Client failing to return Patch Management Inventories for 8.x

Products

• Patch Management Solution for Windows

Issue/Introduction

How to troubleshooting Patch Management Inventories failing to process?

Environment

ITMS 8.x

Resolution

Step 1. Ensure the Patch Plug-ins are current with the current SMP / Altiris Agents; location detailed on KM: 180589: Step 2.

Step 2. Ensure the client is not in need of a reboot: 152243

Step 3. Ensure the client has consumed a Patch License: 180699

• Ensure the client's Patch License is consuming as detailed for PM 7.5.x & 8.0.x; Windows System Assessment Scan: Step 6: 180589
• Ensure the targeted filters are in order for the Software Update Plug-in Install & Upgrade Policies; turned on and deploying
• Ensure the targeted filters are in order for the Patch Install Tools;
  •  http://localhost/Altiris/console/?mainUrl=%2faltiris%2fconsole%2fItemPage.aspx%3fItemGuid%3d7A708B96-DB92-4F09-AD46-8BC8FDD62D70

Step 4. Ensure the PMImport is current

• The PMImport is the foundation of Patch Inventories; ensure there are no hung tasks running:
  • View Troubleshooting PMImport on KM: 154817
  • Even if all is in order on PMImport Page; it may be failing Revise Software Updates Task:
    • View 'Currently Running Tasks' report found in KM: 180504 to see if it is hanging on Revised or Downloading Updates
    • If running tasks are hung for PMImport or Revise Software Updates; review steps outlined on KM: 152933 to truncate bloated Task Tables and KM: 158318 to clean up orphaned tasks
• Ensure the Vendor List holds the desired Software to be reported on and the version of the Software is not excluded:
  • If the Client is vulnerable to an update from a vendor via the Software Scan, yet that Software/Version is disabled on the PMImport > Vendor List; the Client will not scan for Compliance/Vulnerability for that Software as it doesn't exist in the Windows System Assessment Scan logic replicated from the SMP's Catalog Data.

Step 5. Clear the Server-side data hash for Patch Dataclasses: 178560

Step 6. Configure Client to trap Notification Server Event (NSE) files: 180102

• These files can be later viewed with Notepad following a Patch Inventory Scan
• Copy / Paste these files onto the Management Server into the default location: C:\Program Files\Altiris\Notification Server\NSCap\EvtQFast folder.
  • Watch the logs to see if these files are failing to process with errors
• Note: Right-click / Open with > Notepad - ensure the file type is not associated with the Notepad.
  • The NSE should display the update name and data confirming the update IsInstalled / IsAppplicable.
  • If there is a problem generating the NSE's for Patch Management or sending them to the Management Server; lies outside Patch Management Solution, and could be a corrupt Altiris Agent, in which an uninstall / reinstall of the Altiris Agent may be in order to resolve this issue.

Step 7. Force a scan of the Patch Management Inventories: 180637