When new computers are placed into Altiris it may take up to 24 hours for the system to get all of its patches and inventories completed. This is usally due to collection update times and long configuration update times (6+ hours).

There is an easy way to speed this whole process up and not effect the overall performance of your NS.

1. Create a collection called "Computers Discovered 48 hours". Using the SQL code below it will contain PCs that are discovered in the last 48 hours.
   

   SQL Code:

   SELECT vr.guid    
   FROM vresource vr     
   join vComputer vc on vr.guid=vc.guid   
   join item i on vr.guid=i.guid    
   WHERE DATEDIFF(day, i.CreatedDate, getdate()) <= 2
   
   

2. Create a duplicate of the collection "All Windows Desktop Computers Collection (excluding Package...

To close, or not to close, that is the question many of us face while staring at an aging list of help desk tickets. Here's the process one Juice reader recently implemented to save his staff a couple hours a week and (you're way ahead of me) get some closure. :)

The Eminent Problem

When an Incident is resolved our Helpdesk workers place the Incident into "Resolved" status (in our previous system this was "Resolved: Pending Follow-up"). All of our reporting metrics and notifications have been altered to count "Resolved" status Incidents in much the same way as "Closed" status. However, due to the intrinsic differences between the two statuses we still have need for the "Closed" status and to pull separate metrics on Closed verses Resolved Incidents. When an Incident is placed in Resolved status the requestor...

You all probably know that the AeXConfig.exe utility is used to run the database installation and removal side of our [Altiris] product installs, but did you also know that it can be used to install licenses, change the AppId, etc?

Here's the tool's full syntax. Knowing this is the first step to AeXConfig nirvana:

[/svcid user:<user name> password:<password>]  Sets the Application Identity
[/db dbserver:<server name> dbname:<database name> dbusername:<db user name> dbpassword:<db user password> dbtimeout:<db timeout>]  Database credentials
[/configure <Path to product installation xml file>]  Configure the database side of a product install
[/unconfigure <Product installation GUID> [/deleteitems] ]  Remove products database objects
[/installlicense <Path to license file>]  Installs licenses
[/validate <ProductInstallationConfigFile>]  Validate a product install
[/launchinstallwizard]  Opens http...

I stumbled upon the #SVS IRC channel this weekend and thought Wouldn't it be great to have a real-time chat for other Altiris products? Since FrankB was listening, my wish was granted! #NSConsole IRC was BORN!

The same options apply:

1. You can download the custom GUI (see below)
2. You can download your favorite IRC client (I like mIRC http://www.mirc.com/) and use the settings:

Address: legionquest.xs4all.nl

Port: 6667

Channel: #NSConsole

*Note: The /join #ChannelName command can be used from any of the clients within the private section.

If you are like me, you enjoy real-time communication and informative chats. Frank is a true asset to the community for putting this together for us and within minutes, I learned more about SVS as opposed to hours browsing forums.

Now that #NSConsole is born, we can do the...