Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 ignores the "Only check alternative sources if definitions on the client computer are older than (days):" setting

Consider the following scenario:

• You deploy Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 Update Rollup 1 to client computers.
• On the Updates tab of the FEP policy properties dialog box, you select the Use Configuration Manager as primary source for definition updates option.
• You set a grace period by configuring the Only check alternative sources if definitions on the client computer are older than (days): setting.

In this scenario, Forefront Endpoint Protection does not apply the grace period and uses the alternative definition sources instead.

Note When the Use Configuration Manager as primary source for definition updates option is enabled, you expect the Forefront Endpoint Protection client to check whether the definitions were updated during the grace period. The Forefront Endpoint Protection client should fall back to alternative definition sources only if the definitions were not updated within the grace period.

This issue occurs because of the way that Forefront Endpoint Protection parses registry values.

To resolve this issue, install the following hotfix on the Forefront Endpoint Protection site extension, on the Forefront Endpoint Protection console extension, and on the Forefront Endpoint Protection reporting server roles.

The following table describes the updates that are included in this hotfix, the folder in the package in which the updates are stored, and the computer on which you should install the updates. Important This hotfix resets the Use Configuration Manager as primary source for definition updates option. Therefore, after you install this hotfix, you must re-enable this option for each policy that had this option selected. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Edit your Forefront Endpoint Protection policies in the Configuration Manager console.
2. On the Updates tab, click to select the Use Configuration Manager as primary source for definition updates check box.
3. Click Apply, and then click OK to close the window.

The Forefront Endpoint Protection clients will parse the registry values correctly during the next machine policy update cycle. By default, this behavior occurs every 60 minutes.

Note If you have already disabled the default FEP policy modification from parent status filter rule, you must also manually update the "Microsoft Corporation FEP – Policies 1.0" package on your distribution points. For more information, visit the following Microsoft website:

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft website: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 Update Rollup 1 installed.

Restart requirement

After you apply this hotfix, you do not have to restart the computer.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 file information notes

For x86-based version of Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010

Download informationMicrosoft Windows Installer .msp file information

The download contains the Windows installer MSP files that are listed in the following table:The English version of the Fep2010su1-fepext-kb2597508-x86-enu.msp file has the file attributes that are listed in the following table. The English version of the Fep2010su1-fepreport-kb2597508-x86-enu has the file attributes that are listed in the following table. The English version of the Fep2010su1-fepux-kb2597508-x86-enu.msp file has the file attributes that are listed in the following table. 

For x64-based version of Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010

Download informationMicrosoft Windows Installer .msp file information

The download contains the Windows installer MSP files that are listed in the following table.The English version of the Fep2010su1-fepext-kb2597508-amd64-enu.msp file has the file attributes that are listed in the following table. The English version of the Fep2010su1-fepreport-kb2597508-amd64-enu.msp file has the file attributes that are listed in the following table.The English version of the Fep2010su1-fepux-kb2597508-amd64-enu.msp file has the file attributes that are listed in the following table.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about Forefront Endpoint Protection2010Update Rollup 1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: