Symantec Management Platform (Notification Server)

Hi there,

I installed the Dell / Symantec / Altiris Client Manager the other day.

Unfortunately I cannot get ANY form of task to run. I have pushed out Altiris agents successfully.

However, when I try to run a task, say a BIOS task or an Inventory, I ALWAYS get exactly the same non-descript error.

This is the error I get:

Status: Failed
Return code: -1

Start time: 21/11/2008 12:52:00
End time: 21/11/2008 12:58:10
Total run time: 6 min 10 sec

The agent for this task type is not installed.

Show raw exception message
Error 0x800401f3 creating instance handler. CAtrsException exception, error = "Failed to execute task", OS error = 2147746291, at line 298 re-throw at CTaskExecutionEngineBase:nExecuteTask


Does anyone know why it is failing? The agent is installed, I even set it to manually receive tasks and I seemed to be doing something but then just fails. It does this on every machine I try with.

I'm running sql 2005 xpress all on the same box.

The version details are:

Symantec™ Mangement Console
Version 7.0.3876
Altiris Notification Server™ Version 7.0


Hope you can help me as I'm not getting anywhere at the minute!

Thanks,

Jonathan.

Hello Jonathan,
The issue is that the base task agents require additional functionality. I haven't used the Dell Console, and the 'regular' NS 7.0 isn't public yet, however the error "The agent for this task type is not installed" leads me to believe that you need to deploy additional agents to get the functionality.
For example in v6.0 of Altiris, you needed the following to perform the task based installs - Altiris Agent, Client Task Agent, Script, Power Management, Service and Software Delivery for Task agents as well. I know some of this has been combined for v7.0, but I don't know how much exactly.

I hope to get a v7.0 Dell based install working so I can see what you are seeing. Dell also has forums for their technology and since the v7.0 Notification Server based console was released only by Dell at this point, there may be more answers on the Dell side.

Jim

So if I have to install more agents on the workstation to be able to manage the bios, why is it not more obvious? It never mentions anything out of the usual to be able to run any of these tasks.

Do you know where I can find the extra agents and if they are included with what I downloaded?

Thanks!

Jonathan.

I don't have any docs for the NS 7 based Dell Solution. The public Altiris docs only have the Task Server based (which is the core for 7.0, it was just an add on to 6.0) for 6.0.

Found the docs link.

http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/Dell+Client+Manager

I'll see if can pull anything out, as I've been meaning to take a look anyway.

I think I barely understand what I have downloaded here?!! Opened a right old can of worms!

Am I jumping in a the deep end here? All I want to do is be able to change bios remotely of my dell 745's. This program seems to be very large and powerful and maybe slightly overkill for what I need.

Is there a more tried and tested version of this I can use that is also free (as this has free license to 2012).

Thanks,

Jonathan.

There is the Dell Client Manager for v6.0 (which is based of the current technology). Really, v7.0 is the same, with additonal enhancements. The v6.0 (Dell Client Manager Standard) probably would be a bit easier to understand, plus I've used THAT before.

You're not trying to save me from reading today are you?

I just installed the DMC and am running into the same issue.  I've turned on every agent I can find and it still gives me "The agent for this task type is not installed"

Have the clients checked in and installed the agents, and reported back? I give you Kudos for digging up this zombie thread.

Thanks for the kudos, this is the only article I could find with something similar :-o

The client checks in and if I look at the "Deliveries available for this computer:"  it lists the Dell Client Discovery and the Dell Client Manager Agent - Install (32-bit) and both say "Run Completed".

If I then click on "Settings" and look at the Agents/Plug-ins list, the Dell Client Manager Agent is not listed as an Agent/Plugin.

I can run Quick Deliveries and packages on the machine fine, it seems to be only DCM jobs that don't run, like BIOS tasks.

of the console, there were some serious compatibility issues with the DMC and SP3 that just got fixed. Can you confirm you have the latest hotfix for the DMC?

DCM 3.1 SP1 was just released:
https://kb.altiris.com/article.asp?article=49795&p=1

However, Mr. Karl Shredder, the DMC (Dell Management Console) only recently came out with hotfix to be compatible with SP3. I've already seen issues with a fresh install of SP3 and the DMC loaded, so I'm not ready to give it the blessing of the skeptic.

Sadly DCM is the acronym that does apply here.  It is DCM tasks that aren't working.  Turns out it is because Windows 7 is not compatible with the DCM right now and I only tested windows 7 boxes.  Luckily there are no errors or return codes anywhere that signify that tiny morsel of information.  The agent just doesn't install properly even though it says "run completed".

Thanks for the help anyway.

P.S.  If you install the DCM manually with the msi and exe files it works JUST FINE!  It's just not supported by Altiris/Symantec.