SCCM relies heavily on log files for software updates, application management, content distribution, and Operating System Deployment (OSD). This unified guide centralizes the most useful logs, where they live, and how to read them effectively with tools like CMTrace and Trace32/Trace64.
Microsoft log files can be verbose and difficult to parse with standard editors. Use CMTrace or Trace32/Trace64 to speed up troubleshooting.
Real-time tail: Watch logs update live while you troubleshoot.Search & filters: Quickly locate relevant entries.Highlighting: Emphasize keywords, warnings, and errors.Error surfacing: Automatic visual cues for failures.
64-bit native (Trace64): Better performance on modern OSes.Advanced filtering: Fine-grained views for deep dives.Customizable views: Focus on the data that matters.
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Use the table below to find smsts.log during each phase of deployment. Locations change as the disk is partitioned and the client is installed.
Phase Path
WinPE (before disk format) X:\Windows\Temp\SMSTSLog\smsts.log WinPE (after disk format) X:\SMSTSLog\smsts.log (also copied to C:\_SMSTaskSequence\Logs\Smstslog\smsts.log) Full OS (before ConfigMgr client) C:\_SMSTaskSequence\Logs\Smstslog\smsts.log Full OS (after ConfigMgr client installed) %WINDIR%\CCM\Logs\smsts.log (or %WINDIR%\SysWOW64\CCM\Logs\smsts.log on 64-bit during certain stages) Full OS (build complete) %WINDIR%\System32\CCM\Logs\smsts.log (or %WINDIR%\SysWOW64\CCM\Logs\smsts.log on 64-bit)
Log Name Description Computer with Log File
CAS.log Content access service: finds distribution points for referenced content. Client ccmsetup.log Client setup/upgrade/removal actions; key for client install issues. Client CreateTSMedia.log Task sequence media creation details. Admin PC running the ConfigMgr console Dism.log Driver install or update apply actions for offline servicing. Site system server Distmgr.log Distribution manager; includes enabling PXE on a DP. Site system server DriverCatalog.log Drivers imported into the driver catalog. Site system server mcsisapi.log Multicast package transfer and client responses. Site system server mcsexec.log Multicast health checks, sessions, certificate checks. Site system server mcsmgr.log Multicast config/security/availability changes. Site system server mcsprv.log Multicast provider interaction with WDS. Site system server MCSSetup.log Multicast server role installation details. Site system server MCSMSI.log Multicast server role MSI installation details. Site system server Mcsperf.log Multicast performance counter updates. Site system server MP_ClientIDManager.log MP responses to client ID requests from PXE/boot media initiated TS. Site system server MP_DriverManager.log MP responses to Auto Apply Driver action requests. Site system server OfflineServicingMgr.log Offline servicing schedules and WIM update apply actions. Site system server Setupact.log / Setupapi.log / Setuperr.log Windows setup/Sysprep logs. Client smpisapi.log Client state capture/restore actions and thresholds. Client Smpmgr.log SMP health checks and config changes. Site system server smpmsi.log SMP installation and configuration details. Site system server smpperf.log SMP performance counters updates. Site system server smspxe.log PXE responses; boot image/file expansion details. Site system server smssmpsetup.log SMP installation/configuration details. Site system server smsts.log Task sequence engine log (primary for OSD troubleshooting). Client TSAgent.log Task sequence dependency evaluation outcomes before TS start. Client loadstate.log USMT restore operations. Client scanstate.log USMT capture operations. Client
Log Name Description Computer with Log File
DataTransferService.log BITS communication for policy/content access; also used by pull-DP content. Client PullDP.log Content that a pull distribution point transfers from source DPs. (System Center 2012 ConfigMgr SP1+) Pull Distribution Point PrestageContent.log ExtractContent.exe usage on a remote prestaged DP (imports exported content files). (SP1+) Prestaged Distribution Point SMSdpmon.log Distribution point health monitoring scheduled tasks. Distribution Point (site system server) smsdpprov.log Extraction of compressed files received from a primary site (WMI provider on remote DP). Distribution Point (WMI Provider)
Log Name Description Computer with Log File
objreplmgr.log Replication of software update notification files from parent to child sites. Site server PatchDownloader.log Downloads updates from the source to the site server’s download destination. Admin PC hosting the ConfigMgr console used for download ruleengine.log Automatic deployment rules: identification, content download, group and deployment creation. Site server SUPSetup.log Software update point installation details; look for “Installation was successful”. Site system server WCM.log SUP configuration and WSUS connections (categories, classifications, languages). Site server connecting to WSUS WSUSCtrl.log WSUS configuration, DB connectivity, and health. Site system server wsyncmgr.log Software update synchronization process. Site system server WindowsUpdate.log Windows Update Agent communications with WSUS; compliance and agent updates. Client
Log Name Description Computer with Log File
AppIntentEval.log Current/intended app state, applicability, requirements, DTs, dependencies. Client AppDiscovery.log Discovery/detection of applications on client computers. Client AppEnforce.log App enforcement (install/uninstall) on the client. Client awebsctl.log Monitoring for the Application Catalog web service point. Site system server awebsvcMSI.log Installation details for the App Catalog web service point role. Site system server Ccmsdkprovider.log Application management SDK activities. Client colleval.log Collection Evaluator when collections are created/changed/deleted. Site system server ConfigMgrSoftwareCatalog.log Application Catalog activity (includes Silverlight usage). Client portlctl.log Monitoring for the Application Catalog website point. Site system server portlwebMSI.log MSI installation activity for the App Catalog website role. Site system server PrestageContent.log ExtractContent.exe usage on a prestaged DP for exported content files. Site system server ServicePortalWebService.log Application Catalog web service activity. Site system server ServicePortalWebSite.log Application Catalog website activity. Site system server SMSdpmon.log Distribution point health monitoring scheduled task activity. Site server SoftwareCatalogUpdateEndpoint.log Manages the Application Catalog URL shown in Software Center. Client SoftwareCenterSystemTasks.log Software Center prerequisite component validation. Client
Open smsts.log with CMTrace during OSD; press F8 in WinPE (if enabled) to launch a command prompt and browse paths.
Correlate client-side errors with server-side logs (for example, smspxe.log, wsyncmgr.log, distmgr.log).
Use consistent time synchronization on servers and clients to align timestamps across logs.
