Package Server publishes its codebase to the SMP using the internal FQDN. How to generate codebases using a different host name rather than its actual internal FQDN.

Products

• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

Example Use Case 1:
Agents not on the internal network (aka disconnected computers) are unable to download packages from the assigned Package Server (PS).

Example Use Case 2:
The customer is looking for a way to have certain package servers generate codebases using a different host name rather than its actual internal FQDN. 

Environment

Applies To

ITMS 7.5 environment using third party trusted SSL certificates on the SMP and Site Servers serving CEM Agents.

ITMS 7.5 and later (up to 8.1)

Cause

The Package Server publishes its codebase to the SMP using the "internal FQDN" or host name (e.g. servername.ADdomain.com). The agent computer on the external network cannot resolve this address because it is not publicly resolvable.

For Use Case 2, The customer was under the impression that the communication profile governed this (Agent Communication Profiles provided names and certificates to clients in the event they are instructed to access a PS but it doesn't govern codebases from the PS). This is before ITMS 8.5 was released.

Resolution

For 7.5 SP1, 7.6, 8.0, 8.1

Two new registry keys have been added which will allow administrators to specify custom FQDN strings which will be used as alternative host-names when generating HTTP & HTTPS codebases on the Package Server (UNC not affected by this change).

The keys should be created manually under the registry hive:
HKLM\Software\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Package Server

• The key "FQDN Alternate" (REG_MULTI_SZ) should contain alternate FQDN strings. Example: servername.corpname.com
• The key "FQDN Keep System" (RED_DWORD) should contain a value in order for the Package Server to keep providing original system based hostname, or 0 (zero) - not to provide codebases with system hostname.
• If no alternate FQDN strings are specified, the Package Server will still provide the original, system based, hostname.

Note: More details about the usage of these regkeys, refer to KB 191688 "How to publish an alternate server name for an Internet Site Server"

For 8.5 and 8.6

With ITMS 8.5 release, Site Servers have their own Communication Profile where we can specify what alternate host names we want to use. See under SMP Console>Settings>Agents/Plug-ins>Symantec Management Agent>Symantec Management Agent Communication profiles>Site Server Communication profiles

Those two keys were created in order for a Package Server to publish the codebases to the SMP with alternate FQDN and they still work for this release.

 

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For ITMS 7.5

A pointfix is available for ITMS 7.5 initial release and HotFix versions, this is included in ITMS 7.5 SP1 release.

See the two attached DLLs: AeXNSCPackageServer.dll and AeXNSCPackageServer-x86.dll.

How to apply the pointfix:

1. On the package server stop the AexNSClient service
2. Back-up original AexNSCPackageServer.dll located in Agent directory, by default "c:\program files\altiris\altiris agent\"
3. Depending on the OS of the Package Server:
   • For 64bit OS Package Servers: Copy AeXNSCPackageServer.dll to the Agent directory, by default "c:\program files\altiris\altiris agent\"
   • For 32bit OS Package Servers: Copy AeXNSCPackageServer-x86.dll to the Agent directory, by default "c:\program files\altiris\altiris agent\", rename the file to AeXNSCPackageServer.dll
4. Start AexNSClient service