CAU (Centralized Agent Upgrade)

After updating your Automic system, it's usually time to update the agents. You've probably heard of CAU. But how does it work? And what do you need to know about it? Can it be used for all agents? In this course, Marcin answers all these questions.

ℹ️ This Automic Tutorial is part of the Automic Analytics learning path on PEM and was published on August 27, 2025.

📋 Content: 1 Video

🕒 Duration: 10 Minutes

Preparations and Prerequisites

Before you start the upgrade, make sure that the agent has been started with the Service Manager and is linked to the Automation Engine. Upload the CAU packages in the Packs tab in Client 0.

Updating and Downgrading Agents

You can update one or more agents at the same time. Select the target version and add a comment if necessary. The upgrade log can be found under “Upgrade History.” Downgrades can be performed just as easily.

Notes on Updating

Make sure that there are no running jobs that might impact the agent. If there is a long-running job, new jobs will be blocked during the upgrade. So be careful, and choose the time window for the upgrade carefully!

Tips and Tricks

Automatisation and Cluster Management

Agent upgrades using CAU are stored in Automic DB. This is particularly useful in cluster environments, as inactive agents are automatically updated. Please note, however, that this behavior cannot be disabled.

Automation with AE Scripting Language

Use the AE scripting language to further automate the CAU. The MODIFY_SYSTEM function allows you to start or skip the CAU for individual or multiple agents. Also, don't forget about the UC_HOSTCHAR_Vara in client 0 for specific actions after completing the upgrade package.

Architectural Changes from Version 21 onwards

With version 21, communication with the engine was moved to TLS. CAU automatically enters new entries in the ini file - you can customize this behavior in the UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS.

With these steps and tips, you can make the most use of the CAU to update your agents in a centralized way and optimize the performance of your Automation Engine. Good luck with the upgrade!

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