Patch Management Solution

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  • 1.  Patch policies are restarting computers a lot in the patch window.

    Posted Feb 13, 2013 09:05 AM

    I have 12 servers being pushed 38 MS software bulletins (111 update packages). The default software update plug-in policies allow restarts at the end of the software update cycle, and the update policies allow immediate restarts, if required.  The patch window is 4 hours long.

     

    During the patching window, the servers in question restarted an awful lot.  One server was sent 33 updates, and restarted 26 times.  Another server restarted about a dozen times, was sent 2 updates, and at the end of the maintenance window was left in a state of needing to be restarted.

     

    This doesn't seem like correct behavor.  How do I set altiris to chain updates, so they servers don't have to restart between each update?  How to I make sure they complete the final restart so at the end of the maintance window they are not left needing a reboot?

     

    I'm running NS 7.1.



  • 2.  RE: Patch policies are restarting computers a lot in the patch window.
    Best Answer

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Feb 13, 2013 11:02 AM

    Hi Erica,


    The default software update plug-in policies allow restarts at the end of the software update cycle, and the update policies allow immediate restarts, if required.

    In case if checkbox "Allow immediate restarts, if required" is enabled for Software Update Policies, restart will be occurred (if required) after installation of every update included to this policy. This is why you have a lot of restarts.

    Actually each restart of machine takes a lot of time and increases execution time for Software Update Installation Cycle. I advise to try restarting machine only at the end of the software update cycle and disable checkbox "Allow immediate restarts, if required" in SWU policies settings. In this case SWU cycle should be completed quicker and restart will occur after installation of all updates.


    In case if Maintenance window closes during running SWU installation cycle, any actions related to SWU installation cycle are stopped because we do not want to install updates or restart machines if Maintenance window is closed.


    Hope this helps,

    Roman



  • 3.  RE: Patch policies are restarting computers a lot in the patch window.

    Posted Feb 13, 2013 11:23 AM

    Thanks for the response.

    If I changed the settings to only restart at the end of the maintance cycle, would that keep updates from being installed if one of the pervious installed updates required a restart?



  • 4.  RE: Patch policies are restarting computers a lot in the patch window.

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Feb 14, 2013 10:22 AM

    Hi Erica,

     If I changed the settings to only restart at the end of the maintance cycle, would that keep updates from being installed if one of the pervious installed updates required a restart?

    No, if previously installed updates are required a restart it should not prevent the remaining updates from installing.

    Thanks,
    Roman



  • 5.  RE: Patch policies are restarting computers a lot in the patch window.

    Posted Feb 14, 2013 05:11 PM

    Thank you for the help.