Client Management Suite

ok so we started upgrading our client machines and bringing them into NS 7.1. I simply used WiseScript to do a aexagenutil /clean then some msiexec /X{GUID} on some items that it seems to have left behind.

So the issue isnt with the script as it works on 32, 64 and no agent installed machines.

My question is why when you do an agent install on a machine that had NS6 does the software delivery folder reside at
C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Software Delivery
When a clean install where no agent existed installs to 
C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\SoftwareManagement\Software Delivery

Our tech's are just that.. Tech's.. you have to give them specific directions and I had one yesterday having an issue couldnt find the software delivery folder on a new machine. Thus leading me to this.
I have more sites going out soon and would like to know how to rectify this to point to the old location. I understand that everything works fine on both machines as the agent is aware of where it is to get the software cache but trying to keep it consistent.

Thanks!

Unless you need to maintain GUIDs, your script should fully remove the NS6 agent and reinstall the new one by bundling AeXNSC.exe with the script.  When you're done migrating everyone, the location will be the same, but technicians will need to adjust to two different locations in the meanwhile.  You could push out a shortcut named 'Software Delivery' at C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\ if you wanted to provide a crutch temporarily.

well thanks for that explanation.. but I think i didnt explain it well..

 

We have machines with NS6 agents
If I run a clean then install new NS7 agent
the C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Software delivery 
folder exists...

On a new machine run NS7.1 Agent Installer
Software Delivery is under the other location 
C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\SoftwareManagement\Software Delivery

Correct.  If you want all clients to have the same location (at C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\SoftwareManagement\Software Delivery\), then you need to remove the NS6 agent before installing the NS7 agent.  You can do this by delivering a .vbs, a .bat, and AeXNSC.exe, and having NS6 run the .vbs which copies the .bat and .exe file to a safe location on C:\ (e.g. C:\Altiris7Migration) and then runs the .bat file, which uninstalls NS6 and then calls AeXNSC.exe to properly install NS7.  You use the .vbs to call the .bat so that it returns a success to the NS6 agent.  If you used the NS6 agent to run the .bat directly, the .bat would stop and uninstall the NS6 agent, thus stopping the .bat file and failing the install.

I hope this helps!

Hmmm Mike.. there you are again!!!

appreciate the help!!!!

Ok so here is what im doing...
Using the NS6 to deploy a .exe file I compiled.. I think part of what you said up there is key.. 
I am removing the NS6 agent... but not copying the .exe to a different location.. so since this is running from the cache.. could that be keeping the old path?

we still have 2400 machines to migrate so would like to get this going... now personally it isnt a big deal...
I would rather have the old directory structure.. altiris agent\software delivery instead of altiris agent\agents\blah blah.. i like the shorter one better...

 

so here I will give my code so it may help anyone else wondering how this could work for them if they need it... side comment.. it is working so I didnt fix it.. but there are probably better ways to do it.. 

 

I didn't read all that, but the reason you copy it all to a temporary directory (e.g. C:\Altiris7Migration) is to avoid deleting it when you delete the existing Software Delivery cache.  In addition to uninstalling the plug-ins and agent for NS6, you should then delete registry keys relating to Altiris and also anything in the Altiris Program Files directory.  If you do this, then there is absolutely nothing left of Altiris, and there's no way it will be referencing the NS6 path for software delivery caches.