.log: Records package creation, compression, delta replication, and information updates.
2. HMan.log: Records site configuration changes, and publishes site information in Active Directory Domain Services.

Lastly, during the setup of Distribution Point you would have added the SCCM site server computer account to the Local Administrators group on DP. Once you uninstall the DP role, you can now remove the computer account from the local administrators group.

Important: You must make sure that clients can still download content from existing DPs after the DP role has been successfully removed. Edit the boundary group and associate a valid DP, as this configuration helps associate clients with system servers that are located near the clients on the network.

Reinstall the ConfigMgr DP Role

After the DP role is removed, you can manually clean up the folders that were created during DP installation on the server. To reinstall the DP role on Windows Server, you can use this guide that covers the steps to install SCCM DP role. You can also use a PowerShell script for installing the distribution point role.