How the Altiris Agent obtains Package Codebases (download sources)

Products

• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

How does the Altiris Agent obtain Package Codebases (download sources) for packages that are referenced in the Client Configuration Policy?

Resolution

The agent goes through the following steps:

1. The Altiris Agent obtains information for a Task/Package from the Client Configuration Policy, located and named after this manner:
   
   C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Client Policies\<server_name>.XML
   
   
2. In the Client Configuration Policy a Package GUID will be referenced, as in this example (the Client Config Policy is in XML format):
   
   <Policy guid="{A36705A8-123D-40AB-BCAB-D9494D19D938}" name="Software Delivery Task for program : One of Three"
      version="6.0.5287.1019">
      <ClientPolicy agentClsid="Altiris.SWD">
      <SoftPkgs>
         <SoftPkg Name="One of Three" displayName="" Id="{46D50E6E-183C-4D15-9767-EE14EBEA5ED4}" Version="1.0"
            InternalVersion="1127796544" Originator="NS" Destination="" CleanupAfter="10080" Priority="Normal" StatusEventsEnabled="true">
   
   
3. Once the Altiris Agent has received the details for a Task that includes a Package, it creates a folder based on the Package GUID in the following location (GUID obtained from the above example):
   
   C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\SoftwareManagement\Software Delivery\{46D50E6E-183C-4D15-9767-EE14EBEA5ED4}
   
   
4. In this folder, XML files are formed. The XML file containing the codebases is named package.xml.
   
   
5. To obtain this information, the Altiris Agent accesses the following page:
   
   HTTP://<server_name>/Altiris/NS/Agent/getpackageinfo.aspx
   
   
6. The Server returns the information into the package.xml of where the client can download the package. Here is an example:
   
   <Package id="{46D50E6E-183C-4D15-9767-EE14EBEA5ED4}" name="One of Three" size="0" version="1127796544" remote="false"
      priority="Normal" status="valid" minspeed="0" enableMulticast="true" statusDescription="valid">
      <Source time="2005-09-26 16:50:41" speedTest="true">
         <SiteQuery url=HTTP://<server_name>/ALTIRIS/NS/Agent/GetPackageInfo.aspx resource="{EDE45177-50D9-4851-9734-8B01BDC13A85}" type="codebases" />
         <Codebase href="http://<server_name>/Altiris/NS/NSCap/Bin/Win32/X86/OneOfThree"
            snapshot=http://<server_name>/Altiris/NS/Agent/GetPackageSnapshot.asp />
         <Codebase unc="\\<server_name>\NSCap\Bin\Win32\X86\OneOfThree"
            snapshot=http://<server_name>/Altiris/NS/Agent/GetPackageSnapshot.asp />
      </Source>
   </Package>
   
   
7. To view the list of Sources in the Altiris Agent UI, follow these steps:
   
   • Launch the Altiris Agent UI by double-clicking on the Altiris System Tray icon, or by launching C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\AeXAgentActivate.exe.
   • Under the Software Delivery section of the UI, double-click on the package desired, or highlight the package and click the Properties link on the left-side of the UI.
   • Click the Download History tab.
   • The Sources box shows all available download location that has been provided to the client by the GetPackageInfo.aspx call.