WPKG remembering problems

[Katalyst]

We use WPKG to assign the software and printers to the computers in a large school. The issue I'm having is for example:

 

If I take a teacher PC from the art department, re-image, add to domain and change the scripts and change it to be a student PC in History. WPKG Regardless of the scripts being changed and the fact the PC has been re-imaged. It's still remembering where it was previously and downloading the old printers and old software.

 

Is this a common problem? Has anyone else had it? I'm wondering if WPKG is cacheing memory somewhere?

 

Help

[Boredguy]

When you say you change the scripts, are you updating the host.xml so that the station knows it should be getting a different profile group?

 

WPKG only reads the XML files on your central repository and compares it to the wpkg.xml file that is kept on the stations C:\Windows\system32

 

If you have reinstalled the station but not updated the host file they it will continue to deploy the previous software.

As for your printers, that would depend how you install them anyway. We don't use WPKG for that but use GPO & GPP to install our printers.

[Katalyst]

Yes I'm changing them in the host file. For some reason it's still remembering what it's previously been assigned, printer or software wise. It's highly strange but I've been told this has been a problem with WPKG for a while. I'm trying to get to the bottom of it. There as to be something that remembers the name of the computer. We label ours to a huge asset database. I don't want to get into the habit of having to rename PC's for WPKG to work if I can help it.

[DJ-1701]

Very strange. Haven't seen this myself (though using WPKG-GP as opposed to WPKG). I looked at Bugzilla Main Page but there doesn't appear to be any similar case mentioned.

 

Have you checked to see if software packages are deployed on a partial machine name match before the entry you have in the xml file? Also if you have defined multiple xml files with machine names, ensuring that it hasn't been entered in two different files?

[Katalyst]

Thanks for replying.

 

I use multiple xml files to deploy to different classrooms and machines. The machine is in the correct place in AD and also not in any other scripts of WPKG. One of the techs who used to use it said it was a common problem with WPKG and no one has ever solved why it does it. I thought I'd give it a go but all I can figure is that in order to get over this problem I would have to reassign a different name to it which would mess around with the asset database.

 

It has to be storing memory somewhere on the machines. *frowns*

[Boredguy]

There is only a C:\Windows\System32\wpkg.xml on the client machine that lists what package is installed to the station, version number and install/uninstall strings.

 

We have been running WPKG for quite a few years now and have never had the issue your reporting as only your central repository with the Hosts and Profiles XML files tell the program what should be parsed when the script is run.

Might be worth double checking your hosts folder to see if your station is listed twice in any XML.

[DJ-1701]

@Boredguy is right, C:\Windows\System32\wpkg.xml is the only file on the local machine that retains packages which are installed or need to be installed, which it picks up from the server repository. So if there is an issue after changing the xml file on the server and reimaging the PC, the problem should lie somewhere in the server repository and not the local machine as the machine itself would have no data to go on.

[bennyboy84]

Hi

 

Have the same issue for many devices

Searched the profiles and confirm they have only 1 host entry

 

Have tried uninstalling wpkg, deleting wpkg.xml from system 32, reboot and re install - new wpkg.xml file in system but has the same software. Even removed the profile and add new profile to the host but dose not detect change.

Same issue with a clean imaged desktop - picks up a old details that dont exist anymore

Even rebooted the file share wpkg.js and all the .xml files are on.

Have even deleted the details of the host so it should not install any software, but nope still seems to find a old ghost file and downloads and installs.

 

When first setting up i had enabled in config.xml

Edited August 24, 2016 by bennyboy84