Available Client-Only patches for Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1 and Symantec Network Access Control 12.1

Article:TECH202879

Created: 2013-02-18

Updated: 2013-04-09

Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH202879

Article Type
Technical Solution

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Problem

In order to take advantage of the latest available enhancements, improvements and fixes, best practice recommends keeping the patch level of all Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) and Symantec Network Access Control (SNAC) clients in the enterprise up-to-date. How can the latest MP (Maintenance Patch) be applied to managed or unmanaged ("self-managed") clients?

Details on the latest available version of SEP 12.1 and SNAC 12.1 can be found in Release Notes and System Requirements for all versions of Symantec Endpoint Protection and Symantec Network Access Control.

Also, be sure to see Upgrade resources for Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1

Solution

There are several available methods of upgrading clients. (See How to upgrade Symantec Endpoint Protection clients by using Auto-Upgrade for one popular procedure, and About upgrading client software for additional alternatives.) One method that can be used with managed or unmanaged clients involves downloading and running a "client-only patch," which can update a SEP or SNAC client from one release to another.

Articles with the available patches for SEP and SNAC are listed below. Some important points to note:

It is recommended to always apply the latest-available patch, unless corporate policy or another compelling reason specifies an earlier release.
It is important that the correct patch is downloaded and applied. A patch designed to upgrade a SEP 12.1 RU1 client to the latest available release will not, for instance, succeed when run on a SEP 12.1 RU1 MP1 client.
Note that these client-only patches will not update the management components on a Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM).