FAQ

The AVG clients can be connected to the DataCenter using the correct URL as the communication string. The URL is in format <adress>[:port]

where: 

• <address> is the address of the PC with running AVG Admin Server. The AVG Admin Server is connected to the DataCenter installed on one of the supported database engines. This address can be set as IP address or PC name of the machine, where is the AVG Admin Server installed.
• [:port] is non-mandatory port number. The default port is 4158.

For example, if the AVG Admin Server is installed on a computer named “myserver” and it is using the default port, the connection string is: myserver:4158

The connection string can be entered into AVG the following way:

• AVG client
• AVG - menu Tools - Advanced settings - Remote administration - Server / Port
• AVG Admin Console
• AVG Admin Console - menu DataCenter - Connect to AVG DataCenter

In order to install and use AVG Remote Administration, which allows the network administrator to remotely install, update, and configure AVG across the computer network, it is necessary to meet the following conditions:

• Network edition license number. If you do not own such product please refer to the Business Security section and choose the suitable solution for your network.
• Supported operating system. Their list can be found the Supported Platforms section.
• Remote Administration component must be installed on all client's stations. You can check its presents this way: run AVG program -> choose Advanced Settings option from the Tools menu -> find the Remote Administration item in the left tree menu.

If you meet all the conditions above please perform installation of AVG Remote Administration on your server this way:

• Please download the latest installation file of the appropriate edition that you have ordered from the AVG 8.5 Downloads section.
• Please choose the AVG Admin 8.5 for Windows installation file.
• When you are prompted, please do not open this file directly from the Internet, but click "Save" button and choose location where installation file should be stored. We recommend saving the file to the Desktop. 
• Locate the downloaded AVG installation file (it has a four color square icon and its name starts with AVG...) and launch the installation by double-clicking on it. 
• Follow the installation wizard and choose the suitable installation type. In order to install all components of AVG Remote Administration we would recommend you to choose the Full Installation option.
• Enter your license number when you are asked (we recommend that you use copy&paste method to enter this license number into the installation form).

As soon as the installation of AVG Remote Administration is finished AVG Admin Server Deplyment Wizard will be started automatically. Please proceed as follows:

• Please choose required roles for your AVG Admin Server (in case of the Full Installation type we would recommend you to choose both roles).
  • DataCenter role - allows central management of AVG stations configurations and collects scan results from stations.
  • UpdateProxy role - performs mirroring of downloaded update files for AVG stations.
• Please choose the appropriate database type. For more information about supported database types please refer to FAQ 1368.
• In case that you have already created an export/back-up of your AVG DataCenter 8.5 you can import it during this step.
• Please choose a folder where the downloaded update files will be stored. We recommend you to use the default folder C:\AVGupdate
• Check the list of AVG update servers - these servers will be used on stations.
• Check your settings of AVG Admin Server and finish the Deployment Wizard by clicking the Deploy button.

In case of any further questions or issues with installation of AVG Remote Administration please feel free to contact our AVG Technical Support team.

The migration from AVG Admin 7.5 to AVG Remote Administration 8.5 consists of several steps. This is a guide to this process, additional information about AVG 8.5 can be found in the documentation, or in other FAQ topics.

Before following this guide, please make sure that all clients that will be upgraded to AVG 8.5 comply with the AVG 8.5 system requirements.

Important note:
All stations that will be upgraded to AVG 8.5 will be restarted during the remote installation. Please see FAQ topic 1185 for more details. Please uninstall an old e-mail plugin if you upgrade AVG 7.5 to AVG 8.5 on your e-mail server. More information can be found in FAQ topic 1201.

1. Prepare a list of stations that will be reinstalled and moved to AVG Remote Administration 8.5 

• Open AVG Admin 7.5.
• Export the list of stations that you wish to upgrade to AVG 8.5.
  • Select stations that you wish to upgrade.
  • Right-click on the selected stations and choose Export stationlist option. 
  • You can export list of all stations, or create several lists - e.g. one for each group.

2. Export AVG Datacenter 7.5:

• Open AVG Admin 7.5. 
• Open Program upper menu. 
• Select the Export.. option. 
• Choose folder where the database will be saved.

3. Installation of AVG 8.5 Remote Administration

• Download the latest AVG Remote Administration 8.5 installation file.
  • Please select the AVG Edition based on your license.
  • Download the file AVG Admin 8.5 for Windows.
• Install the AVG Remote Administration 8.5
  • Your valid AVG Licence Number will be required during the installation.
• After the installation, follow the AVG Admin Server Deployment Wizard.
  • Import the previously exported AVG DataCenter 7.5 in the Data import step. More information on what configuration will be transferred can be found in FAQ 1672.
  • The AVG Admin Server will be started after the wizard.
  • Admin Server is listening on port 4158 by default, AVG Admin 7.5 and 8.5 can be running at the same time with no risk of collisions or conflicts.

4. Install AVG 8.5 onto the stations using AVG Network Installer Wizard

• Run AVG Network Installer Wizard from menu Start -> (All) Programs -> AVG 8.5 Remote Administration.
• Follow the wizard and configure all options according to your needs.
  • The default settings are sufficient in most cases and will ensure that the stations will connect to AVG Remote Administration 8.5 after the installation.
  • AVG 8.5 installation file will be required in the process. In case the AVG Network Installer Wizard fails to download it automatically, please download it from our website.
• Select Import stations from file option in the Network Scanning step.
• Browse to the previously created list of stations.
  • In case you created multiple lists, please repeat the whole step 5 for each of the lists. All advanced settings will be remembered.
• Confirm the list of stations and proceed with the installation.
• The last screen of the AVG Network Installer Wizard allows you to decide, if you wish to remove all successfully installed stations from AVG Admin 7.5.

As a result, you will have installed 2 different AVG DataCenters on the server:

• AVG Remote Administration 8.5 - all upgraded stations will log into the new DataCenter, and can be managed using AVG Admin Console.
• AVG Admin 7.5 - should the upgrade process fails on some stations, these stations will be still managable using the old AVG Admin 7.5.

Uninstallation of AVG Admin 7.5

• Once the migration is finished, it is possible to uninstall AVG Admin 7.5. Its removal does not have any effect neither on the AVG Remote Administration 8.5, nor on the clients.

Ports that need to be allowed in firewall for remote administration are listed below:

1. Communication on TCP port number 80
For downloading AVG updates from the internet to the AVG Admin Server UpdateProxy, it is necessary to permit outgoing communication for these components on TCP port 80.

For successful connection between AVG Admin Server and stations, you also need to allow other ports on your router/firewall/hub/VPN or other type of relevant connection type, hardware or software:

2. TCP Port 4158
For basic communication between the AVG Admin Server, the AVG clients and the AVG Admin console, you need to allow TCP port 4158 (predefined by default).

This port can be changed in the AVG Admin Server configuration and in the AVG User Interface on the station (via upper menu Tools -> Advanced Settings –> Remote Administration).

3. TCP Port 6051
This port is used for seding of messages between the AVG Admin Console and the AVG client. This port can be changed within the AVG User Interface on the station (via upper menu Tools -> Advanced Settings –> Remote Administration group).

4. TCP Port 6054
This port is used for sending of messages between the AVG Admin Console and the AVG Admin Server. This port is not configurable. AVG Admin Console tries to open this port automatically for listening, if the port is not available, it tries to open subsequent ports (6055, 6056, …) until it successfully finds an available one.

Note:
Please note that it is necessary to allow the communication in both directions.

To update your AVG Remote Administration to the latest version, please proceed as follows:

1. Check if a new version of AVG Remote Administration is available:
   
   • Open AVG Admin Console -> menu Information -> Check for updates.
   • If there is a new program version, click on the link to download the latest installation package.
2. Once the installation package is downloaded, please run it and choose the Repair installation option.
    
   
3. The AVG Admin Server Deployment Wizard will be started at the end of the installation:
   
   • Tick DataCenter role. If you are using AVG Admin Server to provide AVG updates in the network, tick also UpdateProxy role.
   • Perform backup of your current DataCenter.
   • Then choose Upgrade existing DataCenter database option and finish the procedure using the Next button.

Under specific circumstances, recent AVG program update may cause some AVG clients to disconnect from Remote Administration. This situation is caused by incorrect information about AVG installation in Windows registry, and occurs only when:

• AVG was installed remotelly onto the station using AVG Remote Administration 8.0.157 or older.
• The script contained parameter DONT_START_APPS.
• There is the following value stored in the registry on the affected station:
  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Avg\Avg8]
  "FRWFinished"=0

In case you encounter this situation, there are several ways to rectify it. You can choose the most suitable solution for your affected clients:

• Delete the mentioned registry entry from the affected station, and restart the computer:
  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Avg\Avg8]
  "FRWFinished"=0
• Run the AVG First Run Wizard application, go through all its steps and restart your computer:
  C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgfrw.exe
  
• Reinstall AVG locally or remotely on the affected stations. This will effectively repair the AVG-related registry information. Before proceeding with the remote reinstallation, please make sure you are using the latest version of AVG Remote Administration. For information on how to update the AVG Remote Administration, please proceed as described in FAQ topic 1466.

In case the issue persists after following any of these steps, feel free to contact our technical support.

In AVG Remote Administration 8.5, it is possible to manage servers with AVG E-mail Server Edition separately from standard AVG clients. This allows easier administration of AVG on E-mail Servers and eliminates the need of creating separate group for AVG E-mail Server Edition.

On the e-mail server side, the configuration of Remote Administration connection is the same as on standard clients, and is described in FAQ 878.

In the AVG Admin Console, you can find all connected e-mail servers in section Servers - E-mail Server. By double-clicking on one server it is possible to configure settings for each server. Shared settings for all e-mail servers can be accessed via menu Tools - Shared settings for e-mail servers.

Note:
To prevent accidental change of AVG for E-mail Server Edition license number using Remote Administration (which can in some cases disable the e-mail server protection), the configuration in AVG Admin Console - Licenses does not apply to E-mail Servers. To change the AVG license number on your E-mail Server, it is necessary to double-click on the server in section E-mail Servers (or open Shared settings for e-mail servers) and change the registration information in the configuration, section License.

The Alert Manager item in AVG Remote Administration 8.5 (latest versions) offers you an option to be informed about different AVG related events in your local network.

To access the Alert Manager settings please navigate to settings for all stations or group of stations or to single station settings. Than in the left navigation tree select the Alert Manager option.

Event list displays an overview of the enabled event actions. You can set the events parameters using the subtree items. It is possible to activate notifications via e-mail, save the event to NT event log of the specific station and also by sending the event to the AVG DataCenter. 

Available events are listed below:

• Scan log modified
• Virus Vault object added
• Virus Vault object removed
• Virus Vault object restored
• Threat found
• Scan started
• Scan finished
• Update started
• Update checked
• Update finished
• AVG startup
• AVG shutdown
• AVG component was unexpectedly terminated
• License number changed

Functionality of Alert Manager is similar to functionality of Notifications that are also part of AVG Remote Administration. More information about Notifications are available here. The main difference is, that Notifications can be specified globaly for all stations only. Alert Manager settings can be defined different way for groups of stations or just for one particular station.

AVG Remote Administration 8.5 is able to import and use configuration from AVG Admin 7.5, to allow easier transition to the newest version. The procedure of importing the settings into the new AVG Remote Administration 8.5 database is as follows:

1. Open AVG Admin 7.5 and from the menu Program choose Export... to save the current settings for AVG 7.5 stations from the database.
2. Install AVG Remote Administration 8.5. The installation file is available at our website:
   www.avg.com/download
   
   • Click on your product.
   • Download AVG Admin 8.5 for Windows.
   • For detailed instructions on how to install AVG Remote Administration, please visit FAQ 1375.
3. Once the AVG Admin Server Deployment Wizard is started after the installation, please proceed to step DataCenter role - Data import and browse to the folder with previously exported AVG Admin 7.5 database.
   
4. Finish the Deployment Wizard to import AVG 7.5 values into AVG 8.5 database.

The following values and settings from AVG Admin 7.5 will be stored in AVG Remote Administration 8.5. For a value to be transferred, it has to be set as Mandatory in AVG Admin 7.5:

• Shared settings for all stations and for groups of stations
• Shared settings for users
• PUP exceptions, Virus Vault settings, Anti-Spam settings
• Scan settings (only whole computer scan, Shell Extension scan and selected areas scan) 
• E-mail Scanner, Resident Shield and Update settings (excluding URL for updates)

Due to technical limitations, the following values will not be imported:

• Settings for station
• Firewall and Scheduler settings
• Admin Client and Alert Manager settings