Use the update task to get the most current DAT files, scanning
engine, and service packs and patches.
VirusScan Enterprise
includes a default update task which runs every day at 5:00 p.m. with one-hour
randomization. You can create additional update tasks as needed.
Update task activities
These activities occur when you run an update task:
- A connection is made to
the first
enabled
repository (update site) in the repository list. If this
repository is not available, the next site is contacted, and so on until a
connection is made, or until the end of the list is reached.
- An encrypted CATALOG.Z
file downloads from the repository. The file contains the fundamental data
required to update. This data is used to determine which files and updates are
available.
- The software versions in
the file are checked against the versions on the computer. If new software
updates are available, they are downloaded.
Update task interruption
If the update task is interrupted for any reason during the update:
- A task updating from an
HTTP, UNC, or local site resumes where it left off the next time the update
task starts.
- A task updating from an
FTP site does not resume if interrupted during a single file download. However,
if the task is downloading several files and is interrupted, the task resumes
before the file that was being downloaded at the time of the interruption.
Update using EXTRA.DAT
An EXTRA.DAT file can be used as a temporary measure in an emergency.
The EXTRA.DAT is downloaded from the repository on each update. This ensures
that if you modify and re-check in the EXTRA.DAT in as a package, all
VirusScan Enterprise
clients download and use the same updated EXTRA.DAT package. For example, you
may use the EXTRA.DAT as an improved detector for the same potentially unwanted
program or additional detection for other new potentially unwanted programs.
VirusScan Enterprise
supports using only one EXTRA.DAT file.
Tip: When you have finished using the EXTRA.DAT file, you
should remove it from the master repository and run a replication task to
ensure it is removed from all distributed repository sites. This stops
VirusScan Enterprise
clients from attempting to download the EXTRA.DAT file during an update. By
default, detection for the new potentially unwanted program in the EXTRA.DAT is
ignored once the new detection definition is added to the daily DAT files.