McAfee VIRUSSCAN 5.1, User Manual

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User’s Guide 299
Understanding iDAT Technology
The AutoUpdate utility will download each file it needs, in sequence, to
bring the .DAT files installed on its host computer up to date. From that
point forward, your network computers will install iDAT files, which
will reduce your update time and the demand on your network
bandwidth.
Scheduling internal .DAT updates
The AutoUpdate utility has a built-in scheduling feature that lets you
automate the entire update process. You can schedule updates for late nights,
for times when network bandwidth demand is low, or at other convenient
periods. The scheduling feature also allows you to set a “randomization
window” centered on the time you schedule for your update. You can use this
feature to send out a standard AutoUpdate configuration, with a standard
update schedule, but still prevent network traffic bottlenecks that might
otherwise result when all of the computers on your network simultaneously
try to update their .DAT files.
If some of your client computers are off, or if they do not have the VirusScan
Console running, the AutoUpdate utility will resume its scheduled task when
you next start the computer or the VirusScan Console.
To learn how to use this feature, see “Enabling tasks” on page 200 .
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NOTE: Be sure to schedule your client computer updates for a time after
you have downloaded and installed the update files on your central
server. If you configure your computers to download iDAT files directly
from the McAfee Web site, be sure to schedule your updates for a time
after the regular weekly .DAT file postings.
Frequently asked questions
Connectivity issues
Q: What happens if my machine is off when a scheduled update is due?
A: If the AutoUpdate utility misses a scheduled task because your computer
or the VirusScan Console were not running at the task’s scheduled time, the
utility will run the task the next time your computer or the Console starts.
Q: What happens if my Internet or network connection goes down during an
update?
A: If the AutoUpdate utility downloaded one or more iDAT files before the
connection loss, it will install them into your existing .DAT files and record
its failure to download the remaining iDAT files in its activity log.