Task agents not registering to task server. Logs show PauseActivitiesException on the site server. Shutting Down Status.

Products

• Task Server

Issue/Introduction

Task Server functionality with the Notification Server and the machines trying to register to it is not working.

Notification Server logs show errors similar to the following:

Severity: 2
Date: 11/24/2023 5:28:44 PM
Tick Count: 7279187
Host Name: [NSname]
Process: w3wp (9632)
Thread: 537
Module: w3wp.exe
Source: Altiris.ClientTask.Server.HttpHandlers.Register
Description: Unable to process request from: [TaskServer IP Address]/POST/8.6.3269.0 (Activities are paused., 0x8004200E, FailedActivitiesPaused)

Task Server logs show the following:

Severity: 2
Date: 11/24/2023 5:36:44 PM
Tick Count: 455385062
Host Name: [TSname]
Process: w3wp.exe (9708)
Thread: 13028
Module: w3wp.exe
Source: Altiris.ClientTask.Server.HttpHandlers.Register
Description: 
  Unable to process request from: [SymAgent IP Address]/POST/8.6.3269.0 (Activities are paused., 0x8004200E, FailedActivitiesPaused)

The Sym Agent logs from a computer trying to register with the Task Server report errors similiar to:

Severity: 2
Date: 11/24/2023 5:01:42 PM
Tick Count: 1701421
Host Name: [HostName]
Process: AeXNSAgent.exe (10676)
Thread: 19436
Module: client task agent.dll
Source: Client Task Agent
Description: 
  Task Server Connection: Failed to register on Task Server '[TSname].[DomainName]' over 'https', error: Task Server activities are paused (0x8FA70003)

Environment

ITMS 8.x

Cause

The PauseActivities registry value on the Task Server was set to "1"

Resolution

Open the Registry Editor on the Task Server and check the following registry key:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Altiris\TaskManagement\ClientTaskExecutionEngine/PauseActivities

The PauseActivities registry key value should be set to "0".  ("0" means activites are not paused which is the default and "1" means that activities are paused)

NOTE: This condition could occur if the Task Server Agent version is a lower version than the Notification Server.