What you will do: check which version of Warden your server is running, install an update when one is offered, and decide whether updates install automatically. Warden updates itself by default, so most offices never need to do anything here.
Time: about 5 minutes.
You need: an administrator account on the server and the Prixl Warden Dashboard icon on its desktop.
How updates work
- A separate Windows service, Prixl Warden Updater, checks with Prixl every few minutes for a new version. When it installs one, it replaces the Warden program and restarts the Warden service. It does not re-run the installer.
- Each update restarts the service, so monitoring pauses for a short while and then carries on.
- Updates come in three kinds, shown by the colour of the dashboard banner: optional (blue), security fix (amber) and mandatory (red). A mandatory update may have a “required by” date.
- With automatic updates on (the default), an update installs at the time Prixl has scheduled for it, or straight away if no time is set. There is no maintenance window you can choose; if you want an update at a convenient moment, install it yourself before then.
- You may also get an email from [email protected]: “Mandatory update”, “Security update available” or “is now available”, with the version number.
Steps
Check your version
- On the server, double-click the Prixl Warden Dashboard icon on the desktop and click Yes at the Windows permission prompt.
- Look at the top right of the dashboard. It shows “version – v” followed by the version number.
- To check for a newer version now, click the menu button (three lines, “More options”) at the top right, choose Info, scroll to the bottom and click Check for updates. You will see either “You are on the latest version.” or a message that a new version is available, after which the page reloads.
Your IT vendor can also check from a command prompt on the server:
prixl-warden --versionInstall an update now
- When an update is available, a banner at the top of the dashboard reads “Warden version is available”, sometimes followed by “includes a security fix” or “required by” a date. Click Update Now.
- A window shows a badge (MANDATORY, SECURITY FIX or OPTIONAL), the Current version, the New version, the release date and a What’s new list. It also tells you whether the update will install automatically and when.
- Click Install Update. The window shows “Downloading…”, “Verifying integrity…” and “Installing…”, then a message while the service restarts, then “Update complete! Reloading…”.
- Wait for the dashboard to reload. Do not restart the server while this is happening. If an error appears, click Retry.
Turn automatic updates off or on
- Click Settings in the left-hand menu and scroll to Software Updates.
- Use the switch Install updates automatically. It is on by default.
When it is off, optional updates wait until you click Install Update. Security updates marked mandatory still install automatically once their deadline passes, whatever this switch says. The setting applies to this server only, from its next check-in with Prixl. We recommend leaving it on.
Check it worked
- After an update, the version at the top right of the dashboard shows the new number and the update banner has gone.
- Check for updates on the Info page says “You are on the latest version.”
- In Services, both Prixl Warden Activity Monitor and Prixl Warden Updater are Running.
If something goes wrong
- “Check failed” or “Network error”: the server needs outbound HTTPS (port 443) to api.warden.prixl.io and downloads.prixl.io. Ask your IT vendor to check the firewall or proxy.
- The dashboard does not come back after an update: wait a minute, then open it again from the desktop icon. If it still fails, check the service with
Get-Service PrixlWardenin PowerShell (as administrator) and start it withStart-Service PrixlWarden. - The update keeps failing: contact support through the contact form with the version numbers shown in the update window.
- More fixes: Troubleshooting Warden.