I had to rebuild a few Secondary Site servers recently (over 10) and each had to use a different server name but same sitecode. This is beyond normal, as we usually expect the server name and site code to be reused.

After rebuilding, copying the SMSPKG folder (and SMSSIG which is probably what did this?!) and then preloading we found that some packages would not be accepted by the Distribution Manager component on the newly built Secondary Site server.

The warning message showing up in DistMgr log:

A newer version (2) of package ABC00FFF has already arrived, delete the replication file Z:\SMS\inboxes\distmgr.box\INCOMING\01P2CEVG.PKG for version 1

Keep in mind the previous site was flushed from the hierarchy, and that there was a delay before building the replacement servers.

Doing the following had no effect

  1. Refresh the DP
  2. Remove package from the DP
  3. Resend the package to the DP using a bit of SQL code

Doing the following fixed it

  1. Perform an update for the package (impacts every site, not pretty)
  2. Remove the <SMSDRIVE>:\<SMSFOLDER>\INBOXES\DISTMGR.BOX\<PACKAGEID>.PKG file and resend the package to the DP

You can remotely delete the file (UNC'ing) as long as you have permissions, then force the resend to take place from the site the package was created at.