Current Release Information Q2/2008

Avira AntiVir Server (Windows)

Upgrade to the new version

The new version 8.1 of the Avira AntiVir Server Windows has been released. With this new version you benefit from the new AntiVir Engine (AVE2) which is up to 20 % faster than the previous one and which at the same time needs a lot less resources. Therefore you should update to the new version as soon as possible.

Very often this is not possible for operational reasons. Therefore Avira will go on supporting the previous versions 8.0, 7.x and 6.x of the Avira AntiVir Server Windows for the time being. However, please note that this support will be discontinued on November 30th, 2008. After that date Avira will no longer be able to provide Engine and VDF updates for the above-mentioned versions.

By the way – as of release Q4-2007 (version 8.0) the Avira AntiVir Server offers an option to download and automatically install product updates. Please disable this option if you do not want to update to the new version 8.1 automatically.

Please keep in mind that the product update might call for a restart of the server.

Install with Microsoft Filter Manager (=MiniFilter) or Installable File System (= IFS)

The new version of the Avira AntiVir Server Windows is now by default installed with the Microsoft Filter Manager (=MiniFilter). This applies to new installations only. The server can also be installed with the Installable File System (=IFS-Filter). Please note that after an installation with IFS-Filter a restart of the system will be performed.

Avira Internet Update Manager and Avira Mirror Script

The Avira Internet Update Manager is now available as a stand-alone version for Linux (glibc 2.2 and higher). The Avira Internet Update Manager can now be used on Windows and on Linux systems to mirror the update structure of Avira products and the updates themselves on local servers. Please note that, starting with the release of the Avira Internet Update Manager, the Avira Mirror Script that had been used for the same purpose is no longer supported.

Upgrade of Avira AntiVir Professional using the Avira Internet Update Manager

On July 17th, 2008 Avira has released the new version 8.1.x of the Avira AntiVir Professional (AV 8). If you upgrade to this new version with the help of the Avira Internet Update Manager you might run into problems. Affected are the versions 2.2.0.16 or 2.2.0.17 of the Avira Internet Update Manager where the upgrade is cancelled with an error message and cannot be successfully finished.

How can you nevertheless upgrade to the version 8.1.x of the Avira AntiVir Professional?

• A simple solution is to switch off the option "do not download product updates“. You can find this option in the configuration (expert mode) under “General/Update”
• You will then get the most recent Engine and VDF files so that you are protected even against the newest threats.
• You can solve this problem in principle if you upgrade to the most recent version 2.1.0.8 (date 08.05.2008) of the Avira Internet Update Manager which you can download free of charge from the Avira Homepage.
  • Deinstall your old Avira Internet Update Manager and install the new version.
  • Add the Avira products that you want to update with the Avira Internet Update manger as of now.
  • Since the new Avira Internet Update Manager uses a new directory structure please do a first product update so that the new directories are created.
  • Go to the update configuration of the Avira AntiVir Professional and add the new directory path:
    - Old path: \\Servername\DestPath-Freigabe\upd
    - New path: \\Servername\HTTPRoot-Freigabe\Release\upd

All release information at a glance

Release Information Q2/2008