Empirum 24.0 Update 2 - Release and Update Notes
About This Document
This document describes functional changes, bug fixes, known issues, modified behaviors and changed platform support that have been added since the last update. Please find the installation files of this version on Matrix42 Marketplace. System requirements, integration guides and instructions for installation and update are available in the Matrix42 Help Center.
Visit the following playlists on the Matrix42 YouTube channel to get a short overview presentation of the major new features: Link to English Video-Playlist | Link to German Video-Playlist.
Software Management
The Standard Feature Release version 2408.1.2 of the UEM Agent is part of the installation. Please check the Marketplace or the implace upgrade function via EMC for new versions of the UEM Agent. Further details and information about the new features of the UEM Agent can be found here: Matrix42 Marketplace
If necessary, adjust the UEM Agent update settings of your computers before the update. After the update, the UEM Agent is configured as not released, it will only roll out automatically to computers configured for pilot rollouts.
For using optional packages as part of the distribution flags, the UEM Agent of type "Standard Feature Release" starting version 2203.1.2 or newer. The UEM Agent Extended Support Release 2006 is not supporting this function.
Inventory
Empirum Inventory now also supports the ARM64 platform. This extension enables the inventory of devices running on ARM64-based architectures, thus extending compatibility to a broader hardware base. Further information on supported platforms and detailed technical requirements can be found in the System Requirements.
OS Installer
The latest WinPE 1.9.7 is integrated, but is ONLY installed for a new installation of Empirum. However, you can use the new function in the EMC Download latest WinPE Support Package. Further details and information about WinPE can be found here: WinPE
If you use only WinPE and no longer EPE to install your operating systems, you can delete all imported WADK and WAIK (Configuration > OS Installer > Import) permanently.
Old or unneeded PreOS packages should be deleted from the EMC and locally from the hard disk.
Please check here in the EMC in the tab Configuration - Software Management - Depot - Matrix42 PreOS Packages and delete all unneeded PreOS packages.
Locally you can delete the same PreOS packages from the hard disk in the directory "%EmpirumServer%\Configurator$\PackageStore\PreOSPackages".
Default PXE Image
With Empirum version 24.0.2, we have changed the behavior, when setting the default PXE image. From now on you have the possibility to set your default PXE image via subdepot variable. Previously you only had the option of setting this via DBUtil. Further information can be found on our help page, which you can find here.
End of Life Report
With Empirum version 24.0.2, the existing EOL report was updated with detailed information about the deleted disks, serial number, model name and deletion method for each disk.
Additional Changes and Enhancements
In this release, we've implemented data telemetry to capture anonymous usage metrics of our software. This feature strictly collects non-personal data related to the usage and performance of the software, ensuring user privacy is fully respected. This will aid in enhancing future updates and overall user experience. More and detailed information can be found here.
UEM Depot Sync
A new software package UEM Depot Sync 3.0 is part of the ISO and must be used in combination with minimum SFR UEM Agent 2312.1.2. The ESR UEM Agent does not support UEM Depot Sync. We recommend updating to the new package in order to be able to use all the new features of Empirum v24.0.1. Further information can be found in our online help for UEM Depot Management here.
With version > 2.0 of the package, the synchronization mechanism has changed in many areas and does not use the previous ways. We strongly recommend that you read the help article on our help pages before upgrading to this version.
ODBC Driver 17.10.6.1
With a new installation or update of Empirum, a new ODBC driver 17.10 is supplied and installed with immediate effect (if no newer ODBC driver is installed). Newly created ODBC connections automatically use the new ODBC driver 17.10. When updating Empirum, no existing ODBC connections are updated! The new ODBC driver 17.10 is also supplied and installed in the sub-depot PXE software package.
Empirum Web Console (EWC)
Updated the Tomcat version to 9.0.93 and Java version to 22.0.2. A manual update of the Java and Tomcat versions is described here.
Variable Configuration
With this Empirum release, we have revised the variable configuration, so that it is more user-friendly and easier to use. If a variable definition was changed, you were not notified of this in an existing variable configuration. You would have to delete it manually and insert it again. From now on, a new icon “i” will appear in the created variable configuration (left) and next to the changed variable (right). This indicates a changed variable definition. Deleting and re-adding fixes the problem. In addition, a message "Loading" now appears as soon as a task is performed in the background so that you know that something is happening in the background, e.g. synchronization with the database.
Boot Configuration
With this Empirum release, you can now see the WinPE version used in the properties of a created boot configuration. This can be found in the creation date area. This allows you to quickly and easily find out which WinPE support package version your boot configuration was created with. If you use the Packaging Center and create an offline PXE image, the WinPE version is also transferred. If the content is empty, this boot configuration was created and saved with an older Empirum version.
There is a further improvement in the “Download latest WinPE Support Package” area. From now on, you can see in the tooltip, as well as in the subsequent window, which WinPE version you are currently using and which version we are updating. This allows you to decide in advance whether you want to download the latest version or not.
Enterprise Service Bus
The Enterprise Service Bus is included in version 4.20.0 and contains new functionality for the UEM Depot Sync as well as some bug fixes.
Empirum SDK
Details and information about the Empirum SDK can be found here: Empirum SDK
Support and Maintenance
Extended maintenance period (LTSB)
Empirum version 23.0.3 is declared as LTSB version. Customers who are entitled to Matrix42 Premium Support thus receive an extended maintenance period beyond the release of version 25.0.0 at the end of April 2025.
Solved Issues
| Problem ID | Beschreibung |
|---|---|
| Software Management | |
| PRB37969 | Depot Sync Jobs fail, because of missing rights by Supdepot reinstall |
| PRB38300 | UEM Depot Sync does not synchronize Patches with download Type "manual" when using Patches_Source "Vendor" |
| Matrix42 Management Console (EMC) | |
| PRB38131 | Problem when activating software assignment - Client keep in status pink |
| PRB37484 | EMC: slow display of status of software packages |
| Matrix42 Web Console (EWC) | |
| PRB38192 | No display of the Custom fields values in the EWC |
| PRB38230 | EWC: Variable definition set is not stored using Web Console |
| PRB38225 | Probleme mit OnClickValue-Filter in Empirum Webconsole |
| PRB38273 | Variables of the preOS packages are not displayed in the Empirum Webconsole and cannot be edited |
| OS Installer | |
| PRB38160 | The option "Only respond to known devices." in DBUtil is not working by Offline PXE |
| PRB38213 | Incorrect creation of a boot configuration with Drivers (PXE image) |
| Misc | |
| PRB38169 | The Empirum activation service does not update the computer.ini on changing variable SUBDEPOT.USER_1 |
| PRB38138 | Windows Update is permamently deactivted by Patchmanagement. |
| PRB38236 | UEM Depot Sync - Push Sync sometimes does not sync all client configurations files (.ini and .ddc) |
| PRB38220 | Patch groups view shows wrong supersedence for patches |
| PRB38260 | UEM Depot Sync 2.2: Packages with german umlauts lead to corrupt DDC files on the depot server |
| PRB38226 | Empirum Packaging Center 24.01 DIFF method crashes |
| PRB38234 | The InvDateUtc for the LastScan date is now adopted in Asset Management in accordance with PRB37497 |
| PRB37476 | Empirum inventory: Name from OS is not coded correctly |
| PRB38243 | Patches are getting redownloaded on the clients with every scan or fix when patches are downloaded from vendor |
| PRB38190 | Ldap Sync: Entries with space, display name ist corrupt |
Known Issues
| Problem ID | Description |
|---|---|
| OS Installer | |
| The feature "WinPE http/s Support" has current restrictions and don't support the client certificate from the agent template. Also Disk Imaging is not possible over http/s. | |
| Linux Inventory | |
| Linux Inventory is not part of the release. You can find the latest version on our Marketplace here | |
Changed or no longer supported Features and Platforms
- UEM Agent older than version 2003.x are not supported with protocol http(s) anymore.
- The SubDepot package no longer sets the null session shares.
- Due to performance optimizations of the PXE service, the following behavior has changed when booting computer objects known in Empirum. If the checkbox "PXE capable" is not set when creating a computer object, the checkbox is NOT automatically set when booting the client from v21.0!
- Since Empirum version 22.0.1, the Empirum Automation Interface - EAI - no longer supports the reading of XML files.
- Since Empirum version 23.0.1 and WinPE 1.9.1 the reading of drivers.ini file is no longer supported.
Discontinuations for Version 24.0 Update 2
- No discontiunations
Scheduled discontinuations for version 25.0 and newer
- Sync templates are on maintenance starting with v23.0 Update 3 and will be discontinued starting with V25.0.
- The command line option /DIFF in Empirum Inventory is set to maintenance mode and will be discontinued with V25.0.
- Windows Server 2016 is no longer supported! The standard support from Microsoft ended on 01/2022
Preliminary actions before installation
When you are downloading a Matrix42 hotfix or patch, the downloaded file may have a 'Zone.Identifier' information attached (depending on your browsers security configuration).
Please remove this 'Zone.Identifier', otherwise some problems with these files can occur (files are not loading correctly or are blocked in the properties after downloading and must be unblocked manually):
- Right-click the blocked file, and then click Properties.
- In the "General - Security" tab, click "Unblock".
To avoid the 'Zone.Identifier' in future please add the address 'https://m42marketplacemediathek.blob.core.windows.net' as a 'trusted zone' in the Internet Explorer.
Installation Steps
- Log on to the Matrix42 Empirum Master Server using an administrative account.
- Make sure, that a backup of your location database and your installation directory (e.g. D:\Empirum) does exist.
- Copy the Matrix42_Empirum_24.0.2.iso to a temporary folder of the Empirum Master Server.
- Run the Autorun.exe with elevated rights (Run as administrator).
- If the system requires a reboot, please reboot.
All necessary Empirum Services on the Master Server will be uninstalled during the installation.
Post-installation Steps
Due to changes on variables all INI files are rewritten. The hashes of the Matrix42 software packages will be recreated. Depending on the number of objects, this may take some time.
- Check whether there is already an Empirum Hotfix Installer and install it if necessary. You can find this information here
- Start Empirum DBUtil and logon to EmpLocation and your location database.
- Confirm the location table structure update.
- Update your location DB using the Update Tables action.
- Select the services (except PXE/TFTP, DeviceDiscovery) which are required for your installation and then click Install.
- Now install the services PXE/TFTP, DeviceDiscovery (if used) on the master server.
- Reinstall the DeviceDiscovery service on all Empirum depot servers (if used).
- If the Empirum ServiceBus service is used and installed, you must now reinstall it again.
- On the Empirum Server run EMC > Configuration > Software Management > Depot > Tools > Check Versions to apply the changes of updated package properties (Personal Backup and Patch Management).
- Reinstall the Empirum Subdepot package and Empirum Subdepot PXE services (if used) on existing Empirum depot servers. You can use the Subdepot PXE Service package instead of updating the services via DBUtil manually.
- Reinstall the Empirum package Empirum Management Console 23.0 (EMC) on all affected computers. The EMC will be updated on your Empirum master server automatically during the update.
ODBC Driver Update to "ODBC Driver 13 for SQL Server" is only necessary when using Microsoft SQL Server 2012-2017:
ODBC Driver Update to "ODBC Driver 17.10.6.1 for SQL Server" is only necessary when using Microsoft SQL Server 2019 / 2022:
An overview of all ODBC driver can be found here
Directory Structure (not relevant for Cloud Customers)
The following files are stored with the extension *.old:
Post-command for OS-Installation:
- Configurator\User\UEMAgent.bat → Configurator\User\UEMAgent.old
If you have made adjustments in the original batch files, transfer them to the *.bat file. Then delete the *.old file.
If you have not made any adjustments, delete the *.old file.
If you have already saved a UEMAgent.old file, it will be automatically deleted and a new copy of the existing UEMAgent.bat will be created!
During the update, the content of the directorys
- C:\Empirum\Manual is moved to Manual_Backup.
- C:\Empirum\Configurator\PrePackages is moved to PrePackages.old.
If you have not made any adjustments to the original directories, you can delete the _Backup or .old directories.
Check if the Inv_scan_XML.bat file was manually updated and does not use an older version of Empirum Inventory.
Updated Software Packages (relevant for Cloud Customers)
The following Empirum software packages are updated but are not assigned a new version number. You need to update (reinstall) the following packages:
Infrastructure Packages:
- Empirum Subdepot 24.0
- Empirum Subdepot PXE Service 24.0
- UEM Depot Sync 3.0
Client Packages:
- Empirum Management Console 24.0
- Empirum Inventory 24.0
- Empirum Packaging Center 24.0
- Empirum Web Console 24.0
- Matrix42 Patch-Management Client Scan 24.0
- Matrix42 Patch-Management Client Fix 24.0