We love task server. It lets us get a near real-time task or job to machines, and pretty close to immediate feedback. We just have to be careful about what types of tasks we send.
Let's say you are needing to update the Altiris Agent from the 2386 version to the 2387 version. Being the Task Server expert, you decide a Software Delivery Task Server job is the best method to get it out there quickly.
This task is simple a software delivery job that uses the "Aexnsc.exe /reinstall" command line.
Now, after you distribute this task to all targeted client machines, all of the sudden, nearly all of those machines are constantly restarting the Altiris Agent Service.
And errors such as "Agent Altiris.ClientTaskAgent has not stopped", and "Unexpected error in ServiceMain: Unknown error" show up on the client, and errors such as Source: Altiris.ClientTask.*
Description: Dropping event (Resource: CWI-RTP-020-D, TaskInstance: 7d61d5e9-4500-4c39-8165-0c0f58729688, Time: 10/5/2007 1:15:35 PM) show as well on the server.
Why?
Well,
It appears that the Altiris Agent service restart procedure is not being recognized as a valid Task Server service restart procedure. Task Server does not recognize the fact that the Altiris Agent is controlling the service and can't reliably shut down the Task Server service, and the client task agent keeps the /reinstall command repeating.
To resolve the issue, the easiest way is to delete the Task Server task, and stop and restart the ATRSHOST.exe service on the Task Server controlling the job.
One other note. When using Task Server Tasks, it is recommended to NOT use Task Server Tasks to upgrade, or reinstall the root Altiris Agent itself. Since the Altiris Agent is the transport for Task Server Tasks, in any upgrade or reinstall procedure, the Client Task Agent will need to stop and restart the Altiris Agent Service in order to accommodate restarting the Altiris Agent. Since the service stop and restart cannot be tracked by the Altiris Agent, or the Task Server agent, the service ends up in a continual loop, until you go the Task Server that sent the Task, and delete the Task. The agent re-installation or upgrade usually has been successful, but the agent keeps restarting and no additional agent functions can take place.