When you run a patch acquisition, you can also download the latest Version and updates to the Patch Agent files. The Patch Agent files include the scripts to perform product discovery and management. These files are received from the Patch Update web site provided by HP. After download, the files are published to the PATCHMGR Domain and connected to the DISCOVER_PATCH Service instance.
Use the Agent Updates task to determine the status of updates.
To view the Agent Updates, from the Console Operations tab, select Patch Management > Agent Updates.
Agent files are distributed when the DISCOVER_PATCH Service is processed on the Patch Manager target device. This is accomplished through a connection in the DISCOVER_PATCH Service to the PATCH Instance in the AUTOPKG Class. In turn, the AUTOPKG.PATCH Instance connects to the agent maintenance packages created when you selected Publish or Publish and Distribute. If you have selected to publish only (not to distribute), you will need to create connections from the appropriate instance in the PACKAGE Class to the AUTOPKG.PATCH Instance. Use the Admin CSDB Editor to do this. An example is shown below.
Create connections to the published package
Note: AIX, HP-UX and Solaris are not currently supported.
Agent Updates has the following values:
There are two parameters that control which agent updates you download.
Caution: Never choose an agent version that is lower than the version of Patch Manager that is first installed or currently implemented in your enterprise.
To update to the current version, specify Version 9.
Migrating customers are advised to set the Publish and Distribute option and set the Agent Updates Version to Version 9. This ensures the successful migration of Windows and Linux Patch Agents to Version 9.
Note that when patches are acquired from Microsoft Update, the Source column in the report will show “Microsoft Update” instead of “Microsoft.”
Caution: To accommodate Microsoft Update technologies, your target devices must have the Windows Update Agent installed. The Patch Manager acquisition process automatically acquires the latest Windows Update Agent required to perform vulnerability scans and patching when leveraging Microsoft Update Catalog technologies. The DISCOVER_PATCH Service will automatically apply the current Windows Update Agent to the managed device on the next agent connection.
Note: Windows Update Agent (WUA) uses the Automatic Updates Windows service, which must be set to either Automatic or Manual on target devices. The Automatic Updates service can be in a stopped state because WUA will start it as needed.