1.2 Compatibility Checking Behavior

For managed agents (nodes), the agents report the version incompatibility in the agent log file. On the server, the attempted connection by an incompatible agent is detected, and the agent is listed on the Orchestrator Console as incompatible and in need of either an upgrade or downgrade to the correct version. Also, an incompatible agent connection attempt causes the node manager on the server to raise a NEED_UPGRADE event that can be caught to provide custom handling of agents in need of upgrade.

This section includes the following information:

1.2.1 Behavior Shown by the Virtual Machine Management Interface When Detecting Incompatibility

The information in this section lists the known behaviors exhibited when the ZENworks Orchestrator Virtual Machine Management Interface is upgraded to version 1.3 and when other Orchestrator components are not upgraded.

If the VM Warehouse/Builder Services Are Not Compatible with the Interface

If the VM Warehouse/Builder services are not compatible with the VM Management interface, the interface generates an error detailing the version incompatibility.

Figure 1-1 VM Management Version Error

If the Monitoring Server Is Not Compatible with the Interface

Even when the Orchestrator Monitoring Server is newer or older than the installed VM Management Interface, it is not necessarily incompatible with the interface. The interface does not detect or display the version of the Monitoring Server.The Monitoring Server uses Internet browser capabilities to display its information in HTML format, so the monitored information is still available.

1.2.2 Orchestrator Console Behavior When Detecting Incompatibility

The ZENworks Orchestrator Console detects incompatibility only in the Orchestrator Agent. The information in the following sections details that behavior.

If the Orchestrator Server Is Not Compatible with the Orchestrator Console

When the Orchestrator Console detects an older version of the ZENworks Orchestrator Server, the console displays an “old” icon overlay over the grid object. The console displays a “new” icon overlay on the grid object if it is newer than the console. The version of the server is included in the tool tip display of the grid object in the Explorer tree view. The logged-in server shows the version at the very bottom of the view.

Figure 1-2 Orchestrator Console Displaying an “Old” icon

When an Agent Version Does Not Match the Server Version

When an older, incompatible version of the agent communicates with the server, the server detects it and flags the agent as “old.” This incompatibility is displayed in the Orchestrator Console, where an older version of the agent is shown in the Tree view with an “old” icon or in the Monitor view with an “old” icon. At this point, the agent also logs a fatal connection error.

Figure 1-3 Old Orchestrator Agent Resource Displayed in Tree View

Figure 1-4 Old Orchestrator Agent Resource Displayed in Tree View and Monitor View