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Updating CSAV v3.0 to CSAV v4.5with CSS Central

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CSS Central is a single point control center for managing Command AntiVirus on the network. It provides the ability to deploy, configure and maintain Command AntiVirus remotely, across platforms.

CSS Central is designed to facilitate the systems administrator in the important job of keeping anti-virus protection up-to-date, offering automated downloads, installation and deployment of full product, components and virus signature updates.

IMPORTANT: These instructions apply to setting up the Automatic Update and Deployment features found within CSS Central and Command AntiVirus v4.5. Before any of the instructions can be followed, the following steps must be performed. For information concerning these steps, please refer to the manual.

  1. Install CSS Central.
  2. Create a database by selecting New from the File Menu.
  3. Type in the name you wish to call the database.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Install Command AntiVirus CSAV v4.5 on the same workstation as CSS Central.

1.1 Automated Downloads and Deployment using CSS Central to upgrade CSAV v3.0 to CSAV v4.5.

This section describes how to update from version 3.0 of Command AntiVirus. Please note that these instructions apply specifically to update v3.0 only.

IMPORTANT: For Windows 95 machines only, we recommend setting up an alternate path location for task files as CSAV v4.5 and CSS Central cannot properly interpret the old ones. This can be easily accomplished by modifying the setup.ini. Otherwise, users will have to delete the old task files on their systems. The steps for doing this are outlined in the appropriate section of this document.

One of the many functions of CSS Central is to download and deploy Command AntiVirus and associated definition files. There are two areas two configure for downloading and deployment, and three areas which allow for additional management of these features.

IMPORTANT: CSS Central requires that Command AntiVirus v4.5 be installed to the same workstation/server. CSS Central is installed by default when CSAV for NT server is installed. If a '95 or NT workstation is being used, both CSS Central and CSAV v4.5 will need to be installed. The steps below will not function until this has been done.

1.1.1 Configure FTP
Used to set up the FTP information, to specify the Staging and AutoUpdate directory locations, and to schedule downloads. To configure:
  1. Select Configure FTP from the Update menu.
  2. In the Primary FTP tab, enter your userid and password which has been assigned from Command Software. If you do not have a userid and password assigned, you will need to contact our Customer Service department.
  3. The Secondary FTP tab may be left blank, or may be filled in with an alternate location.
  4. After completing the site information, click the Local Configuration Tab.
  5. Type in the path, or browse to the location, of the Staging directory. If the path specified does not exist, it will be created for you. The Staging directory will be the location of the downloaded files. This directory may be on a local drive, and does not need to be shared by users. It can, of course, be on a shared network drive if desired.
  6. Type in the UNC path of the AutoUpdate directory. If the path specified does not exist, it will be created for you. The AutoUpdate directory will contain files which have been deployed for updating user machines. The necessary sub-directory structure to contain these update files will be dynamically created by CSS Central when deploys are accomplished.
  7. Write down the UNC path for reference.
  8. If you wish Scheduled Downloads to occur, click the Schedule button and select the desired options. Times must be entered in a 24-hour format.
  9. Click OK to return to the Local Configuration tab.
  10. Click OK on the FTP Configuration menu to accept these options. All settings will be saved to CSSFTP.INI file in your local F-PROT95 directory.
  11. Proceed to Section 1.1.2 below. You are now ready to configure the type of download desired, and to specify the action which should be taken with these newly downloaded files. To help you make the choices best suited for your needs, a brief explanation of the available download types and actions is warranted.
1.1.2 Configure Platforms
Used to specify the desired platforms and download types, as well as the download action to be taken. Product updates are downloaded from the designated FTP site to the local Staging directory specified in the Configure FTP menu. There are three types of product updates:
  1. Full Product Updates contain a complete set of installation files.
  2. Component Updates are updates to individual files that upgrade the features and/or performance of the current version
  3. Signature File Updates contain current virus signature definition files.
Aside from the obvious choices of platform and file type, there is also the action to be taken on download which must be considered. CSS Central offers downloading to the Staging directory as well as downloading to the Staging directory and automatically deploying those files to the AutoUpdate directory. Once these files are deployed to the AutoUpdate directory, they will be immediately accessible to user machines for upgrading. While this automation is ideal for signature definition files, some administrators may prefer to not use automatic deployment for full product or component updates. This would allow them an opportunity to review, or "certify", the product prior to distribution. CSS Central allows full customization of these options.
  1. Choose Configure Platforms from the Update menu. The dialog contains 6 tabs, one for each platform of CSAV supported by CSS Central.
  2. Choose the desired platform tab.
  3. Choose the type of download desired. You may choose as many as you like. If nothing is chosen, no downloads will occur.
  4. For each type of download selected, choose whether Scheduled Downloading and/or Automatic Deployment should occur. If Automatic Deployment is selected, it will only occur during a Scheduled Download. If the Action to Take is Automatic Deployment, click OK and proceed to Section 1.1.4. If Automatic Deployment was NOT selected, proceed to Step 5.
  5. When the appropriate selections have been made, click OK. These choices will be saved in CSSFTP.INI in the F-PROT95 directory on the local drive.
  6. Proceed to Section 1.1.3 below.

    Note: If you wish to force a download, click the Download Now button for the desired type of download. However, please be aware that if Download Now is used, automatic deployment will not take plus. For more information regarding manually deploying the files, please read the Update File Management section below.

    1.1.3 Update File Management
    Provides additional flexibility by allowing administrators "one-button" manual overrides for all the download and deployment options. Update File Management can be used as an emergency download and deploy tool, or it can be used as the sole means of centralized update management. It's flexibility is further enhanced by its "roll-back" feature, which allows administrators to roll-back to a previous installation of Command AntiVirus.

    When files are automatically downloaded via CSS Central, they can be viewed and deployed from the Update File Management dialogue. If the files were received on floppy disk, or downloaded without using CSS Central, there is a special import feature. The Import and the Download Now options are discussed in Section 1.2.

    To force deployment of files downloaded via CSS Central:

    1. Choose Update File Management from the Update menu.
    2. Choose the desired platform from the drop-down Platform menu, or choose All Platforms. The list of files shown will change to reflect the platform specified. If All Platforms is selected, all files downloaded will display.
    3. Highlight the file(s) you wish to deploy.
    4. Click Deploy Now. This moves the files from the Staging directory to the Automatic Update directory.
    5. Create a directory on a shared drive to contain new task files.
    6. Switch to the Automatic Update directory and, using CSSFILES.INI as a guide, locate the setup.ini files for the platform(s) you are planning to deploy. Edit the following section in the setup.ini(s):

      ; Location of system task files; If empty the directory will be the target directory
      Task(where TASKDIR=name of the task directory created)

      ; Use a previous location if found in the registry
      UsePrevTask

    7. Proceed to Section 1.1.4.
    1.1.4 Performing First-Time Remote Installations of CSAV v4.5
    CSAV v4.5 can be easily deployed to systems which are not running a previous version of Command AntiVirus. The installation is performed via a special loader program which can be emailed to users or placed in the login script.
    1. The steps outlined in the previous sections must be followed prior to deploying first time installations.
    To email the loader program:
    1. Select Send Install To from the Remote Installation menu.
    2. Highlight the desired email recipient(s).
    3. Click OK. Each designated recipient will receive an email with the loader program attached. The subject line of the email instructs the user to "Run this program to install Command AntiVirus on your system". This could be modified by sending the loader program to yourself only, reattaching Loader.exe to a new email, adding the appropriate text desired, and sending to all desired recipients.

    Note: If a user does not install CSAV v4.5, CSS Central will detect this when a "Read Remote Configuration" is performed. The user will be clearly identified with an asterisk (*), thereby alerting the administrator to the discrepancy.

    Calling via a login script:

    1. Within the CSS Central directory, locate the file _loader.exe.
    2. Copy this file to the AutoUpdate directory specified in Section 1.1.1, Step 7.
    3. If it is an NT login script, proceed to Step 5.
    4. If it is a Novell login script, add the following line:
      #COMMAND \drive\path\_LOADER.EXE
      where \drive\path\ indicate the AutoUpdate directory specified in Section 1.1.1, Step 7.
    5. If it is a Windows NT login script, add the following line:
      @COMMAND \drive\path\_LOADER.EXE
      where \drive\path\ indicate the AutoUpdate directory specified in Section 1.1.1, Step 7.
    6. Users will be automatically updated to CSAV v4.5 at their next login.

    IMPORTANT: If you are performing first-time installations to NT, you will need to run CSS-AMGR.EXE once to setup the necessary admin accounts. Because CSAV for NT installs as a service, this step is required. To use CSS-AMGR.EXE:

    1. From the administrator's NT workstation, execute CSS-AMGR.EXE. This file will be located on the install disk set or within the directory from which CSAV for NT will be installed.
    2. Select the desired option regarding the type of Admin account to use or create. For this example, we recommend Option 1. For other options, please refer to the appropriate user manual for CSAV for NT.
    3. Assuming Option 1 was chosen, you will be prompted to enter the Domain, User Name, and Password you wish to use. This must be a valid Admin account.
    4. You will be prompted for the method of collecting information on the remote systems. IT is recommended you choose the option "Collect information about all computers that are members of a particular domain or workgroup�"
    5. The next screen prompts for the name of the domain to be searched. Type the name of the domain if it differs from the one displayed, and click Next.
    6. A list of all available NT workstations and servers will be displayed. Unlisted computers may be added via the Add an Unlisted Computer button. When complete, click Next.
    7. CSS-AMGR will now modify the available NT workstations and servers so that installations of CSAV for NT can be performed.

    Note: The account created is encrypted and will be invisible to the users. This method does not require local users to have administrative rights to their own systems.

    Special Restrictions when updating v3.0 to v4.5:

    For Windows NT: Default settings under CSAV NT may be altered. This will be cleared as soon as a Read/Write Remote Configuration has been performed to deploy preferences to users. Please consult the CSS Central manual for details. Also, MACRO97.DEF and FPUNINST.EXE will be left behind. The system operates normally, and these files are not used by CSAV v4.5.

    For Windows 95: The system requires a reboot upon completion of the installation. Failure to reboot will result in inconsistent and unwelcome behavior. Until the system is rebooted, you will also see the older F-Agent icon in the system tray. Some tmp files and NWCURR.DAT may be left in you Win95/Temp directory as well. These files may be deleted.