Contents

Install and configure Nomad in WinPE

This custom task sequence action is used specifically to install and configure Nomad in WinPE – typically done in order to support the use of pre-staged content.
ActionsNotes
When run, this task:
  1. Creates the Nomad registry values and sets the parameters passed from the task sequence action.
  2. Disables the firewall in the WinPE environment if set in the task sequence action.
  3. Self-installs Nomad.
  4. Configures registry COM.
  5. Enables multicast if set in the task sequence action.
  6. Starts the Nomad service.
This task sequence action:
  • Is specifically for use in WinPE and requires NomadBranch.exe, SMSNomad.exe and SNOttfps.dll to be added to the WinPE image (the NomadBranchTools.msi in Configuration Manager does this automatically).
  • Must be set as one of the tasks following Restart in Windows PE and before Apply Operating System.

Configurable parameters

ParameterDefault valueDescription
NameInstall and Configure NomadName for the custom task sequence action.
DescriptionAction to Install and configure Nomad in WinPEDescription for the custom task sequence action.
Workrate80Sets the work rate. This is the proportion of available (free) bandwidth to use.
P2P Port1779Port used to broadcast election messages.
SpecialNetShare8224 (0x2020)Must be an integer. See more SpecialNetShare for more information.
P2PEnabled9

Must be an integer. See P2PEnabled for more information.

P2P Http port5080This option is only available if HTTP P2P has been enabled in P2PEnabled. It defines the port used for Nomad P2P communication over HTTP and must be the same value used on all Nomad clients. 
P2P Https port5443

This option is only available if HTTPS P2P has been enabled in P2PEnabled. It defines the port used for Nomad P2P communication over HTTPS and must be the same value used on all Nomad clients.

Use PKI cert for client authDisabled (unchecked)Enables certificate-based client authentication, which requires a PKI-issued certificate. Selecting this option sets bit 0x2 of P2PSslSettings.
Use PKI cert for server authDisabled (unchecked)Configures Nomad to use a PKI certificate for server authentication when HTTPS P2P is enabled (bit 0x40 set in P2PEnabled). If this option is not checked and bit 0x40 in P2PEnabled is set, Nomad will use a self-signed certificate for server authentication.
CompatibilityFlags0x210000AMust be an integer. See CompatibilityFlags for more information.
Log file size10485760 (10MB)Sets the maximum size for the Nomad log file.
MADCAP scope
MADCAP scope for multicast. Either a scope name, or of the form <MADCAP_ServerIP>,<MADCAP_Scope_IP>,<TTL> or <MADCAP_ServerIP>, <MADCAP_Scope_IP>. See MultiCastMADCAPScope for more information.
Multicast TTL
Optional multicast time to live. See MultiCastMADCAPScope for more information.
Disable firewallEnabled by default.Disables the Windows PE firewall so that NomadPackageLocator and Nomad can communicate with other peers on the local network.
Use FIPS Encryption Disabled (unchecked)Sets EncryptionType to 0x1 (FIPS compliant encryption). This must be the same on all Nomad clients.
Enable single site downloadDisabled (unchecked)Enables the SSD feature. For Nomad running in WinPE, sets the SSDEnabled registry value to 0x1 so that SSD is enabled but the machine will be set to just retrieve downloads via SSD and not to put themselves forward to provide content.
WakeUp0 (disabled)Enables WakeUp integration. If not 0, sets the WakeUpEnabled registry value to enable peers to be woken if necessary to supply the content.
ActiveEfficiency URL ""

Sets the location of the ActiveEfficiency Web service, usually of the form http://server/ActiveEfficiency or 
http://server:port/ActiveEfficiency depending on how the ActiveEfficiencyWeb service is configured.

HTTPS is not supported for this property.
Max. machines from ActiveEfficiency 10Specifies the maximum number of devices (i.e. machines) with content (package, application or software update) that Nomad may ask from the ActiveEfficiency server in one call. Separate calls are made for local devices (for WakeUp only) and site devices (for SSD and WakeUp). The maximum value is 20.
WakeUp batch size 10Specifies the maximum number of machines to wake up in one call, for subnet and site separately. (So up to twice this number of requests will be sent in total if wakeup is enabled for both subnet and site.) The next batch will be launched, if necessary, after a re-election (usually a periodic election). The value cannot be greater than the maximum number of machines from ActiveEfficiency and hence itself cannot be more than 20.

Non-Configurable settings

SettingDefault valueDescription
P2PElectionWeight10Helps determine the outcome of Nomad elections. The higher the value the more chances the machine has to win the election.
EncryptionType0Determines the type of encryption used by Nomad for communications between Nomad peers.
DPNotAvailableCodes0x205A, 0x205DThis registry entry contains a comma-separated list of return codes, see Nomad return codes for a list of the possible ones. If Nomad encounters one of these during download it will attempt a retry from an alternative DP. It gets the list of possible DPs from Configuration Manager. The two return codes set as default are the only ones that are applicable to DP availability:
  • 0x205A – in valid special package path (set using --pp)
  • 0x205D – DP path not found

Under normal circumstances, you would not change this from the default value. You may want to not allow failover to an alternative DP altogether, in which case you would set the value to " " in the registry. Or you may only want to failover if the DP path was not found, in which case you would set the value to 0x205D only.