Deployment Solution

Hi,

We have the following setup:

HQ: Notification Server (NS), Task+Pacakage Server (PS), FS (with a share Packages$ which contains the package files)

Site1: Task + Package Server (PS2 with a share packages$. All packages have beens synchronised to here).

In our HQ we can deploy software without any issue.
in Site1 the clients receive the job. In the software delivery map a new folder with the GUID is created but the package is never downloaded... In package.xml all paths are correct (\\PS2\packages$\program_name which is reachable from the client and an url to the task server (http://PS2/altiris/...) which also returns an web page). In log.xml it states "Invalid XML returned by server" but I can't find a reason for it.

Eventually the jobs fail due to a timeout 

any suggestions where to look?

Install ASP:
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH42112

Ensure that you've properly prepared your site server in Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2:
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH46601
http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO10791

It's probable that one of the requirements was missed during site server preparation.  Do these links resolve the issue?

nope, I followed all required steps:

ASP.NET, Windows Authentication and II6 compatibilty all were checked. And the website was defined as a "Classic App pool". All of that before installing the symantec agent.

I just followed the instructions in http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO10791 but that doesn't seem to change anyhting (not after resratring IIS and not  after a reboot of the PS)

Are there any errors in the application log or in the IIS httperr log?

I only see 2 errors in the application log of the remote PS:

Source: SideBySide
EventID: 33
Activation context generation failed for "h:\Altiris\altiris agent\package delivery\{fe67653b-8736-4004-9b60-9fc5e352c398}\cache\CMClientInstallHelper.exe". Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC90.CRT,processorArchitecture="amd64",publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b",type="win32",version="9.0.21022.8" could not be found. Please use sxstrace.exe for detailed diagnosis.

Source: SideBySide
EventID: 33
Activation context generation failed for "h:\Altiris\altiris agent\package delivery\{fe67653b-8736-4004-9b60-9fc5e352c398}\cache\AexPackagerUtil.exe". Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC90.CRT,processorArchitecture="x86",publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b",type="win32",version="9.0.21022.8" could not be found. Please use sxstrace.exe for detailed diagnosis.

no ISS errors and the Altiris Log Viewer on the NS doesn't show much errors either

Might want to just post example package.xml and log.xml files from one of the Software Deliveries at the problem site.  Did this used to work?  Are there other remote sites besides Site1 with PS2?  A network restriction arises as a possibility between the two sites, or a permissions issue preventing PS2 from accessing FS, even though NS and PS1 can access the FS.

You need ASP installed, per the article:
http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH42112

If you installed ASP.NET, this is not the same.

1 time there was a package that stood ready, but it cout not down fro one site server. But when we delete it in the file system on the site server,it download again and was ok

2 times we were forced to uninstall the Altiris agent and install it again

each time there was only error on 1 of our site server, the others site run fine. do you have more than the one-site server?

and remember to check the logs on the client, they are in the folder

C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Software Delivery\{package guid}\log.xml

or

C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\SoftwareManagement\Software Delivery{package guid}\log.xml

or

if you hav change the download, the place you've changed it to

With NS 6 I once had problems trying to install NS itself to D:\altiris instead of D:\program files\altiris.

Check the Applications are running in IIS

@andykn: no errors 

@pedahl: I've tried 3 different clients...

here are the log files:
package.xml

<Package id="{EB12897F-9975-444C-ABE2-48DA14B1694E}" name="7-Zip 9.20 EN x86" size="0" version="1314617791" remote="false" priority="100" status="retrying" minspeed="0" enableMulticast="false" statusDescription="Invalid XML returned by server">

<Source time="2011-10-10 11:43:17" speedTest="true">

<SiteQuery url="http://NS/Altiris/NS/Agent/GetPackageInfo.aspx" resource="{8B185EF9-9A01-492E-B794-6B46179E056C}" type="codebases"/>

<Codebase href="http://PS/Altiris/PS/{EB12897F-9975-444C-ABE2-48DA14B1694E}" snapshot="http://PS/Altiris/PS/getpackagesnapshot.asp"/>

<Codebase unc="\\PS\packages$\7-zip 9.20 EN x86" snapshot="\\PS\PkgSvrHostH$\{EB12897F-9975-444C-ABE2-48DA14B1694E}\snapshot.xml"/>

</Source>

</Package>

you logs files look like it can be

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH41471

See above to my reply that was somewhat buried, but you need ASP installed.  ASP is not the same as ASP.NET.  In your post, you indicated you met the requirement for installing ASP when you installed ASP.NET.

ASP is required:

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH42112

My first thought was ASP, many people install ASP.NET and forget about just ASP.  Not installing ASP can lead to some strange happenings.

Install ASP and let us know your results.

@pedahl: that applies to Deployment Solution 6.3+. Do you think it also applies on DS 7.1?

@mclemson: you were correct indeed. My apologies for ignoring you earlier, it seemd I missed the ASP checkbox. I added ASP and it worked rightaway! YIPPEE KAYO! 

@All: thanks & kudos for the support and the tips!