Managed software delivery policy causing high cpu and disk utilization when computers enter a maintenance window.

Products

• Software Management Solution

Issue/Introduction

Managed software delivery policy causing high CPU and hard disk utilization (high disk I/O) when computers enter a maintenance window.

No visible errors in the Symantec Management Agent Logs.

Cause

The SMFAgent.dll constantly writes to the GUID.xml files in the Program  Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\Software Management\data directory when the remediation of a managed delivery policy is set to start at next maintenance window.

Resolution

Symantec has identified this an a defect and created a new Symantec Management Agent installation package to address the issue. If you require the fix, please contact Symantec Support to obtain the new installer.

Rollout suggestions:

1. Make a Backup of the current "Program Files\Altiris\Notification Server\NSCap\bin\Win32\X86\NS Client Package\" directory.
2. Place the new Symantec Management Agent package into the "Program Files\Altiris\Notification Server\NSCap\bin\Win32\X86\NS Client Package\" folder.
3. Rename the Agent installer executable to "AeXNSC.exe".
4. Change the registry on the Notification Server "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Altiris\eXpress\NS Client Package" version string value to "7.0.7437.0".
5. Update the Resource Membership via the Symantec Management Console.
6. Enable the "Altiris Agent for Windows - Upgrade" policy.

NOTE: The attached Symantec Management Agent will perform a remediation only once per maintenance window if the Managed Delivery Policy is set to start the remediation at next maintenance window.

Applies To

Symantec Management Platform (SMP) 7.0 Service Pack 4 (SP4) HotFix1
Software Management Solution 7.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2) Maintenance Release 1 (MR1)