what are the ramifications of the SMA client being an older version than the NS SMP

[Dale Anderson]

We have upgraded the NS to 8.5 RU4 and some of the clients are still at 8.5 RU3 or RU2. 

What problems may arise if the Clients remain at the older version?

Is there any docs on this?

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Growmark| Inc
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[Igor Perevozchikov]

Hi MrAnderson!

You have upgraded NS to 8.5 RU4 and also all Package Servers have up-to-date Symantec Management Agent, Package Server?
You mentioned about still 8.5 RU2, RU3 client versions so check "Agent Connection Status", 'Reported' column to make sure that hey aren't offline and currently connected with NS

You can check for SMA Upgrade rollout policy status for download/execution on affected client computer, find this computer in SMP Console -> mouse right click -> resource manager -> View -> Events -> expand Computer Events folder ->  check for SWD Download, Execution data classes data output for this client to make sure that package downloaded/no downloaded or installation failed.

If there is no problems with download of SMA Upgrade rollout package and execution but it was done on this client and existing enabled/assigned SMA Upgrade rollout policy won't be active since it is in expired state as executed, then you can try to clone default SMA Upgrade rollout policies with their default resource targets in and refresh policy on affected client computer.

Thanks,

IP.

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Software QA Engineer
Broadcom Inc.
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[Dale Anderson]

The NS is 8.5 RU4 the package server is same 8.5 RU4.

 

I understand what you are telling me about the clients and rolling out the agent.

 

My question is (we have < 100 clients that are not upgraded.)  What problems will the clients have if they are not on the current version of 8.5 RU4?

 

Communication

Patching

Tasks

Policies

 

Are there any papers or docs on this?

 

Dale

 

 

[Igor Perevozchikov]

If your NS is 8.5 RU4 & some clients are 8.5 RU2 or 8.5 RU3 and not yet upgraded to 8.5 RU4 then:
- some of known issues from release notes of 8.5 RU4 regarding client side may appear
- some of new functionality which is released in 8.5 RU4 won't work on not yet upgraded to latest version clients
- all other functionality like policies receiving, tasks execution, patching, etc should continue to work (and such clients will be shown as un-healthy on ITMS Views - Computers page if agent health evaluation rule is enabled)
- not yet upgraded SMA on computers will not be included in search of data from Time Critical Management page, because search of data expects up-to-date version of Symantec Management Agent

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Software QA Engineer
Broadcom Inc.
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[Dale Anderson]

Thanks IP for this...

 

It answers my question.

 

Dale