Installing and uninstalling Automation Folder on client computers

HOWTO99962
Last Updated June 12, 2014

Installing and uninstalling Automation Folder on client computers

An automation folder stores the preboot operating system on the client computers. The client computers use this functionality to boot in the preboot environment whenever required using the preboot OS that is installed locally on the client computer. The preboot operating systems for Windows and Linux operating systems are, WinPE, and LinuxPE respectively. For the Mac computers, a NetBoot environment is contained in the automation folder that is installed on the client computer. In Deployment Solution the Deployment Automation folder -Install policy installs the Automation folder on the client computer and the Deployment Automation folder-Uninstall policy uninstalls the automation folder from the client computers. When you enable the policy, a green On symbol shows on the top right corner of the policy page.

Note:

For Linux and Mac client computers, to install the automation folder, if the package server is configured on HTTPS, and the SSL certificate is not installed on the client computers then you must manually download and install the SSL certificate on the client computers

See About the automation environment.

The advantages of using Automation Folder over PXE services of NBS are as follows:

  • Lets you boot client computers faster than booting using PXE service of the NBS setup.

  • The automation folder function is not affected or restricted by firewalls.

  • The automation folder can boot the client computers that have static IP address.

The default location and size of the automation folder that is created on the client computer are as follows:

Table: Default location and size of automation folder

Operating system

Architecture

Default folder location

Approximate folder size

Windows

x86

C:\Boot

214 MB

Windows

x64

C:\Boot

214 MB

Linux

  

/boot/altiris

32 MB

Mac

-

/Volumes/DSAutomation

In case a partition is already present with the name DSAutomation then a new folder is created with DSAutomationA name.

15 GB

For Mac, the Deployment Automation folder for Mac - Install policy creates a DSAutomation volume on the disk volume where Symantec Management Agent (SMA) is installed. The automation volume uses only the available space on the volume that is installed with SMA and does not use any free space available on other volumes. Ensure that there is sufficient space on the volume on which you have installed the SMA. If a volume is already present with the name, DSAutomation then a new volume of name DSAutomationA is created.

You can also uninstall the automation volume with the uninstall policy for Mac automation folder. After you enable the Deployment Automation folder for Mac - Uninstall policy you must manually delete the DSAutomation partition that is present in the unmounted and unallocated state. If you do not want to run the uninstall policy to uninstall the automation folder from the client computer, then you must manually erase the disk and the volume from the client computer. If, you manually erase the disk and the volume of the client computer, then ensure that you clean the Non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) of the client computer.

To clean the NVRAM of a client computer, refer to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1533 article.

See Configuring the preboot environment.

To install an automation folder

  1. In the Symantec Management Console, on the Settings menu, click Agent/Plug-ins > All Agents/Plug-ins.

  2. In the left pane, expand the Agents/Plug-ins > Deployment and Migration folders.

  3. Expand the Windows, Linux, or Mac folder and select from the following Deployment Automation folder- Install policies:

    • Deployment Automation Folder for Linux - Install

    • Deployment Automation Folder for Mac-Install

    • Deployment Automation Folder for Windows (x64)-Install

      Note:

      You can enable the Deployment Automation Folder for Windows(x64)-Install policy when you install and import the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8 and the PEInstall package is created on Notification Server. After the PEInstall package is created on Notification Server, the PEInstall is available and enabled on the Preboot Configuration dialog box.

    • Deployment Automation Folder for Windows (x86)-Install

      Note:

      You can enable the Deployment Automation Folder for Windows(x86)-Install policy when you install and import the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8 and the PEInstall package is created on Notification Server. After the PEInstall package is created on Notification Server, the PEInstall is available and enabled on the Preboot Configuration dialog box.

  4. On the right-side pane, you can view the details of the selected policy. Symantec recommends that you do not modify the default settings of the policy. If you want to modify the settings, first clone the policy and then modify the cloned policy.

    The details of the fields are as follows:

    Program Name

    Displays the name of the program that is applicable.

    Enable Verbose Reporting of Status Events

    This option sends the package status events to Notification Server. The Notification Server Event Capture settings in the Global Symantec Management Agent Settings policy take precedence to the Enable Verbose Reporting setting here. Events are sent only if they are enabled in the Global Symantec Management Agent Settings policy.

    Applied to

    Displays the list of computers to which the policy applies. By default, Deployment Solution lists the targets in the textbox, as per the predefined filter that is set for the SMP. A target is a group of computers that are created as per the set filter.

    Package Multicast

    This option disables the package download through multicast. Multicast slows down the rollout of a package, so you can turn it off for an urgent patch. Additionally, in some environments multicast does not work. For example, multicast has to be disabled for routers and switches. The Package Multicast settings in the Global Symantec Management Agent Settings policy take precedence to the settings here.

    Schedule

    The policy schedule is displayed. By default, the options that are configured in the Extra Schedule Options field are applicable. Symantec recommends maintaining these settings. By default, the Run once ASAP and the User can run options are selected.

    Extra Schedule Options

    The Extra Schedule Options that are selected by default are as follows:

    • Run once ASAP

    • User can run

  5. Click Save changes to save the configuration settings of the policy.

To uninstall an automation folder

  1. In the Symantec Management Console, on the Settings menu, click Agent/Plug-ins > All Agents/Plug-ins.

  2. In the left pane, expand the Agents/Plug-ins > Deployment and Migration folders.

  3. Expand the Windows, Linux, or Mac folder and select from the following Deployment Automation folder- Uninstall policies:

    • Deployment Automation Folder for Linux - Install

    • Deployment Automation Folder for Mac-Uninstall

    • Deployment Automation Folder for Windows (x64)-Uninstall

    • Deployment Automation Folder for Windows (x86)-Uninstall

  4. On the right-side pane, you can view the details of the selected policy. Symantec recommends that you do not modify the default settings of the policy. If you want to modify the settings, first clone the policy and then modify the cloned policy.

    The details of the fields are as follows:

    Program Name

    Displays the name of the program that is applicable.

    Enable Verbose Reporting of Status Events

    This option sends the package status events to Notification Server. The Notification Server Event Capture settings in the Global Symantec Management Agent Settings policy take precedence to the Enable Verbose Reporting setting here. Events are sent only if they are enabled in the Global Symantec Management Agent Settings policy.

    Applied to

    Displays the list of computers to which the policy applies. By default, Deployment Solution lists the targets in the textbox, as per the predefined filter that is set for the SMP. A target is a group of computers that are created as per the set filter.

    Package Multicast

    This option disables the package download through multicast. Multicast slows down the rollout of a package, so you can turn it off for an urgent patch. Additionally, in some environments multicast does not work. For example, multicast has to be disabled for routers and switches. The Package Multicast settings in the Global Symantec Management Agent Settings policy take precedence to the settings here.

    Schedule

    The policy schedule is displayed. By default, the options that are configured in the Extra Schedule Options field are applicable. Symantec recommends maintaining these settings. By default, the Run once ASAP and the User can run options are selected.

    Extra Schedule Options

    The Extra Schedule Options that are selected by default are as follows:

    • Run once ASAP

    • User can run

  5. Click Save changes to save the configuration settings of the policy.

See Installing and uninstalling Deployment Plug-in on client computers

Imported Document ID: HOWTO99962
Legacy ID: v45250051_v99830789

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