GSS 3 3 Install Upgrade Guide

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Symantec™ Ghost Solution

Suite 3.3 Installation and


Upgrade guide
Symantec™ Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 Installation and
Upgrade guide
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Contents

Symantec Support .............................................................................................. 4


Chapter 1 Introducing Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 ............................... 7
About Ghost Solution Suite ............................................................. 7
Components of Ghost Solution Suite .................................................. 7
Things to know .............................................................................. 8

Chapter 2 Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server ............................ 10


Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server ............................................... 12
Registering Ghost Solution Suite ............................................... 13
Platform Support for Ghost Solution Suite 3.x ..................................... 13
System requirements for installing Ghost Solution Suite ....................... 14
Installing the Ghost Standard tools from the installer ............................ 19
Browsing to the Ghost Recovery kit .................................................. 21
Ghost Solution Suite Server components .......................................... 22
Ghost Solution Suite Console ......................................................... 22
Ghost Solution Suite Server ............................................................ 23
Ghost Solution Suite Database ........................................................ 24
Support for multiple database instances ............................................ 25
Deployment Share or eXpress Share ............................................... 25
PXE server ................................................................................. 26
Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server ..................................... 27
Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server .................................... 29
Thin client install .......................................................................... 32
Component install ......................................................................... 34
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Agents .............................................. 37
Client connectivity and network adapters ........................................... 38
Installing the Ghost Solution Suite agent ........................................... 39
Remote agent installer ................................................................... 39
Enter administrator account information ............................................ 39
Specify install directory .................................................................. 40
Automatically add to a group ........................................................... 40
Select computers on the network ..................................................... 40
Change settings ........................................................................... 41
Get server security key .................................................................. 41
Contents 6

Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent for Windows ............................... 41


Scripted installation of Ghost Solution Suite agent ............................... 41
Using remote agent installer ........................................................... 45
Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Linux .................................... 45
Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Mac computers ....................... 47
Installing the automation agent ........................................................ 48
Installation help ............................................................................ 48
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server ............................................... 49
Ghost Solution Suite Server install ................................................... 49
Ghost Solution Suite Database install ............................................... 50
PXE server install ......................................................................... 51
Client connection to server ............................................................. 51
Installing components .................................................................... 52
Ghost Solution Suite Database authentication .................................... 52
Add components .......................................................................... 52

Chapter 3 Upgrading to Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 ........................... 53


Supported upgrade paths for Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 ......................... 53

Appendix A Troubleshooting tips .......................................................... 58


Troubleshooting tips ...................................................................... 58
Chapter 1
Introducing Ghost Solution
Suite 3.3
This chapter includes the following topics:

■ About Ghost Solution Suite

■ Components of Ghost Solution Suite

■ Things to know

About Ghost Solution Suite


Symantec Ghost Solution Suite is a deployment, system management, and computer imaging
software solution. With Ghost Solution Suite you can migrate software and migrate client
systems to the latest operating system. Symantec's Ghost Solution Suite introduces the
Deployment Solution 6.9 console and core capabilities to Symantec Ghost Solution Suite.
See “Components of Ghost Solution Suite” on page 7.

Components of Ghost Solution Suite


You can install all the Ghost Solution Suite components on the same computer or distribute
them across multiple computers, depending on the environment. Following are the components
of Ghost Solution Suite:
■ Ghost Solution Suite Console
■ Ghost Solution Suite Server
■ Ghost Solution Suite database
■ Ghost Solution Suite share
Introducing Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 8
Things to know

■ PXE server
■ Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent
■ Sysprep
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 12.

Things to know
The following table lists the important things that you must know when you upgrade to Ghost
Solution Suite from previous versions of Ghost Solution Suite:

Table 1-1 Ghost Solution Suite

Item Particulars

Default logon credentials after Scripted OS Install After running the Scripted OS Install task on a
task computer, the default logon credentials are set as
follows:

User name: Symantec

Password: Symantec

Earlier the default logon credentials were set to as


follows:

User name: Altiris

Password: Altiris

Cannot connect to the DAgent. After booting into the Windows preboot environment,
an error stating unable to connect to DAgent is
displayed.

Workaround:

Edit the aclient.inp and add the following parameter


value in the file:

Transportuse=1

Scripted OS Install task for Windows XP For the detailed steps on running the Scripted OS
Install task, refer to the following connect article:

http://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/
Introducing Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 9
Things to know

Table 1-1 Ghost Solution Suite (continued)

Item Particulars

Change of IP address of Ghost Solution Suite Change in IP address of Ghost Solution Suite
Server affects PXE functionality and database Server affects PXE functionality and database
services. services.

For more information on how to change a Ghost


Solution Suite server’s IP address, refer to the
following article:

HOWTO80637

Prerequisites for DAgent installation The prerequisites for installing DAgent are as
follows:

■ Firewall and antivirus must be turned off.


If you must have them ON, ensure that they are
configured with the required port as open to
install the DSAgent.
■ UAC must be turned off on the computers that
are installed with Windows Vista and above
versions.
You can turn on the UAC after installing the
DAgent.

Prerequisite for installation of the following: UAC and the firewall must be turned off.

■ Ghost Solution Suite Server You can turn on the UAC and the firewall after
■ iPXE installation is complete.
■ Web Console To turn off the User Account Control: Run all
administrators in Admin Approval Mode policy,
follow the following steps:

■ In the command prompt, run secpol.msc


■ Navigate to the Local Policies.
■ Select the Security Options.
■ Open the User Account Control: Run all
administrators in Admin Approval Mode
policy and select the Disable option.
Chapter 2
Installing Ghost Solution
Suite Server
This chapter includes the following topics:

■ Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server

■ Platform Support for Ghost Solution Suite 3.x

■ System requirements for installing Ghost Solution Suite

■ Installing the Ghost Standard tools from the installer

■ Browsing to the Ghost Recovery kit

■ Ghost Solution Suite Server components

■ Ghost Solution Suite Console

■ Ghost Solution Suite Server

■ Ghost Solution Suite Database

■ Support for multiple database instances

■ Deployment Share or eXpress Share

■ PXE server

■ Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server

■ Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server

■ Thin client install

■ Component install
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 11

■ Installing Ghost Solution Suite Agents

■ Client connectivity and network adapters

■ Installing the Ghost Solution Suite agent

■ Remote agent installer

■ Enter administrator account information

■ Specify install directory

■ Automatically add to a group

■ Select computers on the network

■ Change settings

■ Get server security key

■ Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent for Windows

■ Scripted installation of Ghost Solution Suite agent

■ Using remote agent installer

■ Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Linux

■ Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Mac computers

■ Installing the automation agent

■ Installation help

■ Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server

■ Ghost Solution Suite Server install

■ Ghost Solution Suite Database install

■ PXE server install

■ Client connection to server

■ Installing components

■ Ghost Solution Suite Database authentication

■ Add components
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 12
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server

Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server


Ghost Solution Suite Server is a flexible, scalable computer deployment and management
system that can be installed and configured on a single computer, or installed across several
computers to distribute processing for large enterprise environments. You can run a Simple
install to position all Ghost Solution Suite Server Components on a single computer (most
frequently used), or plan and perform a Custom install to distribute installation of components
across separate computers in the site.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
After installing Ghost Solution Suite Server components, you can remotely install Ghost Solution
Suite Agents on all types of computer resources across your organization: laptops, servers,
and so on. Windows computers and Linux computers can be managed as a unified environment,
with each client communicating through its own Ghost Solution Suite agent to update inventory
data and react to Ghost Solution Suite Server commands and deployment tasks.

Pre-requisites check
The pre-requisite checks let you view the compliance of the computer for installing Ghost
Solution Suite. Following are the pre-requisites that are checked:
■ Check
Checks for installation prerequisites and displays the GSS IRC (Ghost Solution Suite Install
Readiness Check) summary.

Server Check Summary GSS is supported on Server OS only.

GSS requires the logged on user to be part of


local administrator group.

GSS requires the UAC to be disabled

DB CHECK SUMMARY Checks if database is present

GSS Web Console and iPXE Check Summary The Web Console logged on user should have
access to the GSS Database.

Ensure IIS has "ASP.NET Impersonation" and


"Windows Authentication" installed.

Ensure IIS has all "ASP.NET" allowed under


"ISAPI and CGI Restrictions".

PORT CHECK SUMMARY Following ports are checked:


■ 402,405,406,407,505,3829,4949,4950
■ 37,49,53,67,68,69,

■ Summary
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 13
Platform Support for Ghost Solution Suite 3.x

Displays the summary of previous installation of Ghost Solution Suite on the computer.
Select one of the following methods for installing a Ghost Solution Suite Server system:
■ Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server
Install all components on local computer. See Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server
■ Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server
Installs components on remote or local computers and lets you customize options. See
Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server
■ Thin client install
Installs GSS Thin client view. See Thin client install
■ Component install
Installs additional Ghost Solution components. See Component install
■ Ghost Standard Tools
Launches the Symantec Ghost Standard Tools installer that lets you install the
Symantec Ghost Standard Tools.
See “Installing the Ghost Standard tools from the installer” on page 19.
To install Ghost Solution Suite Agents on the client computer, refer to the following section:
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Agents” on page 37.

Registering Ghost Solution Suite


You can view the status of the licenses of Ghost Solution Suite and add the license file from
the Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Registration menu which is present under the Help >
Register.

Table 2-1 Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Registration

Field Description

License Summary Displays the number of Server Nodes and Customer Nodes

License Information Displays Ghost Solution Suite and the current installed
version.

Displays the total count of the licenses.

License File Browse to the location of the SLF license file.

Platform Support for Ghost Solution Suite 3.x


To view the list of supported platforms, refer to the following article:
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 14
System requirements for installing Ghost Solution Suite

Platform Support Matrix

System requirements for installing Ghost Solution


Suite
The following list includes the minimum system requirements for installing Ghost Solution
Suite:
System requirements for installing Ghost Solution Suite:
■ Ghost Solution Suite (GSS) Agent
GSS Agents require network connectivity and around 9 MB disk space. Other system
requirements are the same as the host operating system.
■ Ghost Solution Suite Server
Symantec recommends running the GSS Server components on a modern, dedicated
server with Pentium 4 processor and 2GB of RAM.
■ Computers hosting additional PXE servers and file shares should meet the requirements
of the operating system hosting these components.
■ Automation Requirements
Microsoft recommends 512 MB of memory for computers booting WinPE. At a minimum,
you should have 384 MB to avoid boot errors.
■ If the SQL Server 2014 Express database is installed from within the Ghost Solution Suite
installer, then .NET framework 3.5 must be installed.
For more information on system requirements for installing SQL Server 2014 Express, see
the following URL:
microsoft.com

Note: If you face an error while installing SQL Server Express, Symantec recommends
checking if all the Windows updates are installed.

■ For WinPE 5.1, .NET 4.5 Framework should be installed before importing the Windows
ADK 8.1.
For more information, please refer to the following article:
HOWTO124262
■ The Ghost Solution Suite user should be part of the local administrator group on all the
computers on which you want to install Ghost Solution Suite.
■ Firewall must be disabled on all the computers on which you want to install Ghost Solution
Suite.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 15
System requirements for installing Ghost Solution Suite

■ User Account Control (UAC) must be disabled on all the computers on which you want to
install Ghost Solution Suite.
■ Local security policy must be disabled on all the computers on which you want to install
Ghost Solution Suite.
To turn off User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode
policy, follow the following steps:
■ In the command prompt, run secpol.msc
■ Navigate to the Local Policies.
■ Select the Security Options.
■ Open the User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode
policy and select the Disable option.

■ The Remote Registry service should be running on the remote computers where you plan
to install Ghost Solution Suite Component.

Prerequisites for installing the Web Console.


Following are the prerequisites for installing Ghost Solution Suite Web Console:
■ Ghost Solution Suite Server version 3.3 must be installed on the computer on which you
want to install the Web Console.
■ Supported operating systems:
■ Windows Server 2008 R2
■ Windows Server 2012
■ Windows Server 2012 R2
■ Windows Server 2016

■ The install user should be a local administrator on the Ghost Solution Suite Server.
■ IIS Server version 7.5 or higher must be installed with the following components and should
be in the enabled state:
■ ASP.NET Impersonation
■ Windows Authentication
■ SAPI and CGI Restriction installed and enabled for ASP.NET
To install IIS and enable components, refer to the following section:
See the section called “Installing IIS Server and configuring the components” on page 16.
■ .NET framework 4.5.1 must be installed.
■ Currently, it is recommended to use Ghost Solution Suite Web Console with the latest
version of the following browsers:
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 16
System requirements for installing Ghost Solution Suite

■ Google Chrome browser


■ Microsoft Internet Explorer
■ Safari
■ Mozilla Firefox

Installing IIS Server and configuring the components


To install the Ghost Solution Suite Web Console, you must install IIS Server 7.5 or above on
the Ghost Solution Suite Server.
To install IIS Server, refer to the following URL:
https://docs.microsoft.com/

Note: Ensure that ASP.NET Impersonation, Windows Authentication, and ISAPI and CGI
Restriction are installed and enabled for ASP.NET while you install the IIS server.

The Ghost Solution Suite Web Console installer enables the IIS components while installing
the Web Console. However you can also manually enable the IIS components. Following
procedure lists the steps that you must follow to enable the listed IIS components manually:
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 17
System requirements for installing Ghost Solution Suite

To enable IIS components for Ghost Solution Suite Web Console


1 In the IIS Server, navigate to Default Web Site > Authentication and enable the ASP.Net
Impersonation and Windows Authentication.

2 At the Ghost Solution Suite Server level, navigate and select ISAPI and CGI Restrictions.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 18
System requirements for installing Ghost Solution Suite

3 Ensure that the latest version of ASP.net is set to Allowed.

Ports and Protocols used in Ghost Solution Suite


The following table lists the ports that are used in Ghost Solution Suite:

Table 2-2 Ports used in Ghost Solution Suite

Component Service Port(s) Protocol Where is this Is this port


port connected? configurable?

PXE MTFTP MTFTP 69 UDP PXE Client No

1758 UDP (Multicast) PXE Client Yes [Configure by


editing PXE.ini
1759
file]

File Transfer TFTP 1025 to 5000 UPD/TCP Yes

PXE Server PXE Server 67 UDP PXE Client No

68 UDP PXE Client No

4011 UDP PXE Client No

iPXE PXE Server 4433 TCP PXE Server No

PXE Manager PXE Manager 405 TCP PXEConfig Yes [Configure by


editing RPC.ini
file]

406 TCP PXECfg Service Yes [Configure by


editing RPC.ini
file]

PXECfg Service PXECfg Service 407 TCP PXE Server and Yes [Configure by
PXE MTFTP editing RPC.ini
file]
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 19
Installing the Ghost Standard tools from the installer

Table 2-2 Ports used in Ghost Solution Suite (continued)

Component Service Port(s) Protocol Where is this Is this port


port connected? configurable?

DB Management DB Management 505 TCP Win32 console, Yes


(mm) Service axengine,
pxemanager

Ghost Solution Axengine 402 TCP/UDP Agents, Yes


Suite Server (multicast) pxeserver,
DataManager,
PXEManager

Linux Agent ADLagent 415

AClient AClient 402

PCT Real-time 4949


Destination
Agents 3829

4950

4951

4952

Note: To configure the file transfer port, in the Ghost Solution Suite console to use a specific
port, navigate to Tools > Options > Global tab. Check the Client/Server file transfer port
check-box and set the dedicated port that you want to use.

For more information, refer to the following article:


Ports and Protocols

Installing the Ghost Standard tools from the installer


Ghost Solution Suite lets you install the Ghost Standard tools from the link that is provided in
the installer. The Ghost Standard tools include the following:
■ Boot Disk Creator.exe

Note: If you run BootWiz.exe for first time after fresh installation of Ghost Solution Suite
3.3, then you must right-click and open the application with Run As Administrator option.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 20
Installing the Ghost Standard tools from the installer

■ Ghost Explorer x64.exe


■ Ghost Explorer x86.exe
■ GhostCast Server.exe
■ Ghost32.exe
■ Ghost64.exe
The Ghost Standard tools are installed at the following location and are accessible from the
Start menu:
<Install_dir/>/Program Files(x86)/Symantec/Ghost

Note: Symantec recommends not to install the Ghost Standard Tools 3.0 or later on the default
recommended path of a computer that has Ghost Solution Suite 2.5. Installing on the default
path overwrites the Ghost Solution 2.5 tools and conflicts with the Ghost 2.5 Console.

To install Ghost Standard tools


1 Start the computer and log on using the administrator account you created for the Ghost
Solution Suite Server.
2 Launch the appropriate Symantec Ghost Solution Suite installation file and follow the
setup steps.
3 The Symantec Packager Self-Extracting Executable Options dialog appears.
4 Select the Use current temp folder option to use the current temporary folder to download
installation files or the Extract to a specific folder option to set a path to an existing
folder to download the installation files.
5 Click Extract and Execute App to extract and execute the application immediately.
The default extraction directory is C:\DSSetup. You may have to wait for some time while
Symantec Packager extracts files from this archive.

Note: Click Extract Only to only extract the application and execute the application later.
You must run the axInstall.exe file to start the installation.

6 In the Ghost Solution Suite Server Install Configuration dialog, click on Ghost Standard
Tools.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 21
Browsing to the Ghost Recovery kit

7 In the Symantec Ghost Standard Tools wizard, the default path where the Ghost Standard
Tools executables are installed is displayed as follows:
C:\Program Files(x86)\Symantec\Ghost

To change the path where the Ghost Standard Tools executables are installed, click on
Change....
8 Click Next >.
9 Click Install.

Browsing to the Ghost Recovery kit


The Ghost Solution Suite lets you browse to the Ghost Recovery Tool kit at the following
location:
<Install_Dir>:\DSSetup\Ghost_recovery_Kit.zip
Symantec Ghost Recovery Kit is a suite of tools designed for original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs) and value-added resellers (VARs). It adds tools and functionality to the applications
included in Symantec Ghost Solution Suite. Symantec Ghost Recovery Kit includes the following
tools:
■ GhostOEM32
GhostOEM32 is a Win32 version of GhostOEM and is designed to run on Microsoft Windows
Preinstallation Environment (WinPE).
■ GhostOEM64
GhostOEM32 is a Win64 version of GhostOEM and is designed to run on Microsoft Windows
Preinstallation Environment (WinPE).
■ PQIDeploy
PQIDeploy is an OEM version of Symantec ImageCenter that provides restore-only
capabilities. It contains the full scripting capabilities that are included in ImageCenter. It
does not include any graphical user interface (GUI). All commands are specified in a script
command file.
■ PQIDplyD
■ SRFixMbr
The System Recovery Fix MBR executable installs the Boot Partition Selector in the Master
Boot Record (MBR).
The Boot Partition Selector requests which partition the end user wants to launch when
the computer is booted from the primary hard drive. If no response is made within the
timeout interval, then the user partition is launched. Alternatively, the end user can launch
the recovery partition. The end user can access the recovery partition only through the
Boot Partition Selector.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 22
Ghost Solution Suite Server components

Ghost Solution Suite Server components


The Ghost Solution Suite Server system includes the following components:
■ Ghost Solution Suite Console
See “Ghost Solution Suite Console” on page 22.
■ Ghost Solution Suite Server
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 23.
■ Ghost Solution Suite Database
See “Ghost Solution Suite Database” on page 24.
■ eXpress Share
See “Deployment Share or eXpress Share ” on page 25.
■ PXE server
See “PXE server” on page 26.
■ DHCP Server (not an Symantec product)
■ Installing Ghost Solution Suite agents
■ Sysprep
You can install all these components on the same server or distribute them across multiple
servers, depending on the environment.

Ghost Solution Suite Console


The Ghost Solution Suite Console is the Win32 user interface for Ghost Solution Suite. You
can install this Windows console on servers across the network to view and manage resources
from different locations. In addition, from this console, you can access the Ghost Solution Suite
Database on other Ghost Solution Suite Server systems to manage sites across the enterprise.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Database” on page 24.
The Ghost Solution Suite Console communicates with the Ghost Solution Suite Database and
Deployment services. In a Simple Install for Ghost Solution Suite Server, the Ghost Solution
Suite Console is installed on the same computer similar to all other components. In a Custom
Install for Ghost Solution Suite Server, you must ensure that a connection is available to these
computers and security rights are set. You must have administrative rights on any computer
running the Ghost Solution Suite Console.
See “Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 27.
See “Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 29.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 23
Ghost Solution Suite Server

Ghost Solution Suite Server


Ghost Solution Suite Server controls the flow of the work and information between the managed
computers and the other Ghost Solution Suite Server components (Ghost Solution Suite
Console, Ghost Solution Suite Database, and the eXpress Share). Managed computers connect
and communicate with the Ghost Solution Suite Server to register inventory and configuration
information and to run deployment and management tasks. The computer and deployment
data for each managed computer is stored in the Ghost Solution Suite Database.

Note: To view, start, or stop Ghost Solution Suite Server, go to the Symantec Server services
in your Windows Manager.

Managed computers require access to the Ghost Solution Suite Server at all times, requiring
that you have administrative rights on the computer running the Ghost Solution Suite Server.

Create a user account to run the Ghost Solution


Suite Server. The service runs as a logged-on user,
not as a system account. You must create this
account on all Ghost Solution Suite Server
computers. The account must have full rights to the
eXpress Share. The account must have a
non-expiring password.

See “Deployment Share or eXpress Share ”


on page 25.

Assign a static IP address to the Ghost Solution


Suite Server computer. Other components cannot
connect to the Ghost Solution Suite Server if you
use DHCP and dynamically change the IP address.

To install the Ghost Solution Suite Server on a


remote computer, the default administration shares
must be present. Restore any shares that have been
removed before you install the Ghost Solution Suite
Server.

Note: It is easier to create an administrative account using the same name and password on
all computers than to use the existing name and password of each account.

Most packages (Personality Packages, and .MSI files) pass through the Ghost Solution Suite
Server. Therefore, if you store these files on the Ghost Solution Suite Server, the deployment
of these packages is faster. Image files, however, are sent directly from the eXpress Share to
the client computer when you run an imaging task.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 24
Ghost Solution Suite Database

See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.

Ghost Solution Suite Database


Refer to the following article for the list of supported SQL versions on which you can install
the Ghost Solution Suite Database.
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.HOWTO111528.html

Note: In Ghost Solution Suite 3.0 and later, if you have already set up multiple instances of
the Microsoft SQL Server, you can identify a specific instance using this format: <database
instance>\express. Example: If you have a clustered Microsoft SQL Server named
SQLClusterSvr to manage multiple Ghost Solution Suite systems on different network
segments, you can enter the name SQLClusterSvr\salesSegment or
SQLClusterSvr\marketingSegment during the Ghost Solution Suite Server setup, depending
on the previously established database instance. This feature is supported in the silent install
.INI file and the GUI install executable.

The database maintains the following information about the managed computers:
■ Hardware. RAM, asset tag, and serial numbers
■ General Information. Computer name and MAC address
■ Configuration. TCP/IP, Microsoft networking, and user information
■ Applications. The installed applications and information about these applications, such as
the name of the application, publisher, and product ID
■ Services. Installed Windows services
■ Devices. Installed Windows devices, such as network adapter, keyboard, and monitors
■ Location information. Contact name, phone, email, department, mail stop, and site
The Ghost Solution Suite Server Database also contains jobs and other data used to manage
your computers.

Note: You can install a single Ghost Solution Suite Database in each Ghost Solution Suite
Server system-you cannot have two databases storing data for a single computer. If the
computer you are installing the database on has an existing Microsoft SQL Server™, the Ghost
Solution Suite Database is added to that instance of the database engine.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 25
Support for multiple database instances

Support for multiple database instances


In Ghost Solution Suite 3.0 and later, you can identify a named instance of the Microsoft SQL
Server when installing Ghost Solution Suite. You can now identify other named instances of
Microsoft SQL Servers instead of accessing only the default instance. This feature lets you
identify and run multiple databases from one clustered Microsoft SQL Server to manage
multiple sites or network segments. This feature is supported in the silent install .INI file and
the GUI install executable. Ghost Solution Suite also supports a different name for the Ghost
Solution Suite Database instead of the default name, eXpress.
See “Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 29.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.

Deployment Share or eXpress Share


The eXpress Share is a file server or shared directory where Ghost Solution Suite program
files and packages are stored. The eXpress Share can be a shared directory (default Simple
install in Program Files\ Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server) or another file server (in
the Custom install, you can assign a Microsoft Windows or Novell NetWare file server).
eXpress Share is where you store image files, registry files, .MSI packages, Personality
Packages, script files, and more. When you are deploying or managing a computer, the Ghost
Solution Suite Server stores and retrieves these packages from the eXpress Share as needed.

If you want to install Ghost Solution Suite on a


remote file server (not the computer where you are
running the install program), create a share (or give
Read/Write rights for NetWare) on the file server
where you want to install the Ghost Solution Suite
Server. This share must allow access to all other
components, including managed computers and
the user account that runs the Ghost Solution Suite
Server.

You must create this share before you begin


installing. If you are not installing on a remote
computer, you can select the option to create the
share during the installation.

Note: You can install only one eXpress Share for each Ghost Solution Suite Server system.
However, if the eXpress Share 's hard drive gets full, other computers can be used as additional
backup storage points. In some cases, other systems emulating a Microsoft or NetWare
environment can be used as the eXpress Share.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 26
PXE server

See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.

PXE server
The PXE Server provides service to client computers on a subnet. When the Ghost Solution
Suite Server sends a deployment job, the client computer receives a request to boot to
automation and the PXE-enabled computers connect to the first PXE Server that they discover,
which communicates with the Ghost Solution Suite Server and the client computers.
For list of supported operating system on which you can install a PXE Server, refer to the
following article:
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.HOWTO111528.html
The PXE Server also functions on the same protocols as a standard DHCP Server, so you
can place the PXE Server wherever you would place a DHCP server. You can also install as
many PXE Servers as required in your system, but you must also install a DHCP Server.
The PXE Server sends a boot menu option list to the client when the computer performs a
PXE boot. The deployment job, which contains at least one automation task, uses the default
automation environment or the environment specified by a user who has the permission to
create a deployment job. Use the boot menu option to request the PXE Server for the boot
menu files and download the boot menu files from the PXE Server to the client computer's
RAM storage. The client computer always boots according to the request and reply
communications taking place between the Deployment and PXE Servers.
Ghost Solution Suite supports Linux, and Windows PreInstallation Environment (WinPE) as
pre-boot environments. These options let you create a single job, but may contain multiple
automation tasks. The default automation environment (the first pre-boot operating system
files installed during the Ghost Solution Suite installation) is used for Initial Deployment, unless
you specify otherwise.
See Boot Disk Creator Help and see PXE Configuration Utility Help.

DHCP Server
The DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server is a server set up to assign TCP/IP
addresses to the client computers. This server is not a Symantec product, but is required if
you want to use the PXE Server.
We recommend that you use DHCP to manage the TCP/IP address in your network, whether
you use PXE or not. This greatly reduces the amount of time required to set up and manage
your computers.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 27
Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server

Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server


The Simple Install option places all the Ghost Solution Suite Server Components - Ghost
Solution Suite Server, Ghost Solution Suite Console, eXpress Share, and Ghost Solution Suite
Database - on the same computer.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
To run a simple install
1 Start the server and log on using the administrator account you created for the Ghost
Solution Suite Server.
See “PXE server” on page 26.
2 Launch the appropriate Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Server installation file and follow
the setup steps.
The Symantec Packager Self-Extracting Executable Options dialog appears.

Note: Symantec recommends running the installer with admin rights.

3 Select the Use current temp folder option to use the current temporary folder to download
installation files or the Extract to a specific folder option to set a path to an existing
folder to download the installation files.
4 Click Extract and Execute App to extract and execute the application immediately.
The default extraction directory is C:\DSSetup. You may have to wait for some time while
Symantec Packager extracts files from this archive.

Note: Click Extract Only to only extract the application and execute the application later.
You must run the axInstall.exe file to start the installation.

5 Select the Simple Install option from the installation types listed in the Ghost Solution
Suite Server Install Configuration dialog.
6 Click Yes on the Software License Agreement page.
7 Enter the following information on the Ghost Solution Suite Share Information page:
■ In the File Server path field, enter or browse to the path to install the Ghost Solution
Suite Server program files. The default path is C:\Program
Files(x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server.

■ Select the Create Ghost Solution Suite Share option to create a eXpress Share on
the computer. The eXpress Share lets you store files on the computer and run Ghost
Solution Suite Server system applications.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 28
Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server

See “Deployment Share or eXpress Share ” on page 25.


■ Browse and select the licence file.
■ You must enter an administrator user name and password for the Ghost Solution Suite
Server. This account must already exist on the eXpress Share and the Ghost Solution
Suite Server. By default, the name you are currently logged on as appears. If you use
a domain account, enter the domain and the user name (Example:
Domain1\administrator).

Note: If a previous installation of the Ghost Solution Suite Database is detected, an


axinstall prompt appears, asking whether you want to preserve or overwrite the
existing database. Click Yes to preserve the data in your Ghost Solution Suite
Database.

8 Click Install to install the listed components, or click Back to modify the settings before
starting the installation. The installation process begins and can take several minutes.
The Installation Information Summary page appears after the installation completes.

Note: If you are upgrading your installation, the message Do you want to replace the
share? appears. Click Yes and continue. If you click No, a message appears, stating that
the share is already in use and you need to manually set the share to point to the correct
directory. Click OK.

9 (Optional) You can select the following option to install agents.


Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 29
Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server

■ Remotely install Ghost Solution Suite agent (Windows Vista, 2008 or later only).
Select this option if you want to push the Ghost Solution Suite agent to computers
running Windows Vista, Windows 2008, or later operating systems.

10 Click Finish.
You have successfully completed a Simple Install for a Ghost Solution Suite Server system.
Click the Ghost Solution Suite Console icon on your desktop to view all the computer
resources running Ghost Solution Suite Agents configured for your Ghost Solution Suite
Server.

Note: Antivirus applications can delete service .EXE files or can disable services.

Example: When you run the Ghost Solution Suite Server Win32 Console, the "Unable to
connect to the Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Server Management Server. Please ensure
this service is started and running currently." error appears. This occurs because the
service files are deleted by the antivirus application during scanning. To resolve this issue,
disable the antivirus software and reinstall the Ghost Solution Suite Server.
See “Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 29.

Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server


The Custom Install option lets you distribute all the Ghost Solution Suite Server Components
- Ghost Solution Suite Server, Ghost Solution Suite Console, eXpress Share, and Ghost
Solution Suite Database - on different computers. You can install Ghost Solution Suite Server
on an existing SQL Server.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
To run a custom install
1 Start the server and log on as the administrator account you created for the Ghost Solution
Suite Server.

2 Launch the appropriate Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Server installation file and follow
the setup steps.
The Symantec Packager Self-Extracting Executable Options dialog appears.
3 Click the Use current temp folder option to use the current temporary folder to download
installation files or the Extract to a specific folder option to set a path to an existing
folder to download the installation files.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 30
Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server

4 Click Extract and Execute App to extract and execute the application immediately.
The default extraction directory is C:\DSSetup. You may have to wait for some time while
Symantec Packager extracts files from this archive.

Note: (Optional) Click Extract Only to only extract the application and execute the
application later. You must run the axInstall.exe file to start the installation.

5 Select the Custom Install option from the installation types listed in the Ghost Solution
Suite Server Install Configuration dialog if any of the following conditions exist:
■ You are using the NetWare file server as a eXpress Share.
■ You are managing many computers and require a distributed architecture to meet
bandwidth restrictions and other design requirements.

6 Click Install. Click Yes on the Software License Agreement page.


7 Enter the following information on the Ghost Solution Suite Share Information page:
■ In the File Server path field, enter or browse to the path to install the Ghost Solution
Suite Server program files. The default path is C:\Program
Files(x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server.

■ Select the Create Ghost Solution Suite Share option to create a eXpress Share on
the computer. The eXpress Share lets you store files on the computer and run Ghost
Solution Suite Server system applications. The eXpress Share can exist on a Microsoft
Windows server or Novell NetWare server.

Note: You can only create the share if it is on a Microsoft Windows Server; the Novell
share should already be set up. See “Deployment Share or eXpress Share ”
on page 25.

■ Browse and select the (.SLF) license file.

8 Enter the following information on the Ghost Solution Suite Server Information page:
■ Select the computer where you want to install the Ghost Solution Suite Server. You
can install the Ghost Solution Suite Server on the local computer or on a remote
computer. The IP address and the port information for the selected computer are
displayed by default.
■ Enter the path where you want to install the Ghost Solution Suite Server.
■ You must enter an administrator user name and password for the Ghost Solution Suite
Server. This account must already exist on the eXpress Share and the Ghost Solution
Suite Server. By default, the name you are currently logged on as appears. If you use
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 31
Custom install for Ghost Solution Suite Server

a domain account, enter the domain and the user name (Example:
Domain1\administrator).
(See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 12.) Click Next.

9 Enter the Ghost Solution Suite Database information and click Next.
■ Specify the Microsoft SQL Server Instance where you want to install the database.

Note: If you have already set up multiple instances of the Microsoft SQL Server, you
can identify a specific database instance in this field using the format: <SQL Server
Name>\<database instance>.

■ Depending upon the selection of the SQL Server instance, the default port at which
the selected instance is listening appears in the SQL Port Number field. You can edit
the port number if you have manually entered the SQL Server name or if the port
number does not appear automatically due to some firewall restriction.
■ You can enter a name other than eXpress in the Database Name field.

10 Select the type of Ghost Solution Suite Database authentication to be used. You must
enter the user name and password if you want to use SQL Server authentication.

Note: You cannot use the remote SQL database with NT authentication on a remote
computer if you do not have administrative rights on the computer.

Click Next.

Note: If a previous installation of the Ghost Solution Suite Database is detected, an


axinstall prompt appears, asking whether you want to preserve or overwrite the existing
database. Click Yes to preserve the data in your Ghost Solution Suite Database.

11 Specify how you want to connect your managed computer to the Ghost Solution Suite
Server by selecting one of the following options.
■ Select the Connect directly to Ghost Solution Suite Server option and enter the
Ghost Solution Suite Server IP address and port.
■ Select the Discover Ghost Solution Suite Server using TCP/IP multicast option
and provide the Server name.

Note: If you leave the Server name field blank, the Ghost Solution Suite agent connects
to the first Ghost Solution Suite Server that responds. Click Next.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 32
Thin client install

12 Click Install to install the listed components or click Back to modify the settings before
starting the installation. The installation process begins and can take several minutes.
The Installation Information Summary page appears after the installation completes.

Note: If you are upgrading your installation, the message Do you want to replace the
share? appears. Click Yes and continue. If you click No, a message appears stating that
the share is already in use and you must manually set the share to point to the correct
directory. Click OK.

13 (Optional) You can select one of the following option to install agents on the managed
computers.
■ Remotely Install Ghost Solution Suite agent (Windows Vista, 2008 or later only).
Select this option if you want to push the Ghost Solution Suite agent to Windows
computers directly after the installation. This can be done any time by selecting Tools
> Remote Agent Installer.

14 Click Finish.
You have successfully completed a Custom Install for a Ghost Solution Suite Server system.
Click the Ghost Solution Suite Console icon on your desktop to view all the computer resources
running Ghost Solution Suite Agents configured for your Ghost Solution Suite Server.
See “Simple install for Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 27.

Thin client install


The thin client install option lets you install the Thin Client view of the Ghost Solution Suite
Console on your computer. You can install Ghost Solution Suite Server with a Microsoft SQL
2014 Express or install it on an existing SQL Server. You need not provide a license file for
the Thin Client installation.
To run a thin client install
1 Start the server and log on using the administrator account you created for the Ghost
Solution Suite Server.

2 Launch the appropriate Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Server installation file and follow
the setup steps.
Symantec recommends running the installer with admin rights.
The Symantec Packager Self-Extracting Executable Options dialog appears.
3 Select the Use current temp folder option to use the current temporary folder to download
installation files or the Extract to a specific folder option to set a path to an existing
folder to download the installation files.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 33
Thin client install

4 Click Extract and Execute App to extract and execute the application immediately.
The default extraction directory is C:\DSSetup. You may have to wait for some time while
Symantec Packager extracts files from this archive.

Note: Click Extract Only to only extract the application and execute the application later.
You must run the axInstall.exe file to start the installation.

5 Select the Thin Client Install option from the installation types listed in the Ghost Solution
Suite Server Install Configuration dialog.
6 (Optional) Select the Include PXE Server option to install the PXE Server. (See “PXE
server” on page 26.) Click Install.
7 Click Yes on the Software License Agreement page.
8 Enter the following information on the Ghost Solution Suite Share Information page:
■ In the File Server path field, enter or browse to the path to install the Ghost Solution
Suite Server program files. The default path is C:\Program
Files(x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server.

■ Select the Create Ghost Solution Suite Share option to create a eXpress Share on
the computer. The eXpress Share lets you store files on the computer and run Ghost
Solution Suite Server system applications.
See “Deployment Share or eXpress Share ” on page 25.
■ You must enter an administrator user name and password for the Ghost Solution Suite
Server system. This account must already exist on the eXpress Share and the Ghost
Solution Suite Server. By default, the name you are currently logged on as appears.
If you use a domain account, enter the domain and the user name (Example:
Domain1\administrator). See “Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 23.
If a previous installation of the Ghost Solution Suite Database is detected, an axinstall
prompt appears, asking whether you want to preserve or overwrite the existing
database. Click Yes to preserve the data in your Ghost Solution Suite Database.
Click Next.

9 Click Install to install the listed components, or click Back to modify the settings before
starting the installation. The installation process begins and can take several minutes.
The Installation Information Summary page appears after the installation completes.

Note: If you are upgrading your installation, the message Do you want to replace the
share? appears. Click Yes and continue. If you click No, a message appears, stating that
the share is already in use and you must manually set the share to point to the correct
directory. Click OK.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 34
Component install

10 (Optional) You can select the following option to install agents.


■ Remotely install Ghost Solution Suite agent (Windows Vista, Windows 2008 or
later only). Select this option if you want to push the Ghost Solution Suite agent to
computers running Windows Vista, Windows 2008, and later operating systems.

11 Click Finish.
You have successfully completed a Thin Client install for a Ghost Solution Suite Server system.
Click the Ghost Solution Suite Console icon on your desktop to view all the computer
resources running Ghost Solution Suite Agents configured for your Ghost Solution Suite Server.

Note: Antivirus applications can delete service .EXE files or can disable services.

Example: When you run the Ghost Solution Suite Server Win32 Console, the "Unable to
connect to the Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Server Management Server. Please ensure
this service is started and running currently." error appears. This occurs because the service
files are deleted by the antivirus application during scanning. To resolve this issue, disable
the antivirus software and reinstall the Ghost Solution Suite Server.

Component install
The component install option lets you add selected Ghost Solution Suite Server Components
- Ghost Solution Suite Console, PXE Server, and Ghost Solution Suite Agents to the existing
eXpress Share. You can also add Microsoft Sysprep files.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
To run a component install
1 Start the server and log on using the administrator account you created for the Ghost
Solution Suite Server.

2 Launch the appropriate Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Server installation file and follow
the setup steps.
Symantec recommends running the installer with admin rights.
The Symantec Packager Self-Extracting Executable Options dialog appears.
3 Select the Use current temp folder option to use the current temporary folder to download
installation files or the Extract to a specific folder option to set a path to an existing
folder to download the installation files.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 35
Component install

4 Click Extract and Execute App to extract and execute the application immediately.
The default extraction directory is C:\DSSetup. You may have to wait for some time while
Symantec Packager extracts files from this archive.

Note: (Optional) Click Extract Only to only extract the application and execute the
application later. You must run the axInstall.exe file to start the installation.

5 Select the Component Install option from the installation types listed in the Ghost
Solution Suite Server Install Configuration dialog and click Install.
6 Click Yes on the Software License Agreement page.
7 Enter a path for the eXpress Share and click Next.
8 Select the components you want to install and click Next.
■ Install an additional Ghost Solution Suite Console. Select this option to install
another Ghost Solution Suite Console (a Windows executable) on another computer.
You can add as many Ghost Solution Suite Consoles as required to manage from
multiple consoles across your system, but you can install only one at a time. The Ghost
Solution Suite Console Information dialog appears.
■ Install an additional Symantec PXE Server.
Select this option to add additional PXE Servers across a network segment to handle
boot requests for large environments. The PXE Server Information dialog appears.
Master PXE Server. When you add another PXE Server, the PXE Server that you
initially installed is designated as the Master PXE Server. The Master PXE Server
works concurrently with any additional PXE Server to handle boot requests across the
network segment, but it also allocates additional blocks of IP addresses to other PXE
Servers in the system.
For all the available options for installing PXE Server, refer to the following section:
See “PXE server” on page 26.
■ Install additional Ghost Solution Suite Agents. Select this option to install additional
Ghost Solution Suite Agents on client computers, setting up managed computers in
the Ghost Solution Suite Server system. The Remote Agent Install dialog appears.
Enter common administrator credentials for all client computers.
See “Enter administrator account information” on page 39.
■ Install Ghost Solution Suite Web Console
Select this option if you want to install the Ghost Solution Suite Web Console.
For system requirements and prerequisites, refer to the following:
Ghost Solution Suite Help
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 36
Component install

9 Configure GSS Server and PXE Server(s) for iPXE


Select this option if you want to use the iPXE feature for Ghost Solution Suite.
This option lets you install the iPXE components on the existing PXE servers.
Configuring iPXE
10 Select if you want to repair the PXE Manager.

Note: Symantec recommends running the repair PXE Manager option only on the
computers on which PXE manager is already installed.

Before you select the option to repair the PXE manager, ensure to comply with the
following:
■ Uninstall all the PXE components (PXE Server and PXE Manager).
■ Restart the computer.
■ Relaunch the installer and select the Repair PXE Manager option.
■ Select the Install an additional Symantec PXE server to install the PXE servers
again.

11 Select the computer where you want to install the selected components and click Next.
The Installation Information page appears.

Note: If you select the On a remote computer option, you must browse and select the
remote computer.

12 Click Install to install the listed components or click Back to modify settings before starting
the installation. The installation process begins and can take several minutes. The
Installation Information Summary page appears, specifying that the installation was
successful.
13 Select the Install add-ons to provision server hardware option to install the add-ons
for Dell computers. Click Finish.

Note: This option is enabled on Dell computers only when add-ons are present in the
oeminstall-addons section of the oeminstall.ini file, which is located in the eXpress
directory. This is the only option available on the Installation Information Summary
page when you select Component Install.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 37
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Agents

You have successfully completed a Component Install for a Ghost Solution Suite Server
system. Click the Ghost Solution Suite Console icon on your desktop to view all the computer
resources running Ghost Solution Suite Agents configured for your Ghost Solution Suite Server.

Configuring iPXE
If you plan to use the iPXE feature for Ghost Solution Suite, you must configure the Ghost
Solution Suite Server and the PXE Server.
Enter the following details to configure the Ghost Solution Suite Server and the PXE Server:

Table 2-3
Field Description

GSS Server Details You must set up the access from IIS to the
Database Server.

Username Enter the user name for GSS Server.

Password Enter the password to connect to GSS Server.

Confirm Password Enter the password again.

PXE Server Details You must configure PXE servers to enable the iPXE
feature.

Select a PXE Server Select a PXE Server from the list. You must
configure iPXE for each PXE Server individually.

Username Enter the username for the PXE Server.

Password Enter the password for the PXE Server.

Confirm Password Enter the password again.

Installing Ghost Solution Suite Agents


Each client computer requires the Ghost Solution Suite Agent to run as the Production Agent
on a local hard disk, which communicates with the Ghost Solution Suite Server and registers
in the Ghost Solution Suite Database. For Windows and Linux client computers, Ghost Solution
Suite lets you push agent software to a client computer See “Installing the automation agent”
on page 48. from a Ghost Solution Suite Console, or you can pull the Ghost Solution Suite
Agent to the client computer from the eXpress Share.
■ Ghost Solution Suite agent. Install a Production Agent to a Windows desktop, notebook,
or server computer. You can also install this agent on any supported Linux workstation or
server.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent for Windows” on page 41.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 38
Client connectivity and network adapters

■ Ghost Solution Suite agent on Linux. Install on any supported Linux workstation or
server.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Linux” on page 45.
■ Automation Agent. Install on any Windows desktop, notebook, or server computer.
■ Ghost Solution Suite agent on Vista (Business) and 2008 Server. Install the Ghost
Solution Suite agent on the selected Windows Vista (Business), and Server 2008 computers.

Client connectivity and network adapters


Symantec supports all standard network adapter cards and includes many drivers with the
installation of Ghost Solution Suite. However, sometimes outdated drivers (including default
drivers that come with the hardware) cause problems when clients are in automation mode.
To avoid these problems, you should check the manufacturer's Web site for your network
adapter to ensure you use their latest driver in your pre-boot operating system configuration
file.
Some common client problems that can be solved by updating drivers are:
■ Locking when loading drivers or failing to connect to the server
■ Locking when imaging (downloading, uploading, or multicasting)

Microsoft client drivers


The Boot Disk Creator is set up to work with drivers that follow a certain standard. Because
not all NIC drivers follow that standard, you may have to move the files to a different location.
Ensure that the following files are in the same directory:
■ The sample protocol.ini that comes with your driver (protocol.ini)
■ The OEM setup file that specifies the DOS driver (oemsetup.inf)
Example: The OEM setup file may contain lines similar to the following:
[netcard]

NGRPCI="NETGEAR FA310TX Fast Ethernet PCI


Adapter",0,ndis,ethernet,real,NGRPCI,NGRPCI_NIF

[NGRPCI] (This header must be the sixth item listed in the line above)

Device=NGRPCI.DOS (If this line is missing, add it. The syntax is


device=drivername.)

If there is no protocol.ini file, create a text file that contains the following command:
DriverName=drivername.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 39
Installing the Ghost Solution Suite agent

Installing the Ghost Solution Suite agent


For client computers running a Windows operating system, Ghost Solution Suite lets you install
agent software using the Remote Agent Installer to "push" the agent to a client computer from
a Ghost Solution Suite Console. (See “Remote agent installer” on page 39.) You can also pull
the Ghost Solution Suite agent to the client computer by accessing the Windows share. You
must have administrative rights to the client computers and File and Print Sharing must be
enabled to install the agent software.

Click Remote Agent Installer on the Ghost Solution


Suite Console toolbar, or click Tool > Remote
Agent Installer to open the utility program. You can
also download DAgent.exe from the network share
to install a Ghost Solution Suite agent.

Remote agent installer


DAgent replaced AClient as the default agent for the Windows client computers. For the list
of supported operating systems, refer to the following article:
Platform Support Matrix

Windows Vista, 2008 servers, and Windows 7


You must enable file and print sharing in the Windows Firewall.
A domain user from the Domain Admins group can install the agent using the Remote Agent
Installer on the client computers if you add the user to the local administrator group. A client
computer which is a member of the domain, has the local built-in administrator disabled by
default.

Enter administrator account information


Enter common administrator credentials for all client computers, or keep the default credentials
to be prompted for each client computer.
Let me specify a username and password for each machine as it's installed. Prompts for
an administrative user name password for each computer in the remote install list. This is the
default option.
Use this username and password for all clients. Enter credentials for an administrator
account that has rights to all the client computers that you add to the remote install list.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 40
Specify install directory

Specify install directory


Enter a location to install the Ghost Solution Suite agent.
Install directory. Enter the path to install the Ghost Solution Suite agent on the client computer.
Enable this agent to use SIDgen and/or Microsoft Sysprep. If you plan to use SIDgen or
Sysprep to configure this computer the required files can be copied when the agent is installed.
Click Change Settings to set the Ghost Solution Suite agent settings.

Automatically add to a group


You can select one of the following options to automatically add new computers to the group
that you specify.
Add client(s) to default group. Adds new computers to the All Computers group.
Add client(s) to a specific group. Adds new computers to another group. Use back slashes
to separate subgroups.

Select computers on the network


Identify client computers on the network and add them to a list of computers to remotely install
the Ghost Solution Suite agent.
Add. Select the computers by the name in the list, or enter a computer name or IP address.
Computer Name. Enter the name of a computer on the network or its IP address.
Properties. Select a computer and view the agent install settings. You can also change Agent
settings from the Agent Properties dialog.
Import. Import new computers from a file. This file has the following parameters: -c:[computer]
-u:[username] -p:[password] -i:[input file]. The parameters must be entered in this
order. The password parameter is not required if the administrator account does not have one
assigned. If you are using the default settings, you do not need to specify an input file name.
Each computer entry must be on a separate line.
Export. You can export the listed computers into an export file to use later. The default
extension is *.RCI. Remote Agent Installer first looks for an RCI file extension.
When the computers appear in the installer list and the properties are set, click Finish. The
status of the agent install appears.
After the Ghost Solution Suite agent is installed, it automatically connects to the Ghost Solution
Suite Server and appears in the Computers pane of the Ghost Solution Suite Console.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 41
Change settings

Change settings
Click Change Settings to modify access, security and other settings on the Ghost Solution
Suite agent to be installed.

Get server security key


This page appears only if you select the Enable key-based authentication to Ghost Solution
Suite Server option in the Default Agent Settings dialog.
Enter the security key file path for the Ghost Solution Suite Server or browse and select a file
containing the security key file path.

Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent for Windows


Run dagent.msi from the eXpress Share (shared folder).
1. On the Symantec Client Service dialog, enter a location to install the Ghost Solution
Suite agent. Select one of these options, if required, and click Next:
■ Secure modification of server properties. Select to prohibit users from changing
any agent settings.
■ Enable changing of Security ID. Select to manage the security IDs to run a SID utility
as part of an imaging job.
■ Advanced. Click to open the Computer Configuration Properties dialog and enter the
settings for the Ghost Solution Suite agent you are installing.

2. If you have enabled the security IDs, a page listing the options for managing the SIDs
appears. Select the utilities you want to use and enter the path where the utilities are
stored. Click Next to install the Ghost Solution Suite agent.
3. (Optional) Select a group in the Ghost Solution Suite Console to add the client to. You
can also leave it at the default group.
After the Ghost Solution Suite agent is installed, it connects to the Ghost Solution Suite Server
and appears in the Computers pane of the Ghost Solution Suite Console.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Agents” on page 37.

Scripted installation of Ghost Solution Suite agent


You can run scripted install of Ghost Solution Agent using default agent settings or you can
run the scripted install with advanced configurations.
■ Scripted install with default agent settings
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 42
Scripted installation of Ghost Solution Suite agent

■ Scripted install with advanced configuration settings

Scripted install with default agent settings


To run the scripted install of dagent, with default settings follow the following process:
■ Copy the dagent.msi from the following location:
<Install_dir>:\Program Files (x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment
Server\Agents\AClient

■ Run the appropriate command on the client computer:


■ For x86
Dagent.msi /qn TcpAddr=<server-ip-address> TcpPort=402

■ For x64
Dagent_x64.msi /qn TcpAddr=<server-ip-address> TcpPort=402

Note: For TcpAddr, enter the IP address of the Ghost Solution Suite Server.

Scripted install with advanced configuration settings


Ghost Solution Suite lets you install the Ghost Solution Suite agent with advanced
configurations. Use the Aclient.inp file to configure additional settings during dagent install on
the client computer. The Aclient.inp file is present in the C:\Program Files
(x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment folder.

■ Create or edit the Aclient.inp file.


■ Copy the dagent.msi on the client computers.
■ Run the dagent.msi from the command prompt

Create or edit the Aclient.inp file.


Edit the Aclient.inp file in notepad and enter the configurations that you want to implement on
the client computer.
Create the following folder structure on the client computer and copy the Aclient.inp file:
C:\Program Files\Altiris\Dagent

Following is an example of Aclient.inp file:


;---------------------------------------------------------------------

; MCastAddr is the multicast group address to be used to find the

; Deployment Server (optional)

; MCastPort is the port number to use while multicasting (optional)


Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 43
Scripted installation of Ghost Solution Suite agent

; TTL is the maximum number of hops to multicast through (optional)

; ServerName is the computer name of the server (optional)

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

;MCastAddr=225.1.2.3

;MCastPort=402

;TTL=32

;ServerName=GSSSERVER

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

; TcpAddr is the IP address of the Deployment Server to connect to (optional)

; TcpPort is the IP port number of the Deployment Server listening for

; requests (optional)

; Note: Specifying these parameters will switch the DAgent to use

; TCP to connect to the server.

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

;TcpAddr=SERVER-IP-ADDRESS

;TcpPort=402

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

; LogFile field is the full pathname to the log file (optional)

; LogSize is the maximum log file size (optional)

; LogErrors - If this is Yes, then errors will be logged

; LogInformation - If this is Yes, then information items will be

; logged.

; LogDebug - If this is Yes, then detailed debug information will be

; logged.

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

;LogFile=c:\Windows\Temp\Dagent.log

;LogSize=4096

;LogErrors=Yes | No

;LogInformation=Yes | No
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 44
Scripted installation of Ghost Solution Suite agent

;LogDebug=Yes | No

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

; PromptExecute parameter is used to prompt the user when tasks are

; being executed (optional)

; PromptReboot parameter is used to prompt the user before

; the computer restarts (optional)

; PromptRemoteControl parameter is used to prompt if someone attempts

; to remote control this computer.

; PromptSeconds is the number of seconds that DAgent will

; wait for a response from the user (optional)

; PromptOverride is the default action to take when the user

; has not responded to the prompts (optional)

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

;PromptExecute=Yes | No

;PromptReboot=Yes | No

;PromptRemoteControl=Yes | No

;PromptSeconds=30

;PromptOverride=Abort | Continue

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

; EncryptSessions - Specifies whether or not DAgent will attempt to

; make an encrypted session with the server

; RequireEncrypt - Specifies whether or not DAgent will fail to

; connect if an encrypted session cannot be

; established.

;---------------------------------------------------------------------

; EncryptSessions=Yes | No

; RequireEncrypt=Yes | No
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 45
Using remote agent installer

Copy the dagent.msi on the client computers.


Copy the dagent.msi on the client computers based on the architecture of the client computers.
The dagaent.msi is present at the following location:
<Install_dir>:\Program Files (x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment
Server\Agents\AClient

■ For x86- Dagent.msi /qn


■ For x64- Dagent_x64.msi /qn

Run the dagent.msi from the command prompt


To run the scripted install of dagent, run the appropriate command on the client computer:
■ For x86
Dagent.msi /qn
■ For x64
Dagent_x64.msi /qn

Using remote agent installer


You can create a template file when running Remote Agent Installer. After modifying agent
properties and adding computers to the Selecting Clients window, click Export to create a
template file to import computers (*.rci) as well as the template file (*.inp).
Example: If you have computers named PC-1 and PC-2 listed in the Selecting Clients window
and you export these computers using the file name Export.rci, the following two template
files are created:
Export_PC-1.inp

Export_PC-2.inp

Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Linux


You can install the Ghost Solution Suite agent on any supported Linux workstation or server
by downloading and running the Ghost Solution Suite agent for Linux installation file (a .BIN
file) on the client computer. The Ghost Solution Suite agent is updated automatically on Linux
computers when you upgrade to a new version of Ghost Solution Suite. The creation date of
the Ghost Solution Suite agent is checked and updated when a new agent is available.

Note: Currently, Ghost Solution Suite does not support UEFI-based Linux computers.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 46
Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Linux

Installing the Ghost Solution Suite agent for Linux


1 After downloading the .BIN file to a local directory, you can install from the command line.
■ Browse to the directory where you saved the .BIN file, switch to the root user (su) and
change the directory to the location of the .BIN file by entering (cd < directory>)
■ After changing the directory, you must have the permission to execute the .BIN file;
to obtain the permission, enter chmod 544 <filename>
■ Enter: ./<file name>
The Ghost Solution Suite agent for Linux is installed in the
/opt/altiris/deployment/adlagent directory.

2 To change the adlagent configuration file settings, update the adlagent.conf file. This
file is located in the /opt/altiris/deployment/adlagent/conf directory. You can also
change the adlagent configuration file settings by executing the configure script from the
/opt/altiris/deployment/adlagent/bin directory.

■ To edit the configure file directly, open the adlagent.conf file located in
the/opt/altiris/deployment/adlagent/conf directory and make the required
changes.
You can also edit the configuration file to change the functionality or properties.
Example: You can open the adlagent.conf file in an editor and scroll to the [Transport]
section and the UseMcast line. Change UseMcast=true to UseMcast=false. In the
TCPAddr=<IP address> line, enter the IP address of the specific Ghost Solution Suite
Server you want to manage the client computer. You can also identify and edit additional
configuration settings in the configuration file.
■ To run the script to change the settings for the adlagent configuration file, browse to
the /opt/altiris/deployment/adlagent/bin directory from the shell and enter
./configure
You are prompted to select Multicast options to identify a Ghost Solution Suite Server
to manage the current client computer, or you can select a specific Ghost Solution
Suite Server by setting the Multicast option to false and adding the IP address of the
required Ghost Solution Suite Server.

3 After editing the configuration file, restart the Ghost Solution Suite agent for Linux.
To start and stop the Ghost Solution Suite agent for Linux, enter the full path or browse
to the /etc/rc.d/init.d directory (with administrator/root rights). You can use either the
adlagent stop and adlagent start commands, or only the adlagent restart
command. You can also use the Package Manager installed with Linux to restart the
Ghost Solution Suite agent for Linux.
By stopping and starting the Ghost Solution Suite agent for Linux, the service updates
the changes made in the adlagent configuration file.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 47
Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Mac computers

You can now view the Linux managed computer from a Ghost Solution Suite Console.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Agents” on page 37.

Installing Ghost Solution Suite agent on Mac


computers
You can install the Ghost Solution Suite agent on any supported Mac workstation by
downloading and running the Ghost Solution Suite agent for Mac installation file on the client
computer. The Ghost Solution Suite agent is updated automatically on Mac computers when
you upgrade to a new version of Ghost Solution Suite. The creation date of the Ghost Solution
Suite agent is checked and updated when a new agent is available.
Installing the Ghost Solution Suite agent for Mac using console
1 Copy the following files from <Install_dir>\Program Files
(x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server\Agents\ADLAgent\ from GSS server to
the Mac clients.
■ altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.Darwin.zip
■ altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.i386.bin
■ altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.x86_64.bin
■ altiris-tcsdk-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.i686.bin

2 Unzip the altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.Darwin.zip file.


3 In the extracted folder check if the altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.Darwin.pkg is
extracted and install it.

Note: To start or stop the adlagent on Mac computers, navigate to


/etc/altiris/deployment/adlagent/and run the following commands:

./adlagent stop
./adlagent start

4 Enter the IP address of the Ghost Solution Suite server which you want to register.
5 Enter the IP address of Mac client computer on which you want to install the agent.
After the agent installation is complete the agent automatically gets started. The registered
Mac Agent can be viewed under All Computers section in Ghost Solution Suite Console.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 48
Installing the automation agent

Installing the Ghost Solution Suite agent for Mac using command line
1 Copy the following files from <Install_dir>\Program Files
(x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server\Agents\ADLAgent\ from GSS server to
the Mac clients.
■ altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.Darwin.zip
■ altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.i386.bin
■ altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.x86_64.bin
■ altiris-tcsdk-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.i686.bin

2 Unzip the altiris-adlagent-2.6-<buildnumber>.Darwin.zip file.


3 In the extracted folder check if the altiris-adlagent-2.6- <buildnumber>.Darwin.pkg is
extracted and run the following command to install it:
sudo installer -pkg altiris-adlagent-2.6-<bildnumber>.Darwin.pkg -target/

4 After successful installation, go to <Install Folder>/conf/ folder and edit adlagent.conf file
and provide IP of the GSS server computer.
5 Then start the adlagent process /etc/altiris/deployment/adlagent/ adlagent start.
You can now view the managed Mac computers from the Ghost Solution Suite Console.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Agents” on page 37.

Installing the automation agent


Here are some other ways to create and install an Automation Agent, which is saved in an
embedded (recommended) or hidden partition on the client computer's hard disk.
■ For Ghost Solution Suite systems running the PXE Server, create boot menu options from
the PXE Configuration Utility, using one of the following methods: Boot Disk Creator,
Direct from floppy, or User Specified. See PXE Configuration Utility Help.

Installation help
The following are the help file topics for the Ghost Solution Suite Server installation program
that you can access by clicking Help or pressing the F1 key. These topics identify and explain
the elements on the dialogs used in the installation process.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 49
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server

Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server


Specify the eXpress Share (shared directory) where you want to store the image files, and
other package files. Before installing the Ghost Solution Suite Server, ensure that you have a
shared Windows or NetWare directory with free disk space and appropriate security rights.
File server path. Select the drive letter and directory path where you want to install the Ghost
Solution Suite Server. The default path is the Program Files directory on the local computer.
Create Ghost Solution Suite Share . If you are installing the Ghost Solution Suite Server on
a local Windows computer, select this option to create a shared directory as your eXpress
Share. If you are installing on a remote file server or if you select an invalid path, this option
is unavailable.

Note: If you are installing the Ghost Solution Suite Server on a remote file server, create a
share or grant access rights to the Ghost Solution Suite Server directory on the file server
before you start the installation.

See “Deployment Share or eXpress Share ” on page 25.


Select one of the following options to configure the licensing information:
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 49.

Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server using component install


Specify the eXpress Share (shared directory) where the image files, and other package files
are stored. Ensure that you have a shared Windows or NetWare directory with available disk
space and security rights before installing.
See “Deployment Share or eXpress Share ” on page 25.

Ghost Solution Suite Server install


Install the Ghost Solution Suite Server on a server. The service is identified in the Services
section of the Windows Computer Management as Altiris eXpress Server.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 23.
To install service on a local server
1 Select the On this computer option.
2 Enter the Ghost Solution Suite Server IP address and port information.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 50
Ghost Solution Suite Database install

3 Enter the path to install the Ghost Solution Suite Server.


4 Enter the user name and password of the Ghost Solution Suite Server. For a domain
account, enter the domain and user name. Create this account before starting the
installation.
To install service on a remote server
1 Select the On a remote computer option.
2 Enter the name of the computer or browse to where you want to install. By default, the
destination path and IP address of the computer appear.
3 Enter the user name and password of an administrator account for the Ghost Solution
Suite Server computer. For domain accounts, include the domain name (Example:
orgDomain\admin). The user account must have rights to the eXpress Share. Create the
administrator domain account before starting the installation.
See “Deployment Share or eXpress Share ” on page 25.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 49.

Ghost Solution Suite Database install


Install the Ghost Solution Suite Database on a local or remote server with or without an existing
Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) or Microsoft SQL Server. To install the database, you must
have administration rights to the selected server.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Database” on page 24.

Note: If you have multiple instances of the Microsoft SQL Server already set up, you can
identify a specific instance using this format: <SQL Server Name>\<database instance>.
The instance of the database can vary. Example: If you have a clustered Microsoft SQL Server
to manage multiple Ghost Solution Suite systems on different network segments, you can
enter the name salesSegment\express or marketingSegment\express depending on the
previously established database instance.

Install the Ghost Solution Suite Database using these options:


■ Select the Microsoft SQL Server instance where you want to install your Ghost Solution
Suite Database.
■ You can also change the default SQL Port number.
■ You can rename the Ghost Solution Suite Database default name, eXpress, by entering a
different name in the Database Name field. However, this does not alter the eXpress Share
name.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 51
PXE server install

See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.

PXE server install


See “PXE server” on page 26.

Note: If you have a Novell NetWare file server, you must set up the PXE Server after installing
the Ghost Solution Suite Server. The Universal Network Device Interface (UNDI) default driver
is not supported by Novell NetWare.


Note: This option is unavailable for installing the PXE Servers using the Component Install
option.

■ Select the Yes, I want to install PXE Server on this computer option to install the PXE
Server on the local computer.

Note: This option is selected by default for the Component Install.

■ Select Yes, I want to install PXE Server on a remote computer to install the PXE Server
on a remote computer. Enter the name of the computer and the path.
■ Enter the IP address for the PXE Server and the Ghost Solution Suite Server.
■ Enter the path where you want to install the PXE Server.
See “Installing the automation agent” on page 48.

Client connection to server


Select the protocol your managed computers can use to connect to the Ghost Solution Suite
Server.
Connect directly to Ghost Solution Suite Server. Installs the PXE Server using the Intel
Pre-boot eXecution Environment (for PXE-compliant computers only). You can use this without
PXE for faster access, as it goes directly to the IP address without searching.
If managed computers are on a different segment or if you are using the PXE Server with an
UNDI driver, click Connect directly to Ghost Solution Suite Server and enter the IP address
of the Ghost Solution Suite Server that the managed computers can connect to. Do not change
the port number unless the default is already being used.
Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server 52
Installing components

Note: If you change the port number, you must change the client configurations.

Discover Ghost Solution Suite Server using TCP/IP multicast. Lets the managed computers
connect to any Ghost Solution Suite Server. To use multicasting and connect to a specific
Ghost Solution Suite Server, enter the name of the Ghost Solution Suite Server computer.
Multicasting cannot be used with the UNDI driver. If you want to use different drivers on the
PXE Server, you can create multiple PXE boot files after installing.

Installing components
Click Install, or click Back to change the settings.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.

Ghost Solution Suite Database authentication


Specify the type of authentication the Ghost Solution Suite Database will use. You can select
Windows authentication or SQL Server authentication. If you select SQL authentication, enter
the user credentials with administrative rights for the SQL database.
Use Windows NT authentication. Select this option to use the Windows network or Active
Directory authentication.
Use SQL Server authentication. Enter the user name and password set for the Microsoft
SQL Server. If using MSDE, the default "sa" user name is used and no password is required.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
See “Installing Ghost Solution Suite Server” on page 12.

Add components
If you have already installed Ghost Solution Suite Server, you can add components to the
existing system. Select the type of component you want to add.
See “Ghost Solution Suite Server components” on page 22.
Chapter 3
Upgrading to Ghost
Solution Suite 3.3
This chapter includes the following topics:

■ Supported upgrade paths for Ghost Solution Suite 3.3

Supported upgrade paths for Ghost Solution Suite


3.3
You can install Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 (2121) in any of the following scenarios:
■ Fresh installation of Ghost Solution Suite 3.3
■ Upgrade to Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 from any of the following paths:
■ Ghost Solution Suite 3.2 RU7
The Ghost Solution Suite agent gets automatically upgraded on the client computers.
■ Ghost Solution Suite 3.1 MP 6
The Ghost Solution Suite agent gets automatically upgraded on the client computers.
■ Ghost Solution Suite 3.0 HF5
The Ghost Solution Suite agent gets automatically upgraded on the client computers.

Note: For troubleshooting issues related to agent upgrade by enabling and disabling
security: refer to the following article:
DOC9697
Upgrading to Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 54
Supported upgrade paths for Ghost Solution Suite 3.3

To get the latest binaries in the preboot images and automation folder environments, Symantec
recommends recreating the automation folders and preboot environment images after you
upgrade to GSS 3.3.

Nature of installation
Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 supports both attended as well as silent installation. The following
list outlines the nature of installation supported for Ghost Solution Suite 3.3:
■ Attended installation
To install Ghost Solution Suite 3.3
■ Silent installation
Ghost Solution Suite lets your run silent install of Ghost Solution Suite Server for the
following scenarios:
■ Fresh installation
To perform Silent Install for fresh installation
■ Upgrade from Ghost Solution Suite 3.2 RU7
To perform Silent Install when you upgrade from Ghost Solution Suite 3.2 RU7
■ Upgrade from Ghost Solution Suite 3.1 and Ghost Solution 3.1 MP6
To perform Silent Install when you upgrade from GSS 3.1 MP6
■ Upgrade from Ghost Solution Suite 3.0 HF5
To perform Silent Install when you upgrade from GSS 3.0 HF5

The following table lists the supported upgrade paths:

Table 3-1 Supported upgrade paths

Upgrade from Upgrade to

GSS 3.2 RU7 GSS 3.3

GSS 3.1 MP6 GSS 3.3

GSS 3.0 HF5 GSS 3.3

To install Ghost Solution Suite 3.3


1 Download and launch the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 installer.
You can download the GSS 3.3 using either of the following ways:
■ http://fileconnect.symantec.com/
Use the Ghost Solution Suite Serial number to download the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3.
■ https://www4.symantec.com/Vrt/offer?a_id=32763
Upgrading to Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 55
Supported upgrade paths for Ghost Solution Suite 3.3

Use your Symantec account to download the trialware version of the Ghost Solution
Suite 3.3.

2 On the Symantec Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 window, check I accept the terms in the
Licence Agreement.
3 Click Install.
4 Click Finish.
To perform Silent Install for fresh installation
1 Download and launch the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 installer.
You can download the GSS 3.3 using either of the following ways:
■ http://fileconnect.symantec.com/
Use the Ghost Solution Suite Serial number to download the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3.
■ https://www4.symantec.com/Vrt/offer?a_id=32763
Use your Symantec account to download the trialware version of the Ghost Solution
Suite 3.3.

2 Run the command axinstall.exe –i in the command window.


This command launches the installer and captures all the values from the different windows
and creates a silent.ini file.
If you want to launch the simple install, run the command axinstall.exe –i-S.
If you want to launch custom install, run the command axinstall.exe –i-C.
3 Run the axinstall.exe –t silent.ini command in the command window to complete
the silent installation.
To perform Silent Install when you upgrade from Ghost Solution Suite 3.2 RU7
1 Download and launch the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 installer.
You can download the GSS 3.3 using either of the following ways:
■ http://fileconnect.symantec.com/
Use the Ghost Solution Suite Serial number to download the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3.
■ https://www4.symantec.com/Vrt/offer?a_id=32763
Use your Symantec account to download the trialware version of the Ghost Solution
Suite 3.3.

2 Stop the following services:


■ Altiris Deployment Server Data Manager
■ Altiris Deployment Server DB Management
■ Altiris eXpress Server
Upgrading to Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 56
Supported upgrade paths for Ghost Solution Suite 3.3

■ Altiris PXE Config Helper


■ Altiris PXE Manager
■ Altiris PXE MTFTP Server
■ Altiris PXE Server

3 Run the command axinstall.exe –i in the command window.


This command launches the installer and captures all the values from the different windows
and creates a silent.ini file.
4 Run the axinstall.exe –t silent.ini command in the command window to complete
the silent installation.
To perform Silent Install when you upgrade from GSS 3.1 MP6
1 Download and launch the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 installer.
You can download the GSS 3.3 using either of the following ways:
■ http://fileconnect.symantec.com/
Use the Ghost Solution Suite Serial number to download the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3.
■ https://www4.symantec.com/Vrt/offer?a_id=32763
Use your Symantec account to download the trialware version of the Ghost Solution
Suite 3.3.

2 Stop the following services:


■ Altiris Deployment Server DB Management
■ Altiris eXpress Server
■ Altiris PXE Config Helper
■ Altiris PXE Manager
■ Altiris PXE MTFTP Server
■ Altiris PXE Server

3 Run the command axinstall.exe –i in the command window.


This command launches the installer and captures all the values from the different windows
and creates a silent.ini file.
4 Run the axinstall.exe –t silent.ini command in the command window to complete
the silent installation.
To perform Silent Install when you upgrade from GSS 3.0 HF5
1 Download and launch the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 installer.
You can download the GSS 3.3 using either of the following ways:
Upgrading to Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 57
Supported upgrade paths for Ghost Solution Suite 3.3

■ http://fileconnect.symantec.com/
Use the Ghost Solution Suite Serial number to download the Ghost Solution Suite 3.3.
■ https://www4.symantec.com/Vrt/offer?a_id=32763
Use your Symantec account to download the trialware version of the Ghost Solution
Suite 3.3.

2 Stop the following services:


■ Altiris Deployment Server DB Management
■ Altiris eXpress Server
■ Altiris PXE Config Helper
■ Altiris PXE Manager
■ Altiris PXE MTFTP Server
■ Altiris PXE Server

3 Run the command axinstall.exe –i in the command window.


This command launches the installer and captures all the values from the different windows
and creates a silent.ini file.
4 Run the axinstall.exe –t silent.ini command in the command window to complete
the silent installation.

Note: Symantec recommends closing the Ghost Solution Suite Console and any other jobs or
tasks that are scheduled before starting the installation of GSS 3.3.
Appendix A
Troubleshooting tips
This appendix includes the following topics:

■ Troubleshooting tips

Troubleshooting tips
To troubleshoot various problems that you might face during installation and upgrade of Ghost
Solution Suite, you can collect the following logs to analyze the issues:
■ Deployment Folder
A set of logs are created under the <Install_Path>\Program Files
(x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server
■ dbinstaller.log
■ dbmanager.log
■ PXE.log
If the PXE server is remotely installed, the PXE.log is created on the <Install_dir>:\ of
the remote computer.
■ PXEMgr.log
■ dataStor.log
■ logserver.log
■ Console.log
If the console is installed on a remote computer the console logs are created on the
remote computer.

■ Temp Folder
■ GSSupgradeutility.log

The following table lists the troubleshooting tips of Ghost Solution Suite:
Troubleshooting tips 59
Troubleshooting tips

Table A-1 Troubleshooting tips

Issue Description Workaround

The SEP Network Threat The SEP Network Threat Disable the following:
Protection feature blocks PXE Protection feature blocks PXE
■ Network-related policies
server connection. server from connecting to Ghost
■ Turn off the firewall if you want to install the
Solution Suite client computers.
agent remotely using RAI.

For an environment with SEP 14, For an environment with SEP 14, Upgrade to SEP 14.2 version as these issues
provide access to network for you are required to manually have been fixed in SEP 14.2 version.
Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 provide access to network for
You can also provide access to the executables
executables. various Ghost Solution Suite 3.3
manually.
executables such as
DBInstaller.exe. Refer to the Troubleshooting section of the Ghost
Solution Suite 3.2 RU7 release notes at the
following URL:

DOC11049

Installation or Upgrade to Ghost Installation and upgrade to Ghost Before you install or upgrade to Ghost Solution
Solution Suite 3.3 fails with the Solution Suite 3.3 on a Windows Suite 3.3, you must download and install the
following error: 2012 R2 computer fails. Microsoft KB2919355.

Failed to perform
Database changes before
upgrade.

In a distributed setup, unable to In case of a distributed setup In case of remote database setup, configuring the
access web console remotely with Windows Authentication environment by changing the Windows
using the IP address of the mode for SQL, you cannot Authentication to SQL Authentication.
Ghost Solution Suite Server. access the web console
remotely using the Ghost
Solution Suite Server IP address.

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