Iowa State University IT

Configuring VirusScan for Auto Update

published by Information Technology Services

Handout WVT 273  / June 2006

Overview

Network Associates Incorporated/McAfee VirusScan has two upgradable components-- the virus definition files (also known as "DAT files") and the scanning engine. Until now it has been possible to automatically update the virus definition files but not the scanning engine. To update the engine, it was necessary to use VirusScan Updater in ITS's Scout.

It is now possible to have NAI/McAfee VirusScan automatically download updates to both the virus definition files and the scanning engine. McAfee calls this the AutoUpdate task. This document describes how to configure VirusScan to do AutoUpdate using the Iowa State FTP server.

1  VirusScan Enterprise 8 for Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP

If you have installed VirusScan Enterprise 8 via ITS's Scout package from http://www.it.iastate.edu/downloads/), you do not need to configure AutoUpdate. First of all, there is no separate AutoUpdate task; the AutoUpdate task will upgrade the scanning engine (and, in fact, install Service Packs and hotfixes) whenever it becomes necessary. Secondly, the Scout install configures the AutoUpdate task for you, pointing it first at the Iowa State mirror of NAI's update repository and then at the NAI sites; scheduling depends on how and when your machine connects to the Internet. However, if you'd like to change the scheduling or if you installed VirusScan from a non-ITS issued CD, here's how to configure AutoUpdate.

1.1  Add ISUftp to the Autoupdate Repository List
  1. Start the VirusScan Console. Click Start -> Network Associates -> VirusScan Console.
  2. Choose Tools -> Edit Autoupdate Repository List.
  3. Click Add, and fill out the form as follows:
    Repository description: ISUftp
    Retrieve files from: FTP repository
    URL: ftp.iastate.edu/pub/antivirus/CommonUpdater
    Port: 21
    Turn on Use anonymous login
    Click OK.
  4. The ISUftp repository will appear at the bottom of the list. Click Move up until it appears at the top.
  5. Click OK.
1.2  Schedule AutoUpdate
  1. In the VirusScan Console, double-click on AutoUpdate.
  2. Click Schedule.
  3. If it is not already turned on, turn on Enable (scheduled task runs at specified time)
  4. Click the Schedule tab.
  5. Choose one of the following under Schedule Task:
    If your machine connects to the Internet via... choose this option:
    Telephone modem. Run on Dialup
    DSL or cable modem or an Ethernet
    connection, and you turn the machine off
    at least daily.     		At logon
    DSL or cable modem or an Ethernet
    connection, and you leave the machine on
    for days at a time.     		Daily
  6. If you chose Daily above, set a start time and turn on Run missed task. If you chose Run on Dialup or At Logon above, turn on Only run this task once a day.
  7. Click OK, then Update Now. When the update is finished, click Close.
  8. Click OK.

Your machine is now configured to use the Iowa State FTP server for its primary repository. If the server is unavailable, VirusScan will instead check the NAI web and FTP servers, respectively.

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Configuring VirusScan for Auto Update was written by Solution Center staff and updated by Jeff Balvanz.

For more assistance, contact the Solution Center by phone at 515.294.4000, on the web at http://www.it.iastate.edu/help/, by email at solution@iastate.edu, or in person at 195 Durham Center.

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Copyright © 2006 by ISU Office of Information Technology Services

Permission to reproduce all or part of this document for non-commercial purposes is granted, provided the author Information Technology Services and Iowa State University are given credit. To copy otherwise requires specific permission. To contact the Editor, send email to itseditor@iastate.edu.