Intel,Altiris Group

  • 1.  Script Help! Altiris Client (NSClient) Install, uninstall, reinstall, service check???

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 12:57 PM
    I need a little help with writing either a batch file or a vb script that can do the following:

    Check if the Altiris Client is installed.
    Check what version the client is
    Check if client is running
    Check if possible if it has checked in to the correct management server

    From there,

    Need to be able to install if not installed
    Reinstall if old version or not managed by correct NS Server.


    I only have about 4381 clients reporting to my current NS server.  We should have about 9500 systems with the client installed.  For some reason a few weeks ago our NS server went to reporting about 8000 systems to just under 3000.  I also know that in the past someone had a demo NS server out there and there are clients reporting to that.

    Anyway, if it is possible it would be very helpful!






  • 2.  RE: Script Help! Altiris Client (NSClient) Install, uninstall, reinstall, service check???

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 02:24 PM
    Sounds like a network change or firewall change occurred in your environment.  Have you found any computers with the Altiris Agent installed, but not listed in the NS?  This may help you to determine the core issue, such as a change in Windows Firewall, Group Policy, or network issues like firewall and routing changes.  I very strongly recommend this as a first step, and obviously with more than half of your clients missing, a support call would make sense as well.

    But if you would rather just try to fix it without determining the issue, why not use the Notification Server to do perform the steps you want to take?
    • Perform a network discovery or AD synchronization to discover computers not known to your NS. (solves problem: missing computers)
    • Roll out the Altiris Agent to computers without the Altiris Agent installed (solves problem: computers without Altiris Agent; computers checking in to wrong NS)
    • Enable an upgrade policy on your NS to computers without the newest version of the Altiris Agent (solves problem: old version)
    Also, do I understand correctly that you went from 9500 to 3000 to 4381?  Those are some pretty wild fluctuations.  My guess is reinstalling the agent isn't going to help you.


  • 3.  RE: Script Help! Altiris Client (NSClient) Install, uninstall, reinstall, service check???

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 02:29 PM
    I just saw your other thread in the SEP forum where all administrators were locked out of SEPM and your entire AD structure was no longer synchronizing.  You listed the cause as a domain controller change.  Doesn't that strike you as possibly related to your Altiris woes?

    It sounds from other threads like you may have just inherited a new environment or a ton of new products or responsibilities.  Specifically a lot of SEP questions.  Have you checked SEP to see if it is blocking ports necessary for Altiris communication?  Tamper protection is another feature that can block the Altiris Agent.

    Did you recently roll out SEP to your clients?


  • 4.  RE: Script Help! Altiris Client (NSClient) Install, uninstall, reinstall, service check???

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 09:04 PM
    mclemson,

    Yes, we did have some SEP issues.  Once I changed the dc that the sepm authenticated from I was able to get sepm and sync'd groups to work again.

    On our NS serer we do sync with our Active Directory domain.  I will double check that but I am not aware what domain controller. Can remember if it just syncs with AD or is told to sync with a single dc.

    I have the rule set to push the client to all systems that doesn't have it.  That is how I noticed something was wrong.  The number was about 40 or so but jumped up to over 6000 the other day.

    All the client settings are enabled for install and upgrade as well.


    I did change our purge policy.  We are going through a time where every system is being reimaged.  End of the school year process.  


  • 5.  RE: Script Help! Altiris Client (NSClient) Install, uninstall, reinstall, service check???

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 10:15 PM

    contacts only one dc and a full import contacts multiple. It almost sounds like you created duplicate records by doing a rediscovery. Have you verified (by looking at some clients) that indeed they are no longer talking to the NS? You could use Real Time System Manager, the Remote Altiris Agent Diagnostics tool, sneaker net, etc.


  • 6.  RE: Script Help! Altiris Client (NSClient) Install, uninstall, reinstall, service check???

    Posted Jun 17, 2010 12:18 AM
    Well if you want to go the script route...you can query WMI for Win32_Service for the Name = AeXNSClient to see if the Agent is installed.   There is also a Started and State field in Win32_Service you can check for "True" and "Started".  In the registry you can Shell.RegRead "HKLM\Software\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Version" (err, something similar, I don't have a machine here to check) to see what version it is.  The default NS the machine is pointed to is also in the registry; the value is in the (Default) key.  Again not 100% on the exact key name.


  • 7.  RE: Script Help! Altiris Client (NSClient) Install, uninstall, reinstall, service check???

    Posted Jun 17, 2010 12:52 AM
    Well below scripts may be use to check (agent installed or not by validating registry key) and start/stop the agent

    set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

    set client = createobject ( "Altiris.AeXNSClient" )