At one time endpoint manager was installed on an old server and was later freshly installed to a new one. Some older clients were orphaned and left behind. When I attempt to correct the connection settings by exporting the communication xml file and importing it to the client, it corrects the server settings but the policy serial is not changing, ergo liveupdate is greyed out. How do I fix this?

Does the client connect to the SEPM (green dot on client)?

These client are online from client shield?

Server detail is reflecting in client side?(Under Help/Troubleshoot)

There is no green dot. Under help troubleshooting it does show the correct server and group but it says SNAC status not licensed, security policy compliance disabled, location awareness enabled

OK, so the client isn't connected. Is your SEPM on 12.1 RU2 or higher? If so, you can replace the sylink from the SEPM, see here:

Restoring client-server communications with Communication Update Package Deployment

If not, these steps should work:

How to restore/retain client-server SEP communication using custom installation settings without having to use the sylink drop tool on SEP 12.1

Check the secar test and also make sure that port 8014 is open

Testing Communication from an Endpoint Protection client to the Endpoint Protection Manager

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH102682

Thanks Brian this did the trick.

awesome!