Mac Management Group

Hi,

We are having some trouble with the package cache not being cleared after a successful install, the folder: notification/nsagent/var/packages is full of old packages.

If we manually remove the packages they are downloaded from the server again. It is not connected to the filters the computer is a member of.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Using Altiris 7.1 SP2

Regards

Viktor Lundberg
Chalmers IT-Service,
Gothenburg, Sweden

Hi,

Following topic could help (http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO77389)

2.3 - Deletion of Unused Packages

The setting for when Package Servers should delete unused packages exists on the Settings tab of the Package Server page.

The count down to remove package files on a Package Server will only begin when either; the package is unassigned from the Package Server, or the package is deleted from the NS database. Both of these situations result in the package no longer being sent down to the Altiris Agent in the Package Server node of the configuration XML file.

Once this occurs the Package Server updates the PackageStatus.xml file that it stores for each individual package and sets the ‘Status’ flag to ‘Deleted’ and the ‘Time’ flag to that of when it was removed from the configuration file.

The package status files are located (on a default install) at the following location on the Package Server machine -

C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Package Server Agent\Package Status

At each Package Server refresh the Package Server will check for a Deleted flag inside all the Package Status files and if the corresponding Time flag has past the duration configured for deletion of unused packages, then the package files will be removed.

Hi,

To be clear this problem is only affecting our Macs, our Windows computers clears the package cache as intended.

Regards

Viktor Lundberg
Chalmers IT-Service,
Gothenburg, Sweden

I meant that each package server has own settings.  Anyway just in case check the following settings:

Hi,

Can you check  Advanced settings for policies/tasks that were used to install this software. There is an option "Delete package from client computer" which should controll removal period. Please check value for this option.

Thanks,

Andrei 

Hi,

Delete package from client computer is set to 1 day and it doesn’t seem to work on Mac computers, it works well on our Windows computers.

Regards

Viktor Lundberg
Chalmers IT-Service,
Gothenburg, Sweden

Hi Viktor,

please check these links:

• http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO9839
• http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO7849

Thanks,

IP.

Hi,

Our Windows computers deletes the packages as planed, It is the Mac computers that won’t clean the cache.

The guides in the previous posts is either not applicable for Mac or the server settings is already checked and ok.

Please advice.

Regards

Viktor Lundberg
Chalmers IT-Service,
Gothenburg, Sweden

I have a funny feeling that that option only works on Windows machines.

On Linux Server policy has default "Delete After 7 days", as it is for Windows rollout policies.

[root@ ~]# cat /opt/altiris/notification/nsagent/var/packages/.aex-pkg-xml-\{69C05EDC-9CF5-4493-93AC-86C8B8994CDC\} | grep -i 'Delete'

• <DeleteAfter>2014-04-02 16:54:31</DeleteAfter>

[root@ ~ packages]# ls -la

• Mar 26 22:04 {69C05EDC-9CF5-4493-93AC-86C8B8994CDC}
• Mar 26 22:04 .aex-pkg-xml-{69C05EDC-9CF5-4493-93AC-86C8B8994CDC}

Viktor, please check what value has <DeleteAfter> on your Mac client computer for policies, where package doesn't get removed.

This option was fixed in 7.5 release, and in most cases will not work in 7.1 sp2.

Please open support case if you need this to be fixed for SP2, otherwise migrate to 7.5.

Thanks,

Andrei

Hi,

Thank you Igor, checked one of the xml files and the the delete after tag is empty.

Part of a xml file:

 <CleanupAfter>1440</CleanupAfter>
      <DeleteAfter></DeleteAfter>

Thanks

Viktor Lundberg