The Altiris Manageability Toolkit for Intel vPro Technology contains three base solutions, but also relies on a number of components for full functionality. Understanding the underlining components of the Toolkit and how they are installed will help show the overall structure of the Solutions and how they interact. This will also assist in understanding where certain functionality can be found, and assist in finding resolution to install issues for the suite.

Basic Installation

The following steps are provided as the recommended way to install the Toolkit but assumes that the basic configuration used by default will meet the criteria for all the components.

1. Install Notification Server if it has not been installed. The manual method is to download Altiris_NS_6_0.exe from http://www.solutionsam.com/solutions/6_0/. Install by executing on the server. Finish by downloading Altiris_NS_6_0_kb31946.exe and applying (this will be the latest rollup of hotfixes).
2. Once NS is operational, go to View > Configuration > on the left pane select Upgrade/Install Additional Solutions.
3. When the right-pane window loads, click the Available Solutions tab (may default to this).
4. Click the Segments button.
5. Expand the category below labeled Partner Solutions.
6. Click the entry Altiris Manageability Toolkit for Intel vPro Technology.
7. Proceed with the install.

The installation will commence. The Notification Server knows all the components required and will run the installs in the correct order. The following sections explain in further detail what is required and how all the components fit together.

• Notification Server
• Required Components
• Task Management
• Altiris Console 6.5
• Task Server Console Pack
• Real-Time Console Infrastructure
• Optional Components
• Report Packs
• Language Packs
• Documentation Packs
• Microsoft CA
• Solutions Installs
• Network Discovery
• Real-Time System Manager
• Out of Band Management

Notification Server

The Notification Server is the framework for all the Components and Solutions within the Toolkit. While there are only 3 official Solutions making up the toolkit, many components underline the functionality provided therein. While basic users will not be required to understand the underlining framework, for advanced use and troubleshooting it is good to have an understanding, especially if the troubleshooting involves the installation of the Toolkit.

The following graphic provides a pictorial representation of what Solutions require what components:

The Notification Server provides the framework for all installs except for the SCS Component. For information on Installing Notification Server, please see our documentation.

Required Components

The following items are required to use the full functionality of the 3 Solutions installed as part of the Toolkit. As represented by the previous graphic, Out of Band Management requires all the prerequisites, while Real-Time System Manager only requires Real-Time Console Infrastructure. Network Discovery does not require any prerequisite.

Task Management

Another core component utilized by Out of Band Management Solution is the Notification Server Task Server. This component contains the framework to use the management tasks provided by the Toolkit. Provisioning, Real-Time System Manager, and Network Discovery do not require this, but all the server-side tasks for Out of Band Management require this infrastructure.

The install EXE for this component is: Altiris Task Management -- Altiris_TaskManagement_6_0.exe
Associated Installs: Task Server Console Pack, Altiris Console 6.5

Task Server is a job-based application that utilizes Server-side tasks (tasks that the server can initiate directly to a client machine) and client-side tasks that utilize on of Task Server’s subagents. For Out of Band Management no Agent is required, and all tasks are Server-tasks. The Task Server engine will directly connect to the AMT on a system and run the tasks based on what is configured, authenticating using either the Intel SCS supplied credentials, or what is put in manually when the Task is configured. This screenshot shows the location of these server-tasks:

Altiris Console 6.5

The above screenshot is a view of the Altiris Console 6.5. The regular console that comes with a default install of Notification Server does not include this, and it needs to be installed to access parts of the Task Server user interface. As with the Task Management component, the 6.5 console is required to use the Server-tasks provided for AMT functionality in Out of Band Management Solution. Task Server is built on this console thus this is required.

The install EXE for this component is: Altiris Console 6.5 -- Altiris_Console_6_5.exe
Associated Installs: Task Server Console Pack

Task Server Console Pack

Task Server contains a console pack that provides much of the UI utilized by the Toolkit. This includes the Step-by-Step provisioning console model, as shown:

Without the console pack these functions can be accessed via View > Configuration > Solution Settings > Platform Administration > Out of Band Management > Provisioning > etc. While the functionality does exist, the ease of this structure in the console makes this install highly recommended. To access the tree click View > Solutions > Out of Band Management.

The install EXE for this component is: Altiris Console 6.5 Data -- Altiris_ConsoleData_6_5.exe
Associated Installs: Altiris Console 6.5, Task Management

Real Time Console Infrastructure

This piece is used by Out of Band Management Solution and Real-time System Manager. Real-Time System Manager relies heavily on this component and will not function without, while only certain features of Out of Band Management will not be available if this is not installed.

This piece primarily inserts the Real-Time tab into the Resource Manager for a given computer. The functionality inside the Real-Time tab is installed via the different Solutions. The following steps show how to access this functionality:

1. Run a Collection or a Report that returns Computer resources.
2. Right-click on the row representing the Computer desired.
3. Go to Real-Time System Manager and click on Manage.
4. The Real-Time tab within Resource Manager will automatically load in a new window.
5. Alternatively you can simply click on the ‘Real-Time’ tab within any Resource Manager system for a Computer Resource.

The install EXE for this component is: Real-Time Console Infrastructure -- Altiris_RTCI_6_2.exe
Associated Installs: Real-Time System Manager, Out of Band Management Solution

Altiris Intel AMT Setup and Configuration

This separate component is required to manage any AMT system running in Enterprise mode whether or not TLS is enabled. Primarily this is used for the Provisioning process in Out of Band Management. Beyond provisioning it will manage passwords for all provisioned AMT systems when using Out of Band Management Solution Tasks.

The install EXE for this component is: Out of Band Setup and Configuration Solution -- Altiris_OOBSC_6_1.exe
Associated Installs: Out of Band Management Solution

This installation will install a new database named IntelAMT on the same Database server as the Altiris database resides. A service will also be created to manage that database named AMTConfig:

This component is automatically installed and no interface is available. This can be problematic if there are any authentication issues during the install. The installation needs access to the following areas:

• Notification Server Infrastructure Altiris Administrator access
• Local System > Administrator access > IIS (Internet Information Services) and Services
• Database Enterprise Administrator access to where the Altiris database is installed.

If any of these are not met, the install will fail.

To install manually, follow these steps:

1. Browse to \Program Files\Altiris\Notification Server\NSCap\Bin\Win32\X86\OOB\IntelSCS.
2. Execute the file AMTConfServer.exe and follow the onscreen prompts.
3. NOTE! This will install with SSL (TLS) enabled.

Option Components

Both the Report Packs and the Documentation Packs are not required to use the functionality of the Toolkit, and though recommended, the Certificate Authority Server option to use TLS for authentication is not required.

The Toolkit has many installers as part of the suite beyond the core Solution installs. Many of these components are not required for basic functionality, but are recommended due to what they provide. The Install Packs are examples of these, including Documentation, Reports, and Language.

Report Packs

Report Packs provide SQL-based reporting for the Solution they install for. While not required, it is recommended to install them enabling you to run reports on the operation of the Solution.

List of Report Packs:

• Report Pack for Task Server -- Altiris_ReportTaskServer_6_0.exe
• Report Pack for Real Time System Manager -- Altiris_ReportRealTimeSystemManager_6_2.exe
• Report Pack for Out of Band Management Solution -- Altiris_ReportOutOfBandManagement_6_1.exe

Language Packs

Language Packs are required for any operation for languages outside of Standard English. This is recommended for any environment with more than English in the environment, both for the OS settings, IE Settings, and the Notification Server language.

List of Language Packs:

• Altiris Console Language Pack: Altiris_ConsoleLP_6_5.exe
• Altiris Console Data Language Pack: Altiris_ConsoleDataLP_6_5
• Altiris Task Server Language Pack -- Altiris_TaskServerLP_6_0.exe
• Altiris Network Discovery Language Pack -- Altiris_NetworkDiscoveryLP_6_0.exe
• Out of Band Management Language Pack -- Altiris_OutOfBandManagementLP_6_1.exe
• Out of Band Setup and Configuration Language Pack -- Altiris_OutOfBandSCLP_6_1.exe

Documentation Packs

Documentation installs are recommended to enable in-console help functionality. Without it no in-context help will work, and the ‘About > Help’ links will not work.

List of Documentation Packs:

• Altiris Console Documentation -- Altiris_DocAltirisConsole_6_5.exe
• Task Server Documentation -- Altiris_DocTaskServer_6_0.exe
• Network Discovery Documentation -- Altiris_DocNetworkDiscovery_6_0.exe
• Real-Time System Manager Solution Documentation -- Altiris_DocRTSM_6_2.exe
• Out of Band Management Solution Documentation -- Altiris_DocOutOfBand_6_1.exe

Microsoft CA Server

To use TLS for secure certificate-based authentication between the server and AMT systems, a Microsoft CA Server must be installed and utilized.

The installation steps and details will not be covered in this document.

Solutions Install

The Solution installs provide that core components of the Toolkit. These are considered the actual product installs the reveal or provide the functionality for the vPro Toolkit.

Network Discovery

Network Discovery is a free add/on to Notification Server that includes the ability to discover systems that have enabled AMT available. This is the only component that does not require any of the others to install and function properly, however it will not populate the Collections managed by Out of Band Management Solution, but the Network Discovery Collections can be utilized by both Out of Band Management Solution and Real-Time System Manager.

The install EXE for this component is: Network Discovery -- Altiris_NetworkDiscovery_6_0.exe
Associated Installs: None

The installation is straight forward and has no prerequisites beyond the Notification Server.

Real Time System Manager

This one-to-one management solution allows a live console interface into the functionality of Intel AMT on a managed system. While the Real-Time Console Infrastructure install provides the Real-Time framework, the functionality including Intel AMT will not show until the Real-Time System Manager is installed.

The install EXE for this component is: Real-Time System Manager -- Altiris_RTSM_6_2.exe
Associated Installs: Real-Time Console Infrastructure

The Real-Time tab is accessed via Resource Manager, as shown:

Out of Band Management

This Solution provides Provisioning Functionality to fully provision a vPro AMT system into the Intel SCS (Setup and configuration) Service and IntelAMT database. It also provides Server-initiated Tasks to execute AMT functionality on systems that have been Provisioned and are Managed Resource of the Notification Server. This component has many prerequisites and should be installed as the last Solution in the Toolkit. The prerequisites include:

• Real-Time Console Infrastructure
• Task Management
• Task Server Console Pack
• Intel SCS Component
• Altiris Console 6.5

The install EXE for this component is: Altiris Out of Band Management Solution -- Altiris_OutOfBandManagement_6_1.exe
Associated Installs: Covered above.

This installation completes the suite of products for this Toolkit. As long as all prerequisites (required) solutions have been installed, this install should move forward without problems, revealing the functionality and allowing the full features available to Out of Band Management.

Conclusion

Once the installation is complete for all required and optional components you require in your environment the functionality will now become available. Again the recommended way to install is via the Solution Center or AICM (Altiris Installation and Configuration Manager) as previously outlined. If it needs to be done manually, or if problems occurred, the individual pieces are outlined here.