Update the Agent

Our first suggested step when troubleshooting any Patch Management issues experienced from Agent 8.14.1 onwards is to upgrade to the latest version of the Windows Monitoring Agent that incorporates a Patch Management update.

This section briefly covers manual Agent deployment to update or install the Agent on a computer, in addition to initiating an update directly from the Dashboard. Additional installation and update options, are covered in the Windows Monitoring Agent Installation.

Manual Installation: download the Agent from the Dashboard and run the installation wizard on each device

Site Installation Packages: deploy the Agent via Group Policy or create a one-click Remote Worker installer then send the package to the user to self-deploy

Monitoring Agent Push: push a Monitoring Agent to an unmonitored device when it is discovered as part of a Network Discovery scan

Windows Agent Version

Feature

8.5

Release of Patch Management

8.14.1

Included support for all Microsoft Update types (not just security) where the Operating System or Microsoft product is supported by Patch Management.

These include update roll-ups, Service Packs, critical updates, tools and drivers.

9.13

Support for additional third party vendors

10.2.0

Support for Patch uninstallation (where patch is uninstallable)

10.3.4

Automatically adds a Windows Service Check to monitor the Patch Management GFI LanGuard Attendant Service when enabling this feature on a device

A fail state is triggered in the Patch Status Check where the scan results are not uploaded to the Dashboard when this information is expected.

10.5.8

Set a schedule for Patch Management Patch Scan

For supported Windows versions and the associated Monitoring Agent (where applicable), please refer to Supported Operating Systems: Windows

Update or Install Agent on Computer

  1. Download the Windows Agent from either the Agent or File menu:
    1. From the Agent menu
    2. Download Agent
    3. Select the version of the Windows Agent to download

      4. Or

    1. From the File menu
    2. Add Device
    3. Download Agent
    4. Select the version of the Windows Agent to download
    5. Download
    6. Unpack the compressed file
    7. Run the executable

New Installation

  1. Select the language
  2. Agree to the EULA (where acceptable)
  3. Configure the proxy settings (if required)
  4. At Login, enter your Dashboard username and password in
  5. For Workstation Operating System choose Agent mode:

      6. Server (full range of Checks)

      Workstation (a subset of device focused Checks)

  6. Populate the Agent information and configure Checks
    1. Enter the new device details,
    2. Device Name (Non-configurable for workstations)
    3. Client/Department
    4. Site
    5. Select the Monitoring Template to apply.
    6. Configure or tweak the 24x7 and Daily Safety Checks
  7. Test all checks to quickly identify any failing Checks before they are uploaded to the Dashboard.
  8. Start monitoring now and choose the account the Agent service runs under.

Updates

  1. Select the language
  2. Agree to the EULA (where acceptable)
  3. The program updates the existing files whilst retaining the current settings

agent_downlloads_win_osx

Update Agent from the Dashboard

By default devices inherit the update settings from the Site, which will in turn inherit the update settings from the Client, which will in turn inherit update settings for all devices of that type.

  1. Log into the Dashboard
  2. Navigate to the Agent menu
  3. Agent Auto-update Settings
  4. This opens the Agent Auto Update dialog
  5. Select the node level to apply the update to in the left menu (all Servers or Workstations, specific Clients or Sites)
  6. Choose the required action in the dialogs' north pane for All Servers or All Workstations at the selection or choose an action for Individual Servers or Individual Workstations

    7. Note: for easy identification, an Operating System icon is displayed against each workstation. Hover over this icon for Operating System details.

    No change

    No updates are selected

    Cancel all pending updates

    Any updates currently in the Pending Updates state are canceled.

    Where updates are pending for all devices at the Client and Site levels an orange icon agent_update_pendingis displayed against the relevant nodes in the left menu

    Where updates are pending at the device level the Agent version is displayed in the Pending updates column in the north pane of the Agent Auto Update dialog (available from the Client or Site node).

    Agent (version)

    Updates the selection to the specified Agent version
  7. Save to apply and exit out of the dialog

Visual Indicators

To help identify devices that may be running an older version of the Agent the expandable left-hand tree displays a visual indication of the current Agent version status for the Client and Site nodes.

agent_update_ok Latest version of the Agent installed on all devices

agent_update_mixed Devices contain a mixture of old and new Agents

agent_to_update Older versions of the Agents are installed on all devices

agent_auto_update_new