Metadata distribution is enabled by default. It can also be enabled from the Core console on the Configuration tab as explained in the following procedure.
Note: Download Manager must be enabled for Metadata Distribution.
The Patch Distribution Settings page opens, with areas for Patch Metadata Download and Patch Gateway Operations.
Note: When you enable Metadata distribution, Microsoft patch management switches the Vendor feed named to MSFT from MICROSOFT.
Note: When you enable Metadata distribution, Microsoft bulletins previously published to the CSDB (not using Metadata) are deleted if they are re-acquired using Metadata distribution. This behavior occurs because it is not possible to have the same bulletin acquired by using multiple feeds. As a result, the Metadata distribution acquisition process wipes out the published bulletins from the CSDB.