Software bulletins being removed from the Patch Catalog in an uncontrolled manner.
Article ID: 169458
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
Import Patch Data for Windows (PMImport) is a process of downloading software update catalog files to the Notification Server. Found occasions when PMImport runs and updates the catalog files; previously deployed Software Update Policies had lost associations to the Software Bulletin / Updates as follows:
Cause
Working as designed: The Vendors may delete old/outdated Software Updates, which will be pulled from the catalog data, and the PMImport download then updates the Patch Tables and removing these obsolete Bulletins/Updates from the Symantec database. This results in the empty shell of a Software Update Policy having no Bulletin/Update resource associations.
Environment
ITMS 7.6.x / 8.0.x / 8.1.x.
ITMS - IT Management Suite
Resolution
CAUTION: It is important to understand that the following process will force the bulletins retention; however, this behavior is different from the behavior offered by the original vendor and may cause different complications. Be certain to test deployment prior to production.
ITMS(Patch) 7.6.x / 8.0.x users
- Upgrade to 8.0 HF4 and utilize the attached PointFix or upgrade to ITMS 8.1 RU1 and follow the instructions below.
- NOTE: The attached PointFix is to implement into ITMS 8.0 HF4 and has not been designed to be installed in hierarchical environments. Though, if to be installed in a hierarchy, it should be installed on ALL SMP Servers.
ITMS(Patch) 8.1 RU1 users:
- Create a Registry key "DWORD: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Altiris\Patch Management\RetainUsedUpdates"
- To retain old updates: Value = 1
- To delete old updates: Value = 0
SMP - Symantec Management Platform
RU - Release Update
HF - Hot Fix
Attachments
Feedback
