Antivirus settings that affect the BMS (on-going case study)

I. Observed on BMS servers:

Case 1. Clamwin and Clam sentinel installed on server.  

ClamWin is a Free Antivirus program for Microsoft Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / Me / 2000 / 98 and Windows Server 2012, 2008 and 2003 (http://www.clamwin.com). While Clam Sentinel works in tandem with ClamWin.  Clam Sentinel is a system tray application that detects file system changes and scans the files modified using ClamWin (http://clamsentinel.sourceforge.net).  An article in https://www.geckoandfly.com/11451/download-6-free-antivirus-for-small-business-and-corporations/ listed these two applications in the top 6 free antivirus.

The downside of Clam Sentinel, which affects the BMS is that it treats files being used temporarily by BMS as false positives.  

Other free antivirus that are compatible with Windows server are : Immunet, Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ and Malwarebytes. Also, there are default antivirus that goes with Windows servers: Windows Defender is included by default with editions of Windows newer than Windows Server 2012 R2 / Windows 8 and or versions of Windows Server older than Windows Server 2012 R2, Microsoft Security Essentials. (https://www.solvps.com/blog/top-free-antirivus-compatible-windows-server-vps/)


Setup 1 : Windows Server 2012 R2 with ClamWin and Clam Sentinel installed by Administrator account.  The server has these two antivirus applications existing on the server before BMS was installed.  

Problem(s)Solution
  1. There are times that trials cannot be created.
  2. Experimental designs are not being generated
Using the Administrator account, add *.MYI and *.MYD in the exclusion files (whitelist) of ClamWin and Clam Sentinel.

 

Setup 2 : Windows Server 2016 with ClamWin and Clam Sentinel installed by user account. In this case, the Antivirus was installed by a user account and during installation, antivirus was made to work for all users.

Problem(s)Solution
  1. Import Dataset gives an error during mapping or towards the end: "An error occurred upon processing your request"( IBP-1328 - Getting issue details... STATUS )
  2. Error in updating BMS version using liquibase. A Liquibase error related to permissions problem deleting a temporary file (deletion is being done by Liquibase bean) under C:/Windows/Temp.


The exclusion settings for the antivirus is different for each user account.  Either setup the exclusion for each user or uninstall the Antivirus and install as Administrator.  




RECOMMENDATIONS: 

Generally, we would want an antivirus in a server if there are downloads being done on the server and the server is not reserved solely for BMS use (i.e. email exhange, installed internet browsers, some other application run by users in the server).

It is safe to say that if a server is solely for BMS, use Windows-default antivirus.

It would be good to try and/or test the other free antiviruses mentioned above.

 

II. Observed on personal computers accessing BMS servers:


Case 1. Windows machine running Kaspersky antivirus

Problem(s)Solution
  1. Can not open trial. Strange text appears: {{heading}} {{reminder}} 


IBP-1503 - Getting issue details... STATUS , IBP-1403 - Getting issue details... STATUS

In Kaspersky settings, add the BMS server URL as a white-listed/trusted website.

Step 1. Click on the gear icon at the bottom-left corner of the Kaspersky landing window.

Step 2. On the left panel, click on Protection.

Step 3. Click on Web Anti-Virus.

Step 4. Click Advanced Settings.

Step 5. Click on Configure trusted URLs

Step 6. Click Add button, and type in the URL.

eg. http://host:48080/ibpworkbench/main/

Step 7. Close all browser windows, and then re-open a new browser window.