31 August 2011

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

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.

30 August 2011

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

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.

29 August 2011

EV 10 : Overview of Enterprise Vault licensing

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.

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

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

23 August 2011

EV10 Landing Page

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

EV10 Tech Center

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)

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.

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