Symantec Altiris ITMS 7.1 released

The latest version of Symantec Altiris ITMS 7.1 has been officially released !

Symantec Altiris - Find all tables that contain a specific GUID

A very nice knowledgebase article which can help you during troubleshooting. Works for version 6 and version 7.

The following SQL script will traverse an Altiris database and find all tables in which a specified GUID appears. It reports both the table and the column. The only requirement is to change the value of the guid being searched (Under the line that reads "Enter Search Guid here")

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO1191

Setting Up and Configuring a Handheld Emulator to Use the Symantec Barcoder Application

There are many times where testing an application or configuration are useful, prior to rolling out in a production environment. Such is the case with Barcode Solution. It is necessary to test the functionality or usage, prior to allowing production based use, or to troubleshoot problems. The costs of providing an actual barcode reader can also be prohibitive, especially if the reader is only used for troubleshooting.

A complete setup description can be found here…..

http://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/setting-and-configuring-handheld-emulator-use-symantec-barcoder-application

Error ''Item has already been added'' when trying to set Resource Type in a CMDB or Connector Rule

Applies To

• Altiris Connector 6.5
• CMDB 6.5

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Problem/Symptoms

After upgrading to CMDB/Asset 6.5, when trying to set the Resource Type within a CMDB or Connector rule, the following error may be shown:

Module: AltirisNativeHelper.dll
Source: global.asax
Description: Unhandled exception.  Type=System.ArgumentException Msg=Item has already been added.  Key in dictionary: "8b92ef99-7bac-49a0-8694-48d7558bc7ee"  Key being added: "8b92ef99-7bac-49a0-8694-48d7558bc7ee"
StackTrace=
   at System.Collections.Hashtable.Insert(Object key, Object nvalue, Boolean add)
   at System.Collections.Hashtable.Add(Object key, Object value)
   at Altiris.NS.Connector.Web.ImportExportRule.CreateDataClassesMappingsTable(Boolean bReloadColumns, Boolean bSetSavedValues)
   at Altiris.NS.Connector.Web.ImportExportRule.CreateAllMappingControls(Boolean bReloadColumns, Boolean bSetSavedValues)
   at Altiris.NS.Connector.Web.ImportExportRule.ResourceType_Change(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Web.UI.WebControls.ListControl.OnSelectedIndexChanged(EventArgs e)
   at System.Web.UI.WebControls.DropDownList.System.Web.UI.IPostBackDataHandler.RaisePostDataChangedEvent()
   at System.Web.UI.Page.RaiseChangedEvents()
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain()

The following Resource Types have been reported as affected by this issue, others could be affected:

Computer
Monitor
Network Printer
Office Equipment
Peripheral
Scanner

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Cause

This can be caused by having the Accounting Information data class directly associated to a child Resource Type and the child's Base Resource Type, Asset.

---

Resolution

1. Back up the Altiris database
2. Run the following sql script against the Altiris database

--Set up @ResourceTypeDataClassAssoc table variable
DECLARE @ResourceTypeDataClassAssoc TABLE
(
ResourceType nvarchar(250),
ResourceTypeGuid uniqueidentifier,
depth bit,
BaseResourceType nvarchar(250),
BaseResourceTypeGuid uniqueidentifier,
DataClass nvarchar(250),
ResourceDataClassGuid uniqueidentifier
)

/*
populate @ResourceTypeDataClassAssoc with data classes
associated to resource types at each level in the hierarchy
*/
INSERT INTO @ResourceTypeDataClassAssoc
SELECT i.name as ResourceType, rth.ResourceTypeGuid, rth.depth, i2.name as BaseResourceType,
rth.BaseResourceTypeGuid, i3.name as DataClass, rtdc.ResourceDataClassGuid
FROM ResourceTypeHierarchy rth
JOIN item i on rth.ResourceTypeGuid = i.Guid
JOIN item i2 on rth.BaseResourceTypeGuid = i2.Guid
JOIN ResourceTypeDataClass rtdc on rth.BaseResourceTypeGuid = rtdc.ResourceTypeGuid
JOIN item i3 ON rtdc.ResourceDataClassGuid = i3.Guid

/*
Find resource types that have data classes associated directly, and indirectly through
any base resource type in their hierarchy, and delete them from the ResourceTypeDataClass table
*/
DELETE FROM ResourceTypeDataClass
WHERE EXISTS
(
SELECT *
FROM @ResourceTypeDataClassAssoc rt1
  JOIN @ResourceTypeDataClassAssoc rt2 ON rt1.ResourceTypeGuid = rt2.ResourceTypeGuid
  AND rt1.BaseResourceType != rt2.BaseResourceType
  AND rt1.ResourceDataClassGuid = rt2.ResourceDataClassGuid
WHERE rt1.depth = 0
  AND ResourceTypeDataClass.ResourceTypeGuid = rt1.ResourceTypeGuid
  AND ResourceTypeDataClass.ResourceDataClassGuid = rt1.ResourceDataClassGuid
)

Need a little help managing Software License Compliance Suite

http://juice.altiris.com/question/948/need-a-little-help-managing-software-license-compliance-suite

Q:
We have the CMS Level 1 and Software License Compliance Suite. The purpose of the SLC Suite was to enter software license purchase information into the NS dbase and have that license information check against the software information collected in the Inventory Solution. How do I configure the Software License Compliance Suite to simply allow me to enter software purchase info (software name, date purchased, quantity, etc.) and view a report that shows me my total number of purchased software licenses versus my total number of installed licenses for one or more software applications?

The Asset Control and Contract Management Solution Product Guide is CRAZY! What I need is someone’s Best Practices guide that lays out procedures for initial configuration, procedures for inputing new software purchase info, and relevant reports showing compliance status.

A:
The following is the standard way in which I work with software contracts:

1. Browse to the Resouces tab > Resources > Contact Types Software Licensing > Software Purchase and create a new software purchase. This is where you can enter the name, product description, quantity and license count.
2. Once you have completed this, in the same tree view, browse to Software Licensing > Win32 License and create a new software (Win32) license.
   1. To add the software purchase created earlier, browse to the Software Purchases tab and add a rule to have it automatically add all software purchases created with the similar naming convention, or manually add the purchase under "Other Software Purchases."
   2. To match the discovered software (Inventory Solution) to the contract, browse to the Software Installs tab and under "Software License Search Rules" click "Add List." This wizard allows you to search and select the discovered software and attach the rule to the license.
   3. After you have applied all the changes, you can now browse back to the Summary tab (only available after you have created the license and applied changes) to view Installed vs. Purchased.

Adding Software License Types

http://juice.altiris.com/tip/4936/adding-software-license-types

If you would like to track other types of software licenses other than "Concurrent" or "Per Installed Node", you can add your own. For example "Per Processor" or "Enterprise".

After upgrading to Asset 6.5 from a previous version, the "Single" ownership style is missing

Article ID: 39506

After upgrading to Asset 6.5, the "Single" ownership style is missing from the Ownership Settings page under Configuration > Solutions Settings > CMDB Solution.

---

Cause

This can be caused if the Ownership Style in the previous version of Asset was set to either of the following:

• Allow
• Allow After Warning

Both of the above settings allow an Asset to be associated to multiple users. By default, the ownership style in Asset 6.1 and 6.2 is Allow After Warning. This setting is preserved during an upgrade and corresponds to the Multiple with Warning style in CMDB Solution 6.5, which is installed during an upgrade to Asset 6.

CMDB Solution 6.5 does not allow changing from any multiple ownership style back to single.

---

Resolution

This behavior is working as designed.

As a workaround before the upgrade is started, set the ownership style to Single. In Asset 6.1 or 6.2:

1. Open the Notification Server Console.
2. Go to Configuration > Solutions Settings > Assets and Inventory > Asset Control > Asset Global Settings.
3. Pick Single from the drop-down next to Allow Assets to have multiple owners.
4. Click Apply.