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How to Resolve Download Errors During PatchMyPC SCUP Catalog Download – Exception Message: The request was aborted: Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel -2146233079

In this article, we will look at the cause and resolution for error -2146233079 when trying to import our catalog into System Center Update Publisher.

Topics covered in this article:

Issue: SCUP Uses TLS1.0, Not TLS1.1/TLS1.2 by Default

Currently, the System Center Update Publisher tool has native support for TLS1.0. It is a .NET Application which targets .NET Framework v4.5. Any connections which require a newer version of TLS, such as to the PatchMyPC.com website, will not connect successfully. The PatchMyPC.com website currently allows TLS1.1 and TLS1.2 connections.

This specific error will appear in the UpdatesPublisher.log file for SCUP as shown below.

Download file: ‘https://patchmypc.com/scupcatalog/apis/subscriber_download.php?id=12345678901234567890’ failed.
==================== Exception Detail Start =======================
Exception type: WebException
Exception HRESULT: -2146233079
Exception Message: The request was aborted: Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel.
Exception source UpdatesPublisher.BaseServices
Exception TargetSite Void MoveNext()
EStack: at Microsoft.UpdatesPublisher.BaseServices.WebClientWrapper.d__17.MoveNext()
— End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown —
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Microsoft.UpdatesPublisher.BaseServices.FileDownloader.d__11.MoveNext()

===================== Exception Detail End ========================

Resolution 1: Configure .NET to ‘Use Strong Crypto’ (Preferred)

  • Perform the registry edits which are detailed in the Microsoft docs regarding TLS support for applications targeting older versions of .NET Framework
  • Specifically, SCUP is a 64-bit application which targets .NET Framework v4.5. For this scenario, the below registry edits are needed on the server which has SCUP installed
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\.NETFramework\v4.0.30319
      • “SystemDefaultTlsVersions”=dword:00000001 
      • “SchUseStrongCrypto”=dword:00000001

A couple of lines of PowerShell can be used to set these values in the registry as well. The code is below.

Set-ItemProperty -Path HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\.NETFramework\v4.0.30319\ -Name SystemDefaultTlsVersions -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\.NETFramework\v4.0.30319\ -Name SchUseStrongCrypto -Value 1 -Type DWord

Resolution 2: Switch the Catalog to HTTP:// (Alternative)

  • Change your SCUP Catalog URL to HTTP://… instead of HTTPS://…
    • If you request the catalog over HTTP, you are no longer using TLS of any form, and the catalog will download successfully.