What is the mirror for?

[B.S. Martin]

Hi all this might be a dumb quesiton but what does the mirror creation really do? I am installing SBS.

[wpn]

the mirror is th local database with virus definition and program updates so your clients go to that server instead of overloading your internet connection by goin to the internet server
the mirror server, mirrors the update server from internet....

(avast guru's correct me if im wrong pls)

[scythe944]

(avast guru's correct me if im wrong pls)

Yep, you're right.  There's no sense if every computer downloads the same file 100 times on the same network.  Just download once, and distribute to clients on the LAN.

Makes much more sense, eh?

[B.S. Martin]

Thanks for the help everyone! I have a few more questions do i need to manually update the local database or is that done automatically? My other question is can i view the local database to see the updates in adnm?

[scythe944]

Updates are done automatically.  You only have to update the ADNM console every once in a while, which you have to go into the control panel > Add/Remove Programs, click on the avast management server, and click, Change / Remove.  Then click the update button.

As I said, it doesn't have to be done often.  They only update it a few times a year (I think).

You can see all versions of Avast on all computers within the ADNM console.  There are reports as well.  I don't use them, but you can probably figure it out from the manual.

[scythe944]

Oh, you didn't say if you have SBS 2003, or 2008.  We've had problems getting 2008 to run, and I have a post where others have helped greatly on this issue.

Hopefully it helps you if you are using 2k8. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=41775.0

[B.S. Martin]

I am controlling everything through adnm console dec. 2008 so does that mean i am using sbs 2008

[scythe944]

No, that means you are using the Dec. 2008 "build" of the ADNM console.  That has nothing to do with what operating system it is installed on.

This also means that you already have ADNM installed (and apparently working).  Which leads me to believe that you have SBS 2003, otherwise you probably would have run into some difficulty setting things up.

If you want to know however, you can press and hold your "windows" key on your keyboard, then hit Pause/Break.  Or, right-click my computer and click properties.  It will say what version of windows you are running there.

[B.S. Martin]

Sorry yes I am using server 2003 I thought you wanted to know my avast version. adnm is up and running and all computers have net client installed and the server has server edition installed all lights are green in adnm. What I am trying to accomplish is making sure my net clients are up to date on the anti virus protection? I dont know if I have a database set up for the clients to download from?

[scythe944]

ADNM installs the database when you install it.  Then, it automatically downloads updates and pushes them out to the clients.  You can do that with my following explanation...

Look at your "Updating Tasks" in your ADNM console.  You should have an "Update VPS" task already.  Schedule it to run every day, at an appropriate time (meaning, a time when it would be least obtrusive to run the update on all of your computers ie. early morning, lunch, or after business hours) and when you know that your computers are on.

Then, you should also create another task that runs at least once a week that "updates everything."  Have it do a program update, which will update the client avast versions, and the VPS as well.

Then, you just let it run.  The only time you have to touch it is when new computers are added to the network and you have to push installs to them, or if you need to modify a setting or two.

[scythe944]

If you haven't done so already, you should read the manual, available here: http://files.avast.com/files/eng/adnmag.pdf

It explains how to do most things.