Unix/Linux/Mac systems are not showing up in the Symantec Management Agent Upgrade Target following an upgrade to the SMP

Products

• Client Management Suite
• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

After an upgrade to the latest version of the SMP, our Unix/Linux/Mac (ULM) agents are still on the old version and are not upgrading.  It was determined that the systems are not in the Filter / Target named: Unix/Linux/Mac Computers Requiring Symantec Management Agent (SMA) Upgrade.   How do we get the ULM agents to Upgrade?

Support Statements are listed here: Platform and OS Support Statements

 

Cause

This can happen if we install the SMA on newer OS Versions than are supported by the SMA.  For MacOS, the Agent support is as follows:

• macOS Big Sur 11 - from 8.5 RU4 onwards
• macOS Monterey 12 - from 8.6 RU1 onwards
• macOS Ventura 13 - from 8.6 RU3 onwards
• macOS Sonoma 14 - from 8.6 RU3 onwards    

If we install the 8.6 RU3 agent on a Monterey OS this agent will be in this situation.

OR

Installing the latest SMA on the newest macOS before it is supported, as it usually takes a Point Fix to get full support.  For instance 8.6 RU3, 8.7 and 8.7.1 requires a Point Fix in order to support macOS 14 Sonoma.  This information is included in the macOS 14 Support Statement:

If the SMA is installed on an GA version, this is technically an Unsupported configuration.  The result of this configuration is that the SMA does not have the updated code to accurately recognize the new operating system when sending Basic Inventory, and as such this system ends up in the Legacy Unix/Linux/Mac Computers filter.  This filter is EXCLUDED from the Agent Upgrade Filter.

 

Resolution

Clone the FIlter: Unix/Linux/Mac Computers Requiring Symantec Management Agent Upgrade. Remove the Explicit Excluded filter: Legacy Unix/Linux/Mac Computers.  Save the Filter. 

 Edit the ULM Upgrade Policy, and Delete the existing Target from the Policy.  Create a new Target for the new Filter, and apply this Target to the ULM Upgrade Policy.

Save this Target and apply it to the Upgrade Policy, and lastly Save the Upgrade Policy.  It should then upgrade the Legacy ULM systems to the latest SMA version.