Altiris Deploymet Console Client

Hi Yaki,

What you need is to install the Deployment Server Console.
1) You need to download the file from http://www.symantec.com/business/products/download....
2) Select Infrastructure Operations.
3) Select Deployment Solution -click on Trialware-
4) Choose Deployment Solution for Clients 6.9 SP1.
5) Select the custom install from the list after you unzip and run the setup file.

You will need to have a Symantec account before you can download the file. It's free and takes couple of minutes to setup if you don't have one already.

Let me know if you need more help.

Thanks for your quick reply.

I have the deployment solution for servers, not clients.
so i need to download:
1) Deployment Solution for Servers 6.9 SP1
or:
2) Deployment Solution for Servers 6.9 SP1 Integrated Installation

i have downloaded the first one and when i run it i get the "select the type of installation" screen with:
1) simple install helper
2) simple install
3) custom install
4) think client install
5) component install

is it the right screen?
what should i select and how to proceed?

Thanks,
Yaki

You downloaded the correct version. Click "Component" install. then you should receive an option to install an additional console on a remote computer.
B. Brooks

Hi,

So now it created ODBC connection to the server and run the EXE file from the altiris server share folder? that's it?

Pretty much. just add this to your firewall exception list on the machine with newly install deployment console.

\\server\express\eXpress.exe

That will enable your remote desktop sessions.

Also you should have mapped a drive (I use x:) to the deployment console. not essential as you can use unc but a good idea.

I've got a good howto video I've put on our admin docs. I'll dig it out for you.

Maybe I am confused, but it seams you want to be able to access the Deployment console on a remote system instead of RDPing into the server (I assume by client you mean Deployment Console), but from the replies of other users this does not appear to be the case. You do not need to upgrade anything to do this. Use the same install files you used to install the current DS and use select custom install. Then you want to install the Deployment console on a remote computer. I am not sure which selection you need to do this but it is either a second DS or remote console. Either way all this does is set up the ODBC connections and put a shortcut of the express.exe on your desktop. This is my prefered method of accessing the deployment console, although I have found some bugs with adding vsa's this way (you have to type in the path instead of browsing to it).

Thanks,

I have tried adding ODBC connection to a user here... And he keeps getting authentication failures... where shall i add his name?
I want him to be able to manage only 5 hosts and minimum permissions on the altiris server.

Thanks,
Yaki

It's not an upgrade we are talking about.

From start to finish follow these instructions.

1) Find your dssetup folder (usually c:\DSSetup on the altiris deployment server).

2) Copy this folder to the machine you want to add the ds client to.

3) On the client machine, create a share to your express directory ( \\server\eXpress ). I use x: as it makes sense.

4) Run the setup file (within DSSETUP) on the client machine.

5) Select Component Install

6) Agree to EULA/T&C's

7) Now it's asking for the file server path. Just enter your newly mapped area (Step 3)

8) Select "Install An Additional Deployment Console"

9) Select "On This Computer"

10) Click next

This will now install the deployment console on your machine. Finish the install..

11) For the remote desktops to work, you will need to check you have these exceptions in your firewall.
\\server\eXpress\eXpress.exe
x:\eXpress.exe (Using your newly mapped drive letter (Step 3)

I know that you won't need 2 exceptions, but it's dependant on your install. This way it shouldn't use UNC paths, but that'll cover any excuses..

Permissions throughout the console are a different topic altogether. ODBC doesn't come into it regarding permission to perform tasks etc.
You do that via the Tools > Security option in the menu in the console. Setup a user group, add the user to that group, then assign permissions to the group throughout the tree (list of computers and tasks (Right click > Permissions)).
Its always best to set permissions on Groups not individual users, as in future you may find it a huge mess to tidy up lots of users with crazy permissions.

You can either add him to a group in the security section under tools and give him the minimum "permissions" to the deployment console then I would suggest moving the computers he will manage into a subfolder and right click the folder and set the permissions that he will have to those computers. You will also need to set permissions to the jobs that he will need access too. As for the remote console, you can do most of what AdrianC suggested, except you dont need to map the drive, you can just put in the server share, \\servername\eXpress.

Do I need to add the user to the "Users" group (or any other) on the server it self?
what about permissions on the SQL?

You only need to add him to a user's group if you are still going to use the RDP to make sure he can still RDP in. You should not need to modify any SQL permissions as it should be done inside of the console. If you are just going to use the remote console, I would suggest removing him from any group on the server itself.

First I wanted to say thank you for posting such detailed instructions. I have found this site to be full of great information.
In following the steps listed above, I am not able to find the eXpress.exe. I did a search and only seem to be able to find the ieXpress.exe located in the system32 folder. I have a feeling that this is not the correct location, just wondering if perhaps there is another place where the file could be located. Or if we are just pulling this file could we use the one I mentioned.

Thanks

It should be found on the Altiris server itself.
Actually found here;
C:\Program Files\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server\express.exe

When installing the deployment console on the server it will (or at least should) create a share called "eXpress"

You are installing the console on a client machine and it works by remotely running a remote session of express.exe from the server. You should find this share at \\servername\eXpress. Personally, as I need access to that share I add it as a mapped drive, but if the user doesn't need (or should have) access, use the UNC path name instead of mapping the drive. If you want more help, you can PM me your MSN and I'll help you out on that.

-Check you can ping the server
-Check you can access the share