Altiris Blog Site

VMware Workstation 8 new features detailed

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:16:00 +0000

More detail can be found here

IT Management Suite 7.1 SP2 (Valencia)Documentation

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:10:00 +0000

All documentation can be found here

How the Retired status for a computer works

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:53:00 +0000

Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO52993

When a computer's status is changed to Retired (which is a Notification Server core status type), several functions occur to this computer:

The Retired status does not uninstall agents from the computer.
If the Inventory Solution agent is installed on the computer, it will release one license for Inventory Solution.
When the Clean Inventory task runs, software licenses are then cleaned up.
If this is for Symantec Management Platform 7.x, if an agent is still installed on the computer, when basic inventory checks in, the status of the computer will automatically change to Active. Note: In SQL, the computer's IsManaged field is set to 1 when its status is Active (managed). If the status is changed to Retired (no longer managed), IsManaged is set then to 0. This will revert back to 1 once the agent checks back in with inventory, however

Improving IIS and Notification Server response times by disabling debug mode

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:09:00 +0000

How can I disable debug mode compiling of ASP.NET code on my Notification Server 6.x and Symantec Management Platform 7.0 & 7.1?

Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO6940

About how application metering summary is sent

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:07:00 +0000

The metering summary data is sent to the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) in batches. You can also specify to send event data in batches when you create an application monitor policy.

An application metering usage summary is sent for all application metering policies for which the applications are marked as allowed. The summary is sent daily by default.

See About application summary data.

See Configuring application metering data.

To prevent an overload to the system when this data is sent, the data is not all sent at the same time. The data is randomly sent over an interval of time. A value in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Altiris\Application Metering registry key on each client computer determines the length of the interval. The name of the value is Fuzzy Factor and its default value is 10.

This value specifies the time interval when the data can be sent as a percentage of the total batch creation time. For example, the data is sent to the CMDB every seven days (168 hours) and the Fuzzy Factor value is 10. Then the length of the interval is 10% of seven days or about 17 hours. Half of this interval precedes the specified send time and half of it follows. Thus the time interval in which the data is sent would start after about 159 hours and end after 177 hours.

To change the length of this time interval, you must change the value of this registry key on each client computer. Any registry changes should be done with caution.

Removing Dell branding

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:42:00 +0000

Removing Dell branding after DMC install on NS 7.0 was done by this query:

UPDATE Item SET ModifiedDate = ( select getdate() )
WHERE Guid = (    SELECT Item.Guid
                        FROM Item
                        Join ItemClass ON Item.Guid = ItemClass.Guid
                        WHERE ItemClass.ClassGuid = '1f768417-511a-4c22-afbc-4a66720f793a'
                        and Item.Name like 'Default%' )

Dell Solutions and the Symantec Management Console

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:30:00 +0000

Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO59488

How do I configure Patch Management 7.1 SP1 to operate without internet connection.

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:29:00 +0000

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO59024

How to Turn Off/On a Policy on the SMP database

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:26:00 +0000

If for some reason you can't turn off/on a policy (the Symantec Management Agent Installation policy) or you can't access the SMP Console or load the actual policy page, how can you turn on/off a policy directly on the database?

To disable (turn off) a policy, run the following query:

update i
set State = REPLACE(cast(State as nvarchar(max)), '<enabled>True</enabled>', '<enabled>False</enabled>')
from Item i
where Guid = '124D0571-4725-466C-8F43-998160D3CFF2' --Place the Policy GUID in this area. As an example we are using the GUID for the Symantec Management Agent Installation policy

To turn On (enable) a policy, change the entry [ '<enabled>False</enabled>', '<enabled>True</enabled>' ] on the query above.

Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO59606

DS 6.9 - What is different between using the AClient and the DAgent when doing remote control?

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:25:00 +0000

Ref : http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO59807

There are some differences between using DAgent and AClient when using Deployment Solution 6.9's Remote Control feature.

WIth the AClient, you are allowed to connect to a client computer when no-one is logged in. With the DAgent, someone must be logged in at the client computer before DS can control that computer. This means that if a user logs out of a Remote Control session using DAgent, the connection will drop. This difference is designed to improve security of Remote Control. You can try a different Remote Control tool Refer to the document: How to setup VNC to remote clients in Deployment Solution available at http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO8690

Backup Exec Guide about Agents and Optoins

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:59:00 +0000

A nice microsite on BE2010 and his agents and options can be found here

Altiris Agent for Mac 7.1 SP1 HF1 - Adding Support for OS X 10.7 (Lion)

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:34:00 +0000

The article can be found here

Activity Center 7.1 SP1 HF2 Rollup

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:17:00 +0000

Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO58413

Symantec Management Platform and Altiris Solutions Support Matrix

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:36:00 +0000

Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO9965

Enterprise Vault Server Settings Migration wizard

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:40:00 +0000

A migration Wizard can be found here

Symantec System Recovery 2011 Service Pack 1 (ex BESR)

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:43:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce you that the following eCRT releases have achieved GA milestone on Thursday 8/September/2011.

1) SSR 2011 Service Pack 1 (10.0.1)

Build Number: 10.0.1.41704

WinLogo certification

New Device Support: SATA RDX based drives

Support of Subscription Based license for SSR Server Edition

GEARWorks security fix

2) SSR-MS 2011 Service Pack 1 (10.0.1)

Build Number: 10.0.1.41708

SMP 7.1 SP1 integration

SSRMS scalability fixes - support for 10000 clients

Windows 2008 R2 SP1 & Windows 7 SP1 support

3) SSR-L 2011 Service Pack 1 (2.0.1)

Build Number: 2.0.1.41572

RHEL 5.7, SUSE 10 SP4 platform support

EXT4 File system support

Uploads to FileConnect has been completed. The uploads to LU server is expected to get completed by Friday 9^th September 2011.

SSR-MS 10.0.1 is available on SIM listing.

Backup Exec 2010 R3 - Hot Fixes Released

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:40:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce that the following eCRT releases have achieved GA milestone on September 8, 2011:

1) Backup Exec 2010 R3 Hot Fix 159965 (Internal: Nicobar HF12)

Tech Note: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH159965

Also available via LiveUpdate

2) Backup Exec 2010 R3 Hot Fix 164220 (Internal: Nicobar HF13; “Elephanta”) <= VSphere 5.0 Support!

Tech Note: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH164220

Also available via LiveUpdate

3) Backup Exec Management Plug-In for VMWare (with Virtual Machine Validator)

Tech Note: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH169148

NOT available via LiveUpdate

How does the Altiris Agent know when to delete a package?

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:12:00 +0000

The details are captured in the AeXSWDPolicy.xml file located at C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Software Delivery\.
There’s a section under any given package that has the following values:
cleanupAfter="10080"
postedExpiry="true"
expiredAt="2008-12-19 09:17:51"

Note: This setting is automatically provided in NS6 and SMP 7.1. This is not available in SMP 7.0
Expired packages expire the moment a configuration request update provides a config XML that no longer has any task that references the package. This is starting point for counting down until deletion. The date is set at that time and then when the cleanupAfter value is reached, the package is deleted.

How to create an Automation Policy to move resources into an Organizational Group

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:09:00 +0000

Below is an example of how to set up an automation policy to dynamically add resources to an Organizational Group

1.In the NS7 Console click on Manage and then choose Organizational Views and Groups

2.Right Click on the folder Organizational Views

3.Choose New -> Organizational View

4.In the right hand pane click on New Organizational View and rename the Organizational View to Subnet.

5.Right click on the Subnet Organizational View in the left hand pane

6.Choose New -> Organizational Group

7.In the right hand pane click on New Organizational Group and rename the Organizational Group to 172.xxx.xxx.xxx Group.

8.At the top of the NS7 Console click on Manage and then choose Automation Policies

9.On the Schedules tab, above the left pane, click on “New policy”.

10. Name the new policy Assign to 172.xxx.xxx.xxx Group and click OK

11. In the right hand pane set the schedule to anything you would like it to be

12. In the details section set the data source to be a Raw SQL query

13. Click on Save changes

14. Click on Edit query

15. Put a query that returns the resources you want to add to the organizational group into the Parameterized Query Pane.

16. Click OK

17. Leave the Evaluation Rule Condition to Run for non-empty data

18. Click on select a job or task

19. Click on the + in front of the folder System Jobs and Tasks

20. Click on the + in front of the folder Notification Server

21. Click on the + in front of the folder Automation Policy Tasks

22. Choose the Assign to Organizational Group Task

23. Click OK

24. Click on Edit input parameter

25. For Organizational Group select the 172.xxx.xxx.xxx Group in the Custom Value Dropdown

26. For Action click on Must at least contain

27. For Resource choose Results as CSV in the dropdown menu

28. Click OK

29. Click Save Changes button

30. Click Test Automation Policy

31. In the NS7 Console click on Manage and then choose Organizational Views and Groups

32. Click on 172.xxx.xxx group. You will see all of the resources that have been assigned to the group through the automation policy.

EV 10 : Overview of Enterprise Vault licensing

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:10:00 +0000

Enterprise Vault uses the Enterprise Licensing System (ELS). To run the associated Enterprise Vault services, you must install a license key file that covers the Enterprise Vault features that you want to implement.

The following types of Enterprise Vault license are available:

Production license. This license comprises a product base license and any additional feature licenses. When the license file is installed, the functionality of Enterprise Vault depends on the feature licenses that you have purchased.
Production licenses generally do not have an expiry date.
Trialware license. With this 30 day license, the full functionality of Enterprise Vault is available, but the functionality is time-limited, as defined by the key.
When the license expires, the software continues to run in restricted, read-only mode, which allows archived items to be viewed and retrieved, but no items can be archived. Enterprise Vault tasks will not start, and you cannot migrate the contents of personal folder (PST) files to Enterprise Vault.
Temporary licenses. Temporary licenses are available for 10 day to 90 day duration.
When the license expires, the software continues to run in restricted, read-only mode, which allows archived items to be viewed and retrieved, but no items can be archived. Enterprise Vault tasks will not start, and you cannot migrate the contents of personal folder (PST) files to Enterprise Vault.

See Obtaining license keys for Enterprise Vault

See Installing Enterprise Vault license key files

See Replacing Enterprise Vault licenses and installing additional licenses

How to obtain the installation download and license keys for Enterprise Vault.

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:08:00 +0000

Problem

Symantec Technical Support does not have access to licensing information, Technical Support is not able to provide direct assistance with application licensing. If assistance is required with licensing, please contact a regional Customer Care representative. The number for the US and Canada is 1-800-721-3934.
To obtain a Customer Care phone number for other regions around the world, please visit Customer Care Assistance & Information at http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/support/assistance_care.jsp

Solution

Note: Enterprise Vault license keys and downloads can be obtained by following the steps and/or viewing videos found at the links below.
Licensing:
For new product license keys:
https://licensing.symantec.com/NP-video/New_Purch.html
For product version upgrade license keys:
https://licensing.symantec.com/VU-video/VU_process.html
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Software Version Upgrades: http://www.symantec.com/business/products/licensing/upgrades/faq.jsp
Additional Helpful Links:
Product Activation & Licensing Keys site:
http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/licensing/activation/index.jsp
Licensing Portal User Guide:
http://www.symantec.com/LicensingPortalHelp
Where to find downloads:

Symantec FileConnect - http://fileconnect.symantec.com
Enterprise Vault 7.5 (2007) and lower "Service Packs": Enterprise Vault Download site

Enterprise Vault Download site:

Enterprise Vault: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/downloads.jsp?pid=50996

Compliance Accelerator: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/downloads.jsp?pid=51025

Discovery Accelerator: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/downloads.jsp?pid=51022

Symantec FileConnect: http://fileconnect.symantec.com
Symantec FileConnect - List of Available Products:    http://www.symantec.com/downloads/fileconnect/index.jsp
     This index is arranged by
                     - Product family
                     - Within each product family, by language.
A serial number is required to initiate the software download through FileConnect.   The serial number will either come with an upgrade or purchase letter. This serial number is specific to the FileConnect site and is not the Enterprise Vault license key. The serial number can be found in the license file (.slf) located on the EV server in \Enterprise Vault\Installed Licenses. Open the .slf file in Notepad. The following line will show near the top of the file, and the serial number is the letter followed by 10 digits.
<serial_number>M0123456789</serial_number>
If this information is not available, a serial number can be procured from:
           Symantec Licensing Portal:
https://licensing.symantec.com/acctmgmt/index.jsp
           or request a FileConnect serial number through Symantec Customer Care:
http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/support/assistance_care.jsp
Because application downloads require access to licensing information to which Technical Support does not have, Technical Support is not able to provide assistance with application downloads.   If assistance is required with either of the two download locations, please review the licensing PDF documents as referenced in the Licensing section above.
If further assistance is required, please contact a regional Customer Care representative. The number for the US and Canada is 1-800-721-3934. To obtain a Customer Care phone number for other regions around the world please visit Customer Care Assistance & Information at      http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/support/assistance_care.jsp

EV10 Landing Page

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:23:00 +0000

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=landing&key=50990

EV10 Tech Center

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:06:00 +0000

http://techcenter.symantec.com/ecampus/enterprise?siteName=sena&courseNo=DP6002

Commonly Used Articles for Deployment Solution 7.0, 7.1, 7.1 SP1. (Work in progress)

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:20:00 +0000

A very nice landing page for DS7.X can be found here

DS7.x How to add NIC and Mass Storage drivers to Preboot Configurations and/or DeployAnywhere.

noreply@blogger.com (Tools) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:10:00 +0000

Why it may be Needed

This is required when drivers are needed that are not already bundled into the WinPE build.
Common Symptom:

The most common manifestation of a missing driver is the inability to boot to WinPE with the error: "Restarting DHCP client service retry 1..." which will repeat 19 times before giving up and booting without network support. This generally indicates that a driver required for the NIC in the system booting to WinPE is missing, and can't bind correctly to the card, thus can't send a valid DHCP request.

Procedure can be found here