Agent backward compatibility to AE

Products

• CA Automic Workload Automation - Automation Engine

Issue/Introduction

Are Agents on a higher service pack connecting to an Automation Engine (AE) on a lower service pack supported?

Is it okay to have an older major version agent on a newer major version Automation Engine (like 21.0 agents on a 24.4 system)?

Environment

Release: 12.3, 21.0, 24.x

Resolution

The standard recommendation is that the Automation Engine (AE) should maintain the same or a higher Service Pack/hotfix level than the connected Agents. This ensures the environment remains within the bounds of Broadcom's standard regression testing.

However, a narrower exception exists for Service Pack/hotfix alignment within the same minor version:

• Within the Same Minor Version: It is expected to be functional for an Agent to be one or more Service Packs or hotfixes ahead of the AE, provided they share the same minor version (e.g., a 24.4.3 Agent connecting to a 24.4.1 AE). While this specific combination is not explicitly regression-tested, it is an acceptable troubleshooting step if an Agent-side issue is suspected.
  
  
• Across Minor Version Boundaries: Running an Agent on a newer minor version than the AE (e.g., a 24.4.x Agent against a 24.3.0 AE) is not recommended and may lead to unpredictable behavior.
  
  
• Older Agent Versions: It is generally supported to run older Service Packs or older major version Agents (that are still under maintenance) against a newer version of the Automation Engine.

Important Considerations:

• Always consult the Automic Automation Compatibility Matrix for specific version requirements.
  
  
• For v12.x agents connecting to v21+ systems, ensure the use of a TLS Gateway or legacy CP configuration as documented in the version-specific release notes.