We installed the demo of Avast 4 Small Business Server on our Windows 2003 Small Business Server to test the program. Everything worked well and we purchased a 20 user license for our Windows XP network about a month ago. Up until last week everything was working fine until the program stopped updating with an expired license error (see log below). We are using 4.6.460 0529-0 on the Server and 4.6.365 for our network clients. The license shows we are valid from June 7, 2005 to August 7, 2006 for 20 clients each for Avast Network Client, Avast SBS Edition Standard, and Avast Professional edition.
I uninstalled the SMTP and the Exchange options in Add/Remove Programs of Avast setup and rebooted. That did not fix anything so I uninstalled, rebooted, installed the latest version from the Website, then rebooted. None of this worked. I also installed the license file when I reinstalled the program.
At this point, I do not know what to do.
Thanks for your help!
-Steven
08:28:21 min/gen Started: 09.07.2005, 08:28:21
08:28:21 min/gen Running mirror_w32-0 (0)
08:28:21 nrm/sys Operating system: Windows2003 ver 5.2, build 3790, sp 1.0 [Service Pack 1] SERVER
08:28:21 vrb/sys Computer WinName: DELLSERVER
08:28:21 min/sys Windows Net User: MLSJI\stevendaulton
08:28:21 vrb/gen Operation set to INST_OP_MIRROR_MIRROR
08:28:21 min/gen scr: mirror begin…
08:28:21 nrm/int SYNCER: Type: 1
08:28:21 nrm/int SYNCER: Auth: 2
08:28:21 min/gen GUID: 96ff7952-8bb5-46b4-8ab9-1d9a5b4f8da0
08:28:21 nrm/gen scr: Mirroring…
08:28:21 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 20 (maintenance:0)
08:28:21 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download6 AVAST server’ from ‘main’
08:28:21 nrm/gen scr: Using server: http://download6.avast.com/iavs4x
08:28:21 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 20 (maintenance:0)
08:28:21 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download11 AVAST server’ from ‘main’
08:28:21 nrm/gen scr: Using server: http://download11.avast.com/iavs4x
08:28:23 nrm/gen scr: Setting product ‘av_mgm’ files (91 of 878 set)
08:28:23 nrm/gen scr: Resetting existing files (reset 91 files, leaving 0 files).
08:28:24 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 20 (maintenance:0)
08:28:24 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download2 AVAST server’ from ‘main’
08:28:24 nrm/gen scr: Using server: http://download2.avast.com/iavs4x
08:28:24 nrm/gen scr: mirroring ‘av_mgm’ - nothing to do.
08:28:24 nrm/gen scr: Setting product ‘av_net’ files (594 of 878 set)
08:28:25 nrm/gen scr: Resetting existing files (reset 594 files, leaving 0 files).
08:28:25 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 20 (maintenance:0)
08:28:25 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download11 AVAST server’ from ‘main’
08:28:25 nrm/gen scr: Using server: http://download11.avast.com/iavs4x
08:28:25 nrm/gen scr: mirroring ‘av_net’ - nothing to do.
08:28:25 nrm/gen scr: Setting product ‘av_srv’ files (165 of 878 set)
08:28:26 nrm/gen scr: Resetting existing files (reset 165 files, leaving 0 files).
08:28:26 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 20 (maintenance:0)
08:28:26 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download17 AVAST server’ from ‘main’
08:28:26 nrm/gen scr: Using server: http://download17.avast.com/iavs4x
08:28:26 nrm/gen scr: mirroring ‘av_srv’ - nothing to do.
08:28:26 vrb/gen scr: Mirroring done.
08:28:26 nrm/gen scr: Sumarizing…
08:28:28 nrm/gen scr: Setting product ‘av_mgm’ files (91 of 878 set)
08:28:28 nrm/gen scr: Setting product ‘av_net’ files (667 of 878 set)
08:28:28 nrm/gen scr: Setting product ‘av_srv’ files (696 of 878 set)
08:28:28 min/gen Return code: 0x20000001 [Nothing done]
08:28:28 min/gen Stopped: 09.07.2005, 08:28:28
08:58:21 min/gen Started: 09.07.2005, 08:58:21
08:58:21 min/gen Running mirror_w32-0 (0)
08:58:21 nrm/sys Operating system: Windows2003 ver 5.2, build 3790, sp 1.0 [Service Pack 1] SERVER
08:58:21 vrb/sys Computer WinName: DELLSERVER
08:58:21 min/sys Windows Net User: MLSJI\stevendaulton
08:58:21 vrb/gen Operation set to INST_OP_MIRROR_MIRROR
08:58:21 min/gen scr: mirror begin…
08:58:21 nrm/int SYNCER: Type: 1
08:58:21 nrm/int SYNCER: Auth: 2
08:58:21 nrm/gen scr: Expired license for AV_SRV
08:58:21 nrm/gen scr: Expired update license for AV_SRV
08:58:21 nrm/gen scr: Expired license for AV_NETC
08:58:21 nrm/gen scr: Expired update license for AV_NETC
08:58:21 min/gen Return code: 0x0000A4A6 [Unknown error]
08:58:21 min/gen Stopped: 09.07.2005, 08:58:21
Yes I am using ADNM. I inserted the license file when it asked for it while installing the Avast 4 SBS Server software (I left the ADNM program installed and never changed it). It registered the software for 20 users just like it is supposed to. It was never activated as Demo software when I reinstalled, I just browsed for the license when it requested it.
OK, so you’re not using the managed version of avast on the Server?
Because the log file you sent indicates that it was trying to create a MIRROR… pretty strange…
Ok, I see where you are going here. Yes, I am not running the managed version of Avast on the server. I did not know that was an option since it does not show up as a computer to deploy the client to within the adnm console. Very confusing. However, I did discover the AMS Maintenance program where I am supposed to insert the license file for the ADNM console to use.
As I wrote originally, I inserted the license file into the SBS server installation. I did not know I could use the managed version on the server. So I have a question, how do I install the managed version of avast on the server? Do I need to uninstall what I have installed now? Or do I overwrite it?
Just create (in the console) an installation package for the “NetServer” product, and push it (using a deployment task) to the server.
If the computer name is not yet in the Computer Catalog (ie. the discovery task didn’t discover it, for any reason) - simply insert the machine to the Catalog manually (use the Create Computer… menu item).
Ok. my original problem with being licensed seems to be fixed now I think. Using AMS Maintenance, I installed the 20 user license which shows that I am licensed for the following:
avast! Network Client
avast! SBS Edition - Standard
avast! Professional Edition
We have 1 Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 that currently is running avast! SBS Edition - Standard (we bought the suite with a 20 user license), we also have 19 Windows XP workstations that are running the Managed Network Client. Obviously, I want the server running the Managed Network Server so I followed your above instructions: I created a network installation package for the “NetServer” product (not the netclient or mirror) and then I tried to push it out to the server. It never attempted to install (according to the log file) and just said waiting. I then tried to simply create an MSI file (instead of pushing it out to the server) but it returned a status error of Status: failed (Invalid engine license).
The only things that I can think of that it could be is that my license does not cover the NetServer managed edition. Remember I am running Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 and I have a license for avast! SBS Edition - Standard. The license gives me 20 NetClients but no NetServers…just the SBS edition license.
So is it possible to install the Managed NetServer software on SBS 2003? If so, how?
Well, my original problem of the mirror not updating seems to be fixed. However, none of my clients have updated their VPS definitions and they are also set to expire on August 10, 2005. Am I supposed to create a new installation file and deploy it in order for all the clients to update to the current license file? Why aren’t they just updating whenever I use ADNM and update the VPS and program file?
Well, my mirror is indeed updating (see mirror status below), but none of the netclients are updating. They are all stuck back on July 8 with 0527-2 VPS files.
I have tried three or four times to update the VPS file through ADNM. It shows waiting, then processing, then done, but nothing is updated.
Does this have anything to do with the license file expiring after the 60 day ADNM trial?
It seems that the Managed Net Clients are using the old demo file as their client. For some reason, they are not picking up the new license from the ADNM server. Additionally, even if I create a new netclient deploy package and send it out to my computers, they still don’t see the new license. So they are not updating their VPS files because they are reading it as expired.
When I first installed the demo, I installed using the SMTP and Exchange options and apparently deployed that out to the netclients because the license information on those computers show SMTP and Exchange as available. However, the new license is just a standard license without SMTP and Exchange. Obviously, the clients are not picking up the new license at all.
So, I am in the process of uninstalling ADNM and my avast SBS server software and rebooting. When it is back up, I will install ADNM ONLY (and install the license during setup), then deploy the netserver software to the server (I hope), then deploy a netclient file to my test computer. Hopefully that will work and if I am extremely lucky, it will autoupdate the new license to all the other computers. We will see.
You don’t have to do that! (don’t uninstall the management server - there’s no point of doing that)
About the license file on the clients - this is by design. There’s no need to worry though.
The behavior is explained in my post in this forum thread http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=5011.0
Well, I have no idea what you are talking about. I guess I am confused. My client computers are in communication with the server with the NEW NON EXPIRED license. They just simply aren’t updating to use the new license. So that is no help at all.
Also, I am still unable to either deploy my netserver file or make an MSI file to deploy to my server. I just get a Status: failed (Invalid engine license) upon trying to make a MSI file.
So i need some answers. Does anyone know what I can try?
I did uninstall ADNM and reinstalled, mirrored, and everything. On setup, I installed the license file when it asked for it. This seemed to fix my update VPS problem for my netclients, but one computer still shows the old license and VPS files.
This is very frustrating and I really wish someone would give me an idea of where to start to try to fix things.
My netclients are now showing July 17 as the license date of install and that it expires in 60 days at September 17. The real license is from June 7, 2006 to August 7, 2006.
Why aren’t my netclients accessing my license file on the server that was installed into ADNM??? What is going on here?
All reinstalling ADNM did was reset the 60 day demo mode as far as I can tell.
Will my clients update after 60 days or not?
Oh, and why can’t I install the managed netserver to my Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 server? I just get a Status: failed (Invalid engine license) when trying to make an MSI file to manually install it. Auto deploying just stops at Waiting.
As I said in that thread, it’s normal that the license file on the managed clients is physically still the DEMO file that was used while installation. This is because if the client is managed (i.e actively communicating with the management server), it has the license validity “leased” from the server (for the next 21 days).
I still am not sure that your proposition - that is, that the auto-update doesn’t work BECAUSE OF the license, is true. To analyse why it’s not updating, I’d need to see the tail (let’s say last 100 lines) of the file \setup\setup.log from one of the problematic machines.
Why you can’t install the managed NetServer is another question. This might actually be a bug in ADNM - that is, it doesn’t recognize the SBS license (only Server Edition license).
As a work around, I think it would work to use the setup_av_net.exe file that can be downloaded from http://www.avast.com/eng/download_avast_distr.html#3 (link at the bottom). Run it with the /server command-line switch to specify server-mode install.
1)I think I understand the idea behind the managed clients license file. Thank you for making it a little clearer for me.
2)My assertion that the auto-update not working BECAUSE of the license was simply an educated guess. The fact is that I have no idea how Avast works so I was just guessing. As a note, uninstalling ADNM and reinstalling it and inserting the license during setup, seemed to make everything work. My only client that did not automatically update, did in fact update when I ran the VPS update task again. So it looks like all of that works.
3)My final problem was that I could not install the managed netServer program. I did as suggested and ran the command line /server switch and it worked perfectly (although it would not work earlier!). It very well could be a bug in Avast not seeing the Small Business Server as a valid license. Hope someone fixes that!
So bottom line, all of my problems seem to be solved now. Hopefully this thread will be helpful to someone else as well.