Primary server must be reached for PreAgent install on workstations with ZENworks 7.x Desktop Management

  • Document ID:7006395
  • Creation Date:03-Jul-2010
  • Modified Date:03-Oct-2012
    • Micro Focus Products:
      ZENworks Configuration Management

Environment

Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management with Support Pack 3 - 10.3

Situation

PreAgent package fails to install on ZENworks 7.x Desktop Management installed workstations that cannot reach the primary server.
 
ERROR (on zicon and in Application Event Log):
 
Cannot proceed because the pre-agent is unable to contact the server to decide on the uninstallation of the existing agent.

Resolution

11.x  This is fixed in 11.0 and documented in version 11.2 - see KB 7010044 "ZENworks Configuration Management 11.2 - update information and list of fixes" which can be found at https://www.novell.com/support
This is fixed in version 10.3.2 - see KB 7007237 "ZENworks Configuration Management 10.3.2 - update information and list of fixes" which can be found at https://www.novell.com/support
 
For 10.3.2, 11.0 and later, use -U for force ZENworks 7 uninstall parameter. 
 
-U: Force uninstall of older ZENworks Desktop Management Agent.
 
 
Workaround:  The device must be able to reach a primary.

Additional Information

Due to the new coexistence functionality, install of ZEN 10.3 agents to existing ZENworks 7 and earlier devices requires contact with the ZENworks 10 primary server zenworks-deployment service.
 
For more information see
2.0 Coexistence with Other ZENworks Products
 
In the later versions the error also more clear:
 
Cannot proceed because the pre-agent is unable to contact the server to decide on the uninstallation of the existing agent.  Rerun with the -U switch to force the install.