Virus Scanning Software and TAM Series 7

Product: The Agency Manager - Series 7

Applied Systems, Inc. strongly encourages agencies to have a virus scanning solution, though we do not recommend or endorse any particular product. While we do encourage the use of a virus scanning program, please keep in mind that virus scanning concurrently with TAM may cause a performance degradation, as program files pulled from a network must first be scanned before they can be executed. Additionally, it is a good practice to check with the vendor of the antivirus software on a regular basis for updated virus definitions to ensure protection against the latest viruses.

The following are provided as a general guideline for antivirus software setup, but by no means does Applied Systems consider this to be the only and best way to run or configure your antivirus software:

• It is recommended that antivirus software be installed and regularly updated.
• Workstation installations of antivirus software should be set to do real-time scanning of local drives only, not network drives. Should you not have a server version of antivirus software, thorough virus scanning of all local and network drives, as well as all software updating, should be scheduled to run outside regular business hours due to the performance degradation and program errors that may occur. 
• For performance and error reduction reasons, server installations should do real-time scans of network drives only. It is highly recommended that thorough virus scanning of all local and network drives, as well as all software updating, be scheduled to run outside regular business hours due to the performance degradation and program errors that may occur. 
• Unless performance degradation or errors are experienced, antivirus software should not have file/folder exclusions set other than those set by default in the software.
• Should performance degradation be experienced, file or folder exclusions should then be set with the minimum amount of exclusions which results in increased performance or reduction in errors. Adjustments to the exclusion list should be made incrementally, with thorough testing of the system between each adjustment.

  Warning: No exclusions should be set unless your system is stable and complete tape backups are completed successfully on a regular basis.
  
  It is recommended that exclusions be set in roughly the following order, though the order may change depending on your issue. 

  Note: Because the following are files or folders found on the network, it is recommended these exclusions be set within a server installation of antivirus software:

  • The AS_LOCK folder
  • The AS_TEMP folder
  • The TAM_EXE folder

  It is NOT recommended to exclude the following files and/or folders from your real-time virus scanning:

  • Program files (*.EXE), including the network WINTAM folder
  • Download and newly created files
  • Email
  • Operating System folders (e.g., C:\WINDOWS, or C:\WINNT)

1. It is best to suffer a little performance degradation than to open the gates to damaging viruses.
2. Search the website of your antivirus software for information and recommendations on setting scan exclusions.
3. Because some performance-related issues and errors that occur in TAM may be similar to those caused by opportunistic locking, also see the Opportunistic Locking and Byte Locking Errors document.
4. Applied Systems takes no responsibility for any issues that may result from having received a virus on your system.

Known Issues Related to Virus Scanning Software

Listed below are a few of the problems reported by agencies running virus scan software concurrently with TAM.

"SPOOL32" Errors When Printing in TAM

This problem may be due to a conflict between TAM and the Virus Scan software. Set the recommended antivirus software file and/or folder exclusion to see if this corrects the problem. Click Here to see a Symantec article re: SPOOL32 errors and disabling antivirus software auto-protect and add-ins.

Station Locking or Hanging in Several Areas of the Program

Correct Station Configuration, Reconfigure Virus Software When TAM Is Running

Check the station's configuration to verify that it is set to Applied Systems recommendations. For more information, see the following workstation configuration documents:

• Configuring NT 4 Workstations for Use with The Agency Manager Series 7.
• Configuring Windows 2000 Professional Workstations for Use with The Agency Manager Series 7.
• Configuring Windows XP Professional Workstations for Use with The Agency Manager Series 7.

This problem may also be due to a conflict between TAM and the Virus Scan software. Set the recommended antivirus software file and/or folder exclusion to see if this corrects the problem.

Click Here for more information.

"BGFILE" Errors or Station Locking Accessing TAM, or TAM Buttons Not Functioning

BGFILE records information regarding all users who sign into The Agency Manager Program. Developed to track licensed users and their movement through the program, it is also monitors users not exiting the software properly. It runs in relation to the Unlock utility.

BGFILE errors may occur when the file becomes corrupted or inaccessible. Corruption of BGFILE.BG may be caused by virus scanning software on the network. Reconfigure the software to exclude scanning of the AS_LOCK folder to see if this corrects the problem.

Click Here for more information.

Also see the following Knowledge Base articles related to antivirus software:

• Workstations With Norton 2004 Installed Automatically Reboot Upon Signing In To TAM
• CERT Caused a GPF (no details) Received Shortly After Click Add Button On The Holders Tab
• Random Internal Errors (IE72 or IE80) or Locking on Windows 98 Stations
• "LETTER32, Run-time error -2147221498 (8004006): Overflow" Returned When Attempt to Add Documents
• Exit Clients & Files, Then Cannot Re-Enter Without Closing and Opening TAM
• Validating Receivables Hangs While Sorting Aged Receivables
• Resource Intensive Utilities, Like DBMAINT, Failing with "Lost delayed-write failed, windows was unable to save all the data for the file \DEVICE\LANMANREDIRECTOR" Errors

Last Revised: March 20, 2008 01:20 PM