Dependent application fails to be installed when distributing with BITS

  • Document ID:3692298
  • Creation Date:21-Aug-2007
  • Modified Date:30-Apr-2012
    • Micro Focus Products:
      ZENworks Desktop Management

Environment


Novell ZENworks 7 Desktop Management Support Pack 1 - ZDM7 SP1 Application Launcher (NAL)
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Windows XP Professional Support Pack 2

Situation

If there is a dependent application (MSI install) that is being distributed via BITS, and the (main) application (launch of an executable) is started, the user will get an message that there is a background transfer running for this application, and that the user has to wait until this is finished. When the user clicks OK, the application will start, but the background transfer has not completed.

Resolution

Fixed in ZENworks 7 Desktop Management Service Pack 1 Interim Release 3a, see KB 3484245 "Updates to Novell ZENworks 7 Desktop Management" which can be found at https://www.novell.com/support

Additional Information

PROBLEM STATEMENT:
If there is a dependent application (install of MSI) that is being distributed via BITS, and the (top) application (start of program) is started, the user will get an message that there is a background transfer running for this application, and that the user has to wait until this is finished. When the user clicks OK, the application will start when the transfer is done, but the application is not installed new. When checking the registry, this will show 2 different version numbers. The key HKCU\Software\Netware\NAL\1.0\Static\\\Version will have the proper version. The key HKCU\Software\Netware\NAL\1.0\Distribute\\\Version is still the old version. Running a verify will not re-install the first application. To fix this problem, the version number should be increased and also the application should be force run. After a refresh of NAL the application will be re-installed.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE:
First configure the XP SP2 workstation for BITS and lower the speed of downloading:
  1. Log in locally as administrator Start gpedit.msc Go to Local Computer Policy / Administrative Templates / Network / Background Intelligent Transfer Service Change the "Maximum network bandwith that BITS uses" to 10 Kbps (twice)
  2. Click on OK, close GPEDIT.MSC and restart the workstation.
  3. Login with admin rights to NDS.
  4. Change the launcher configuration for the user the tests will be performed with. Change "Enable BITS" to Yes and "Allow user to override BITS transfer" to No.
Now create an application that has an MSI to install the application locally. For test purpose, this MSI should not be to small; there is some time needed for bits to download the application's MSI:
  1. Create an application that uses an MSI and only install this application. The application should be disconnectable and force cache.
  2. Create an simple application that will execute the program. This should be disconnectable and as dependent application you should select the application created under step 1. Assign the user to the application and check if the user has rigths to download the application from the network.
  3. Login as this user. The (install-)application should be cached. When this is done start the application. The application will be installed and afterwards executed.
  4. Increase the version off the application created under step 1 (the install application).
  5. Refresh the NAL. Wait a few seconds and then start the application. A message will appear that there is a background transfer running. Pressing OK, will start the application will start when the download is finished.
  6. If the application has started, close the application.
  7. Start regedit. The key HKCU\Software\Netware\NAL\1.0\Static\\\Version will have the proper version. The key HKCU\Software\Netware\NAL\1.0\Distribute\\\Version is still the old version. The application has not been reinstalled.