How to Version Control Agent?

[Kim Ford_1]

I've installed SIM with the repository manager on a management server. I have all managed nodes configured properly with SNMP and they are reporting hardware functionality.

Now I'm looking to configure the managed nodes for software. When I try to access the Version Contral Agent pages on any node, I get the following error: "The Version Control Agent encountered an error while obtaining the software and firmware inventory."

I've used SIM to reconfigure the agents without errors, but when I try to Replicate Agent Settings I get the following error: "There was an error processing the request to the agent, possibly due to a version conflict."

Note that I've successfully configured the management server's Version Control Agent, but I cannot seem to configure any of the managed nodes' VCA.

I've searched all over and cannot find the answer. Do I need to re-install VCA?

Thanks,

Kim

[Ananthak23]

Looks like SNMP community string is missing. Try providing SNMP community string in SNMP service properties page (Control panel->administrative tools->serivces->snmp)

-Anantha

[Kim Ford_1]

As stated prior, the SNMP community strings are all setup correctly and I am getting hardware data collection. All SNMP settings check out.

I have erased the domain name from the attached image.

I guess my succinct question is: How to config the VCA with the proper VCM credentials when I cannot access the VCA agent on the managed node?

Thanks

[Kim Ford_1]

Here's a picture of what I get on the managed node when accessing the VCA.

[Rich Purvis]

Well, I haven't seen this particular issue before but based on the message you are getting it would point to some problem with the VCA getting the inventory data, which it does through SNMP.

What OS, version of the agents, and VCA are you using? Are the HP Insight Agents and the VCA from the PSP or different?

The foundation agent is the service that actually populates the version information in SNMP, the VCA just retrieves it from there. Do you have a service running called HP Insight Foundation Agent?

-Rich

[Kim Ford_1]

HP Foundation Agents Configured - Still no go.

Picture attached.

[OlivierV]

Hi Kim.

Just one question. This message appears before or after entering credentials to access the VCRM ?

[Kim Ford_1]

Oliver, here's a couple answers your question.

1) The error occurs on all mananged nodes that I have been unable to configure the VCA on.

2) The error continues to occur after I deploy initial support pack and modifying the VCA on managed nodes.

Thanks.

[Ananthak23]

You can pre-configure VCA from VCRM. In VCRM click on catalog tab ->configure a component and then select VCA component. Type the VCRM system name, username and password.
Make sure that the overwrite option check box is selected. Then you can use SIM to deploy this component on the target server.
btw, what is the version of VCA that you have installed on these servers?
The latest VCA can be obtained from the link below: http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/22391.html

-Anantha

[Kim Ford_1]

Anantha,

Attached is a pic of what I see in VRM.

I see no configure catalog tab. I only see this when I go to deploy software.

I'm running Support Pack 7.20 until I get this stuff figured out, then I'll upgrade to 7.30, which just showed up on the radar.

My agent on the management server is 7.1.0.720; in the picture you'll see several entries for versions, including a newer 7.1.1.720.

Add/Remove programs reports version 2.1 on managed nodes, but I can't find another way to see deeper.

[Kim Ford_1]

I need to correct myself here. In testing by trying to deploy VCA to a server, I've found that both VCA's on the VRM server and the managed nodes are 2.1.1.720.

[Kim Ford_1]

One more thing...

When I try to replicate agent settings from the one server that works, I get the following error: "There was an error processing the request to the agent, possibly due to a version conflict."

Now I've just checked and both machines (source & target) are both running 2.1.1.720.

[Kim Ford_1]

I've read the following in the VCA User Guide:

"Why did the Version Control Agent encounter an error while obtaining the software and firmware inventory? The Version Control Agent requires the Foundation Agent 5.30 or later. You must install SNMP and Foundation Agents. You can download the agent at http://www.hp.com/servers/manage."

Foundation Agents don't show in Add/Remove Programs, but I assume that this is covered under one of the items displayed in the attached. Either HP Management Agents or HP System Management HomePage. Is that correct?

[Ananthak23]

To pre-configure VCA, you need to go to VCRM homepage by typing https://vcrm-systemname:2381/vcrepository and then click on Catalog tab in the VCRM Homepage and then click on Configure a component.
When you configure VCA, try giving the IP address of the VCRM system and proper credentials. Since you are using System Management Homepage from 7.20 PSP, please make sure that you have a valid OS account that has appropriate rights in System Management Homepage.
Using SIM, try force installation of VCA on the target servers.

-Anantha

[Jammy Hall]

It could be a port issue. Do you have a firewall between the SIM server and the managed node?

[Marvin Tuinfort]

I had the same problem today. But i solved it. The problem is SNMP. If you remove localhost from the Traps and security tab, SNMP does not function well. i had remove it my self. Then i add the localhost and it works.
Check it out. If you can't find it.
Let me know, i will send some screenshots.

[David Feldman]

I have the same problem but I am trying to access this from the local System Management Homepage. This is the first time I have installed this on a Win 2003 Sp1 server, my others are all win 2000 and does not give me any problems. I checked the Smtp section and I believe it is set up correctly.

[Pat Wilson_1]

Kim,

Going back to your post of Aug 6/05. Although the Foundation Agent doesn't show up in the Add/Remove Programs, did you check the running services?

If the "HP Insight Foundation Agents" service isn't there, then you need to re-install the PSP. I doubt this is the problem however - MANY other things would be going wrong.

Have you checked to see if the 'Software Version' agent is active in Control Panel -> HP Management Agent? (see attached)

Good Luck !

[Marvin Tuinfort]

If you start the Version Control agent local on the server you see in the browser the following address https://127.0.0.1:2381/cgi-bin/vcagent/cgi
The 127.0.0.1 ip address is the localhost. What i know is that VCA uses SNMP to get information of firmware, drivers etc. So if you remove the localhost from the Trap and Security tab it don't work any more.
I have some screenshot in rft document (Rar file) This is a test i did with SNMP and VCA.
Let me know if it works...

[Kim Ford_1]

If you add the server IP itself instead of 127.0.0.1 or "localhost" would that cause the issues I'm dealing with?

[David Feldman]

This may not be an option for all but I originally installed win 2003 server directly from win 2003 disc and did not use the smart start cd. I then today re-installed using the smart start cd and all of my problems with the agents have gone away. I have a new DL360.

[Kim Ford_1]

All... the magic hat has arrived!

The problem was resolved by adding "local host" to the SNMP settings, where I had put in the IP address of the system.

What to learn from this: Always, always, always, use "local host" on your SNMP setting. If you delete it and replace with another IP address. It won't work.

Thanks to all for your help.

[Sakti Chakravarty]

I know I've entered the conversation a bit late, but this is documented on page 375 of the HP SIM Guide:

"If you are using IP-specific security, localhost (127.0.0.1) must also be allowed to make SNMP requests to the host. The localhost entry enables the Management Agents to connect to themselves using SNMP."

And Kim, to clarify what you posted, "localhost" is one word - no space between local and host.

[Marvin Tuinfort]

Did the screenshots i send you solved your problem?
I want to know...
Thanx..

[Kim Ford_1]

All,

"localhost" one word, fixed the problem.

Thanks again.