The Software Updates Client Agent in Configuration Manager 2007 is installed on Configuration Manager Client computers by default. When the client agent is disabled, the client agent components are put into a dormant state, but not completely removed on clients. Reenabling the Software Updates Client Agent initiates a policy requesting that the components on clients be reactivated. The Software Updates Client Agent is configured on a site-by-site basis and affects only clients assigned to that site. Disabling the Software Updates Client Agent at a site prevents software update compliance assessment scans from occurring on any clients assigned to the site. Use the following procedure to disable the Software Updates Client Agent.

To disable the Software Updates Client Agent

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Site Management / <site code> <site name> / Site Settings / Client Agents.

  2. Right-click Software Updates Client Agent, and then click Properties.

  3. Clear Enable Software Updates on clients, and click OK.

Client Agent Components Left on Uninstalled Clients

When the Software Updates Client Agent is removed from a client, there might be one log file and the temporary inventory tool cache might remain on clients. These components do not affect the client computer or future reinstallation of the Configuration Manager Client. Use the following procedure to remove the files from the client computer.

To remove Software Updates Client Agent components

  1. Browse to %systemroot%\System32\ccm\logs. For Configuration Manager Client computers that are also management points, browse to <drive letter>:\Program Files\SMS_CCM\logs.

  2. Remove Patchinstall.lo_, which is present only when a Systems Management Server 2003 client is upgraded to Configuration Manager 2007 and then later removed.

  3. Browse to the temporary inventory tool cache. This folder is in %systemroot%\System32\VPCache by default.

  4. Remove VPCache and all of its contents, which are present only if the client computer previously had an inventory scan tool installed, such as the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates.

    Note
    The temporary inventory tool cache path is stored on clients in the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SMS\VPCache. The VPCache registry key can also be deleted. In some circumstances, there could be more than one cache location.

See Also