I'm going to add what has been working for me and mark this as a solution. First I want to say the real problem here is policies kicking off during a deployment job which I have moved that conversation over to:
In my image location I'm holding the agent and all plugin's in this location (sources\$OEM$\$1\Install3\Symantec). This gets copied to the machien by default.
I have modified the AltirisAgent.bat (default created file by symantec soi) to add this to the end of everything in the file:
Note: you can not modify the setupcomplete.cmd and get it to work. I'm not sure why but this is why I use the above method. Also you must add anything to the end of the above bat file because if you insert it anywhere else the next time you run SOI it is going to then modify that file because the top part has changed.
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,setupcomplete.CMD: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
verify >nul
echo ********************************************************************** >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
:380
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 380 - SMP Agent Install *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,380 Symantec Altiris Agent: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Agent Check and Install *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\AeXNSAgent.exe" goto :380a
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,380 Symantec Altiris Agent - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
START /WAIT c:\install3\Symantec\AltirisAgent\AeXNSC.exe -s -a ns=NS.domain.com nsweb=http://NS.domain.com/Altiris /s
rem START /WAIT c:\install3\Symantec\AltirisAgent\AeXClientUpgrade.exe
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,380 Symantec Altiris Agent: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
goto :381
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Agent Check *
rem **********************************************************************
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
rem set loop counter for up to 2 minutes
set X=12
rem set loop counter for up to 6.25 minutes
set W=25
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,Stop Altiris Agent: Begin >> c:\RISlog\Deployment.log
if not exist "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\AeXNSAgent.exe" goto :aexnotfound
goto :aexfound
:aexnotfound
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,Altiris Agent Not Found >> c:\RISlog\Deployment.log
echo **********************************************************************
echo * Loop Wait 10 Sec *
echo **********************************************************************
echo waiting 30 seconds >> c:\RISlog\Deployment.log
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 30000 > nul
verify >nul
goto :aexfound
:aexfound
if not exist "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\AeXNSAgent.exe" goto :1Loop
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,Altiris Agent Running check >> c:\RISlog\Deployment.log
tasklist /FI "IMAGENAME eq AeXNSAgent.exe" 2>NUL | find /I /N "AeXNSAgent.exe">NUL
IF ERRORLEVEL 0 IF NOT ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO :380a
goto :1Loop
:1LOOP
echo **********************************************************************
echo * Loop Wait 10 Sec *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,Altiris Agent Running WAIT >> c:\RISlog\Deployment.log
if !M! gtr !W! goto :fail
echo waiting 15 seconds >> c:\RISlog\Deployment.log
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 15000 > nul
verify >nul
set /a M+=1
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,Altiris Agent Not Running: Value M = %M% >> c:\RISlog\Deployment.log
GOTO :aexfound
:380a
REM **********************************************************************
REM * Agent Check - COMPLETE *
REM **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,Altiris Agent Found >> c:\RISlog\Deployment.log
verify >nul
GOTO :381
:381
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 381 - Deployment x64 Agent Install *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,381 Symantec Deployment Plug-in: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Plugin Check *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\Deployment\Agent\DeploymentSolutionAgent.dll" goto :382
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,381 Symantec Deployment Plug-in - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * wait 10 seconds to Begin *
rem **********************************************************************
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 10000 > nul
verify >nul
cd c:\install3\Symantec\deployAgent
START /WAIT msiexec.exe /i "Altiris_DeploymentSolutionAgent_7_1_x64.msi" skipaim=1 /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,381 Symantec Deployment Plug-in: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
:382
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 382 - Software Update Agent Install *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,382 Symantec PatchManagement Plug-in: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Plugin Check *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\PatchMgmtAgent\PatchMgmtAgents.dll" goto :383
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,382 Symantec PatchManagement Plug-in - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * wait 10 seconds to Begin *
rem **********************************************************************
rem ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 10000 > nul
verify >nul
cd c:\install3\Symantec\PatchAgent
REM START /WAIT MsiExec.exe /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress /i Altiris_PatchMgmtAgent_Win32_7_0.msi
START /WAIT MsiExec.exe /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress /i Altiris_PatchMgmtAgent_Win64_7_1.msi
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,382 Symantec PatchManagement Plug-in: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
:383
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 383 - Out of Band Agent Install *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,383 Symantec Out of Band Plug-in: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Plugin Check *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\OOB Agent\OOBAgent.dll" goto :384
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,383 Symantec Out of Band Plug-in - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * wait 10 seconds to Begin *
rem **********************************************************************
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 10000 > nul
verify >nul
cd c:\install3\Symantec\OOBAgent
START /WAIT Slaunch32.exe /inifile:OOBTaskAgent.ini
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,383 Symantec Out of Band Plug-in: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
:384
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 384 - Software Management Solution Agent Install *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,384 Symantec Software Management Solution Plug-in: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Plugin Check *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\Software Management Solution Plugin\SoftwareManagementSolution_Agent.dll" goto :385
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,384 Symantec Software Management Solution Plug-in - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * wait 10 seconds to Begin *
rem **********************************************************************
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 10000 > nul
verify >nul
cd c:\install3\Symantec\SMSolutionAgent
START /WAIT msiexec.exe /i "SoftwareManagementSolution_Plugin_x64.msi" ALLUSERS=1 INSTALLPORTAL=1 PORTALSTARTMENU=TRUE PORTALDESKTOPMENU=TRUE PORTALADDREMOVE=TRUE PORTALAGENTMENU=TRUE /qn
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,384 Symantec Software Management Solution Plug-in: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
:385
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 385 - Inventory Agent Install *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,385 Symantec Inventory Plug-in: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Plugin Check *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files (x86)\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\Inventory Agent\InvAgent.dll" goto :386
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,385 Symantec Inventory Plug-in - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * wait 10 seconds to Begin *
rem **********************************************************************
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 10000 > nul
verify >nul
cd c:\install3\Symantec\InvAgent
START /WAIT msiexec.exe /i Symantec_InventoryAgent_x86.msi /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress ALLUSERS=1
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,385 Symantec Inventory Plug-in: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
:386
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 386 - Application Metering Agent Install *
echo * Pre-requisite Inventory Solution agent *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,386 Symantec Application Metering Plug-in: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Plugin Check *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files (x86)\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\Application Metering Agent\AMAgent.dll" goto :387
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,386 Symantec Application Metering Plug-in - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * wait 10 seconds to Begin *
rem **********************************************************************
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 10000 > nul
verify >nul
cd c:\install3\Symantec\AppMeterAgent
START /WAIT msiexec.exe /i AMAgentSetup.msi /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress ALLUSERS=1
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,386 Symantec Application Metering Plug-in: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
:387
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 387 - Power Scheme Agent Install *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,387 Symantec Power Scheme Plug-in: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Plugin Check *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\PowerSchemeAgent\PowerSchemeAgent.dll" goto :388
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,387 Symantec Power Scheme Plug-in - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * wait 10 seconds to Begin *
rem **********************************************************************
rem ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 10000 > nul
verify >nul
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,387 Symantec Power Scheme Plug-in Install: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
cd c:\install3\Symantec\PowerAgent
START /WAIT msiexec.exe /i Altiris_PowerSchemeAgent_x64.msi /qn ALLUSERS=1 REBOOT=ReallySuppress REBOOTPROMPT="S"
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,387 Symantec Power Scheme Plug-in Install: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,387 Symantec Power Scheme Plug-in: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
:388
echo **********************************************************************
echo * 388 - PCAnywhere Agent Install *
echo **********************************************************************
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,388 Symantec PCAnywhere Plug-in: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * Plugin Check *
rem **********************************************************************
if exist "C:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec\pcAnywhere\pcAAgent.dll" goto :389
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,388 Symantec PCAnywhere Plug-in - Not Found >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
rem **********************************************************************
rem * wait 10 seconds to Begin *
rem **********************************************************************
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 10000 > nul
verify >nul
cd c:\install3\Symantec\pcAAgent
START /WAIT pcAClientInstallManager.exe /iall
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,388 Symantec PCAnywhere Plug-in: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO fail
ECHO errorlevel: %errorlevel%
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,388 PCAnywhere HKLM: Begin >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
START /WAIT REGEDIT /S c:\install3\Symantec\pcAAgent\pcAnywhere.reg >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,388 PCAnywhere HKLM: End >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
cd c:\install3
GOTO :end
:389
goto :end
:fail
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,389 Symantec Plug-in install failed >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
exit
:end
echo %date%,%time%,errorlevel: %errorlevel%,389 Symantec Plug-in install Success >> c:\RISlog\deployment.log
exit
This process has been working for me successfully. Basically I slam the NS install before the Agent Install Service has a chance to kick it off and then I put all the plug-in's on right after that. Doing this during this phase prevents the installs from killing the deployment job.