4.8 Pro Upgrade to 5

[Dewg]

My company has been using Avast 4.8 Pro for a few years now.  I've been lurking around these forums and see that 4.8 will be discontinued the end of this year.

I'd like some help from others on upgrading my userbase of 4.8 installs.  I have a few hundred users installed with 4.8 on my network.  I have a silent install on the network servers which puts Avast 4.8 Pro on machines automatically when they log in.

I have used the License Resend option to get my new Avast 5 Pro license file sent to me, and confirmed it shows the correct expiration date of my original 4.8 license (in 2011) as well as the correct number of licenses.

What is the procedure for upgrading my few hundred users to Avast 5 Pro?  I need all the settings pre-set, so the user has little or no involvement in the upgrade - preferably silent.  Also, when new computers join the network, how do I install Avast 5 silently?  With 4.8, it was the setupengpro.exe file along with admin.ini and tasks.xml in a directory.  Is it the same for Avast 5 Pro?

I've read several posts here about downloading an Avast removal tool, booting into safe mode, removing 4.8, restarting and installing 5.  That won't work a few hundred users, I just don't have the IT manpower to go desk to desk like that.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Lisandro]

Dewg, I've asked for official help here.
Hope they come here soon.

[Dewg]

Thanks, I look forward to it.

[Dewg]

I've heard nothing on this for quite some time.  Can we expect a silent install option for version 5.1?  I can't continue with Avast Pro for my company without a silent install option.

[DavidR]

I too have tried to draw attention to this topic.

[Dewg]

It's been nearly 3 months on this topic - any word on a silent install option for the Pro version?

[trjam]

trust me, this is not how Vince Steckler does buisness. Someone at Avast has dropped the ball badly. If you dont hear something from Avast by the end of the week, send me a PM and I will give you his email address so you can draw his attention to this. I would like to think somewhere something was overlooked, but no, this man with his background, did not come to Alwil to see stuff like this. Trust me on that.

[trjam]

Also, did you actually fill out a Avast support ticket on this issue. Because if in a case like yours if you expect to get the magic answer in a forum, then shame on you.   In a situation like yours the forum is not the place and a formal support ticket needs to be utilized.

There is a big difference between support forums, and individual support tickets.

[Vlk]

Hello, have you tried the /silent (or /verysilent) command-line parameter for setup_av_pro.exe? (the difference between the two is that /verysilent doesn't even display respective error messages).

Now, anyway, for a network of your size, I'd really recommend waiting for the new central management system that's coming together with v5.1. This will make your life much easier.

Thanks
vlk

[avast@@dvantage77.com]

DEWG, email me if you have need an answer.  AMS 5.1 is due out in September.  I am one of the new changes to avast! structure.  Real avast! tech support in America!  J.R. Guthrie

[Dewg]

The central management in 5.1 sounds like the solution I'm looking for.  I look forward to it!  As always, thanks Vlk for your response and recommendations.

[Dewg]

Hello, have you tried the /silent (or /verysilent) command-line parameter for setup_av_pro.exe? (the difference between the two is that /verysilent doesn't even display respective error messages).

Now, anyway, for a network of your size, I'd really recommend waiting for the new central management system that's coming together with v5.1. This will make your life much easier.

Thanks
vlk

Vlk - I haven't seen much on where the PRO software has gone since 5.1.  Did the central management system get released?  Can we now set all the config settings in advance for a silent install (like 4.8 allowed us to do)?

If the central management system was released - can you point me in the right direction for it and any documentation on implementing it?

Thanks!

[scythe944]

Hello, have you tried the /silent (or /verysilent) command-line parameter for setup_av_pro.exe? (the difference between the two is that /verysilent doesn't even display respective error messages).

Now, anyway, for a network of your size, I'd really recommend waiting for the new central management system that's coming together with v5.1. This will make your life much easier.

Thanks
vlk

Vlk - I haven't seen much on where the PRO software has gone since 5.1.  Did the central management system get released?  Can we now set all the config settings in advance for a silent install (like 4.8 allowed us to do)?

If the central management system was released - can you point me in the right direction for it and any documentation on implementing it?

Thanks!

Sorry for stepping on VLK's toes here, but since I just spoke to him personally last week about this exact issue, I believe that I can be of assistance.

As it stands right now, the "Central Management System" has been released for the 4.8 product a very long time ago.  It's the ADNM console. It's free, and can be utilized right now if you want.

As for version 5.x, there won't be a centrally managed system.  We all have to wait until the 6.x versions to come out which are speculated to be out around Apr '11.  This is not a concrete time though.

If you have current licenses for 4.8 when 6.x comes out, you'll be able to upgrade for free.  If you want to install the AIS suite, instead of just pro, you'll have to pay for an upgrade to your current licenses.

Anyway, once the new version is out, you'll be able to install the SBC (Small Business Console) and use that to push out the new 6.x versions out to your clients.

So, the best answer that I can give you right now is to hold tight like the rest of us, and wait until the business version of 6 is out before upgrading.  Otherwise, you'll have to upgrade all the workstations individually, with a login script, or otherwise, and you won't have a central management system to configure the settings.

Hopefully that made sense.