Client Management Suite

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  • 1.  What actually doesn't work on Windows 8.1 with SMP 7.1 SP2 MP1.1

    Posted Apr 01, 2014 04:54 PM

    Hi, we're stuck in a situaiton where we can't upgrade to SMP 7.5 (we use Altiris Recovery Solution), but we also need to get Windows 8.1 devices on our network asap. We've setup a separate deployment server for that, but now I need to confirm what replacement management tools we might need to support Windows 8.1.
    SMA installs ok, version 7.1.15440.8440, and then these agents all installed: Altiris Base Task Handlers, Altiris Client Task Agent, Altiris Software Update Agent, Arellia agents, Deployment Solution Agent, Inventory Rule Agent, Software Management Framework Agent, Software Management Solution Agent, Symantec pcAnywhere Agent.
    These agents did not install automatically, but installed fine manually: Altiris Application Metering Agent, Altiris Inventory Agent, Altiris Power Scheme Task Plug-in.
    pcAnywhere has issues I know that - it does work, but is very very slow and unusable for support .
    I can deploy management applications (policies) and run jobs\tasks ok.
    Full inventory seems fine.
    I'm not sure if software updates is working, the device shows in SMP as having 134 application updates not installed, but after a day there are no updates showing in SMA - so this is the only major issue I have.

    If I can't get software updates to work, I guess WSUS is the replacment for us - any tips to troubleshoot this? Is there a policy file the SMA should download?
    And we could use Microsoft Remote Assistance instead of pcAnywhere.
    I don't really want to have something like SCCM running next to SMP just to manage the new Windows 8.1 devices, but replacing ARS right now is in the "too hard" basket for us, we just had to get something up and running that could deploy a Windows 8.1 image.

    cheers



  • 2.  RE: What actually doesn't work on Windows 8.1 with SMP 7.1 SP2 MP1.1

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Apr 01, 2014 05:28 PM

    Hi,

    please check this link, where is described about known problems and how work management of Win8, using 7.1 SP1 MP1.1

    http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC6193

     

    Thanks,

    IP.



  • 3.  RE: What actually doesn't work on Windows 8.1 with SMP 7.1 SP2 MP1.1

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Apr 01, 2014 05:32 PM

    And about Patch Management 7.1 SP2 MP1.1 for Win8/Win2012

    http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO85062



  • 4.  RE: What actually doesn't work on Windows 8.1 with SMP 7.1 SP2 MP1.1

    Posted Apr 01, 2014 09:30 PM

    Aweosme, thanks Igor, not sure how I didn't find those earlier, is there an update for Windows 8.1? Or is it just the same, no worse?

    The way I read the Patch Management bit, we have 64 bit, so it should work, but Windows 8.1 might not be included in the filters we are using for the patch policy targets, we use "Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8 Workstations", when I go to the filter summary for this device is shows it is a member of "Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/7/8 Computers" and "Windows Workstations", so if I target one of those filters it might work.



  • 5.  RE: What actually doesn't work on Windows 8.1 with SMP 7.1 SP2 MP1.1

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Apr 02, 2014 12:52 AM

    Also make sure that your Windows 8/8.1 are in and now excluded from "Default Software Update Plug-in Policy" and in "Assesment Scan Schedule" settings policy.

    Or create own filter to include there only Win8/8.1 machines ⇒ Create Resource Target which will include only this 8/8.1 filter and will exclude all other OS ⇒ Clone required settings policies including this custom resource target only for Win8/8.1 and maintain them separately from other supported client OS.