Can you confirm that your client machines are able to ping/or access folder through UNC.
Agent machine is trying to download but it is still waiting for package. this might be a temporary event.
Click to download the package manaully from Altiris Agent client window

Yes client can ping but this was happening on the NS server as well which doubles ad the PS. What I found was the Package server was mysteriously missing. I reinstalled it, but had to do so through commands since it was stuck like the rest when pushed to the Altiris Agent.

Anyhow, it's installed again but now I'm getting "retrying download" when looking at Agent > Package Server (tab). All the packages are stuck in retrying packages, on the PS.

Log Viewer Errors: 
Unable to get the package codebases for the specified packages

Download package sources failed

however, you didn't install package services on the NS did you? It's not required to do so, it's kind of taken for granted. Please review and\or post your Altiris log files on the server and client and look for severity 1 or 2 (red and blue respectively) errors.

I installed it only in trying to troubleshoot. This is an example of what's in the server logs.
 

Log File Name: C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Logs\Agent1.log

Priority: 1

Date: 3/22/2010 9:43:02 AM

Tick Count: 332657328

Host Name: DEN-ALTIRIS

Process: aexnsagent.exe (4216)

Thread ID: 11180

Module: AeXPackageDelivery.dll

Source: PackageDelivery

Description: Error while downloading package: Altiris.NS.Exceptions.NSComException (0x8000FFFF): Unable to get the package codebases for the specified packages

at Altiris.NS.StandardItems.SiteServer.PackageServer.PackageInfoProvider.GetPackageCodebases(String requestXml, Guid resource, IEnumerable`1 packages, IEnumerable`1 addresses, DateTime startTime, Int32 totalDownloadTime)

at Altiris.NS.StandardItems.SiteServer.PackageServer.PackageInfoProvider.<>c__DisplayClass5.<GetPackageInfoImpl>b__0(IDatabaseContext ctx)

at Altiris.Database.DatabaseContext`1.PerformWithDeadlockRetryHelper(Int32 retries, Boolean inTransaction, Getter`1 getContext, Action`1 action, Action`1 retry)

at Altiris.Database.DatabaseContext`1.PerformWithDeadlockRetry(Int32 retries, Boolean startNewTransaction, IsolationLevel isolationLevel, Boolean independentContext, Action`1 action, Action`1 retry)

at Altiris.Database.DatabaseContext`1.PerformWithDeadlockRetry(Int32 retries, Boolean startNewTransaction, Action`1 action, Action`1 retry)

at Altiris.NS.ContextManagement.DatabaseContext.PerformWithDeadlockRetry(Int32 retries, Action`1 action, Action`1 retry)

at Altiris.NS.StandardItems.SiteServer.PackageServer.PackageInfoProvider.GetPackageInfoImpl(String requestXml, Boolean alreadyRedirected, Boolean& responseRedirect, Boolean& foundCodebases) (-2147418113)

This may have all started when I tried to uninstall Dell Client Manager through SIM. I remember being suprised that it started to uninstall but it failed saying something about "this product is needed and can't be uninstalled". But I believe I've had strange things happening ever since. Even when I try repair through SIM, on almost all products, I get a fatal error: "Symantec Installation Manager has encountered a fatal exception and cannot continue".

Meaning how many clients are deployed, etc? I would consider a total rebuild, with a new database, if you have only started. Otherwise you may be left with some residual issues.

I'm not so invested that a rebuild will impact anything but my time. Probably the best solution since I don't want to go into production with a patched system.

I'm working with support now....we've repaired packages and deleted snapshots, still nothing. Dell Client Management uninstall is likely the culprit.

Hi there,

I had a similar issue, my computer also failed to get the package codebase from my Package Server.
I opened IIS on my package server to browse my altiris website, no luck. I eneded up uninstalling and reinstalling my PS, somehow IIS got corrupted.

Not sure if this is the same in your case though,

E

We are having the same problem with our system. Have you found a resolution?
Our problem happened after updating to the newest service packs.

Since I wasn't in production I just rebuilt the server from the OS up. I wasn't comfortable starting out with problems like that.

Ultimately I would say it was caused by trying to uninstall the Dell CM. I started an uninstall then it had warned me it was needed and should not continue with the uninstall. So I cancelled it like it said. However, I think that pop-up came up AFTER it was partially uninstalled. Anyhow, that's my guess and really the only thing I did before having problems.

Either don't install Dell CM or if you install it, just leave it in place. I wanted to uninstall it because I could not upgrade a couple Symantec products. I like the Dell CM, I just don't want to wait for it to catch up before I can upgrade Symantec products.