How to update Agents using Client Bundles (4328664)

For more information on this topic, please see the KACE-SMA Course 2 Installing the KACE SMA Agent-Web-based Training.

Agent Updates and Client Bundles

• Overview
• Obtaining the Bundle
• When To Apply the client bundle
• Applying the Client Bundle
• Verify the Bundle Installation
• Agent Behavior

Overview

The client bundle is designed to update the KACE Agent deployment files that are stored on the KACE appliance via a single file. This replaces previous solutions that required an upload of separate files for each platform.

The currently uploaded bundle affects two areas of the KACE SMA appliance:

1. Settings | Provisioning | Agent Update
2. Settings | Provisioning | Provision Agents

When you apply a client bundle bin file to your server, the older versions of the clients will be removed and replaced with the files contained in this bin file.

NOTE: The KACE Agent Update settings will be DISABLED after applying file. You will need to view them and confirm the labels and settings and ENABLE it again if you want the agents to deploy to your network.

All the Provisioned Configurations will also be DISABLED and will need to be re-enabled to deploy the new agent versions to your un-provisioned clients.
 

Obtaining the Bundle

The latest client bundle can be downloaded from KACE SMA downloads. Older versions can be obtained by clicking on the version dropdown.

When to apply the client bundle?

You must upgrade the server to a supported version before updating the client bundle. The matching server version is always listed in the release notes for the bundle.

After the server and clients have been updated, you can run a mixed environment of agents with the newest server version. However, you should read the client bundle release notes to be sure and plan to upgrade your agents as soon as possible. Our recommendations will always be to use the same version or at least the same major version of the agent with your KACE environment.

Applying the Client Bundle

(Replace "SMA" with the IP or hostname of your SMA)
 

Manual Download

1.    Download the k1000_agents_x.x.xxxxx.kbin file and save it locally.

2.    Open a browser session to http://SMA/adminui/

3.    Click Settings | Provisioning | Update Agent Settings (in 14.0 and above - 

Go to Settings / Provisioning,Under Agent Updates from KACE click on Manually upload Agent update files)

4.    Click on the "Choose File" (in 14.0 and above - Browse) button under the Manually Upload Agent Bundle section, and browse to the downloaded file.

5.    Select “Upload”

6.    Wait until the bundle finishes uploading and applying.

7.    At the top of the page, verify the labels are what you want (or select All Devices), and then click the Enabled checkbox to allow already provisioned clients to be upgraded to the new version of the agent.

8.    Click “Save”

Note: It's not currently possible to apply the Agent Bundle from the Appliance Updates screen. This page is only intended for server upgrades.

Automatic Download
 

1.    Open a browser session to http://SMA/adminui/

2.    Click Settings | Appliance Updates

3.    Click “Check for Update” button next to the Agent version.

4.    You should be taken to the SMA Server logs which will display is a new version is downloaded.

5.    Go to Settings | Provisioning | Update Agent Settings

6.    Verify the agent version listed in the Available Agent Bundle Section.

7.    Click “Apply” where it says "Available Agent Bundle"
Wait until the bundle finishes applying.

8.    At the top of the page, verify the labels are what you want (or select All Devices), and then click the Enabled check box to allow already provisioned clients to be upgraded to the new version of the agent.

9.    Click “Save”
 

Verify the Bundle Installation

Verify that the client bundle was updated successfully by checking that the information in these locations match the expected version:

• The version on Settings | Provisioning | Update Agents, on the Advertised Updates section
• Samba file share \\SMA\client\agent_provision\windows_platform

This is how the agent update is set to update all devices on the environment:
 

Agent Behavior

After you enable the client bundles as instructed above, the agents will update automatically when they check in.

First, they will perform an inventory and then they will upgrade, if necessary. After the upgrade, they may not inventory again for several hours. This means that the agent version that is reported in inventory will be inaccurate for a period of time. You must wait for the agent to check in again to report the new information (or force a second inventory).