Software scan return codes

If the software scan fails, an error code that indicates why the scan failed is returned. Check what is the possible cause of scan failure that is indicated by each code and how to solve the problem.

Locating the return codes

The error codes for the software scan are returned in the results of the Software Scan Status analysis.

Software scan return codes

Table 1. Software scan return codes

Return code Possible cause and solutions
0 No errors.
3 A signature file could not be parsed. Update the scanner catalog on the endpoints where the problem occurred.
4 Scan output file could not be saved to the output directory. Ensure that the scan output directory is writable. By default, the directory is:
  • Linux /var/opt/BESClient/LMT/CIT
  • Windows C:\Program Files (x86)\BigFix Enterprise\BESClient\LMT\CIT
6 Scanner catalog does not exist on the endpoint. Update the scanner catalog on the endpoints where the problem occurred.
8 Scanner internal error occurred. Gather scanner logs and contact BigFix Support. By default, the log files are in the following directory:
  • Linux Scanner_installation_directory/logs
  • Windows Scanner_installation_directory\logs
9 The scanner timed out. Perform the following tasks:
  • Increase the scan timeout in the Configure Scanner Query Timeout task.
  • Increase the amount of CPU that can be consumed by the scanner by increasing CPU threshold in the Initiate Software Scan task.
  • Exclude directories with backups from software scans. For more information, see: Excluding directories from being scanned.
  • Decrease the scanner trace level in the Edit Scanner Trace Settings task.
If all other options fail, reinstall the scanner.
10 The scanner is being upgraded. Wait until the upgrade finishes.
11 Scan output file or directory is read only. Ensure that the scan output file or directory is writable for the user that is running the BigFix client. By default, the directory is:
  • Linux /var/opt/BESClient/LMT/CIT
  • Windows C:\Program Files (x86)\BigFix Enterprise\BESClient\LMT\CIT
12 The cit.ini file was not found. Install the scanner. By default, the cit.ini file is located in the following directory:
  • Linux /etc/cit
  • Windows C:\Windows\cit
13 The scanner configuration file was not found. Reinstall or update the scanner.
14 The scanner trace file was not found. Reinstall or update the scanner.
18 One of the scanner files could not be open. Ensure that the administrator or root of the computer on which the problem occurred has the read and write permissions to the following files:
  • Scanner configuration file CitHWConfig.xml, scanner properties file Cit.properties, and scanner trace file CitTrace.properties, which by default are in the following directory:
    • Linux /opt/tivoli/cit/config/
    • Windows C:\Program Files\tivoli\cit\config
19 One of the scanner files could not be renamed. Ensure that the administrator or root of the computer on which the problem occurred has the read and write permissions to the following files:
  • Scanner configuration file CitHWConfig.xml, scanner properties file Cit.properties, and scanner trace file CitTrace.properties, which by default are in the following directory:
    • Linux /opt/tivoli/cit/config/
    • Windows C:\Program Files\tivoli\cit\config
20 One of the scanner files could not be deleted. Ensure that the administrator or root of the computer on which the problem occurred has the read and write permissions to the following files:
  • Scanner configuration file CitHWConfig.xml, scanner properties file Cit.properties, and scanner trace file CitTrace.properties, which by default are in the following directory:
    • Linux /opt/tivoli/cit/config/
    • Windows C:\Program Files\tivoli\cit\config
21 The scanner configuration file is corrupted. Reinstall or upgrade the scanner.
22 The scanner trace file is corrupted. Reinstall or upgrade the scanner.
28 A required shared library file is not available. Reinstall or upgrade the scanner.
29 The scanner timed out. Perform the following tasks:
  • Increase the scan timeout in the Configure Scanner Query Timeout task.
  • Increase the amount of CPU that can be consumed by the scanner by increasing CPU threshold in the Initiate Software Scan task.
  • Exclude directories with backups from software scans. For more information, see: Excluding directories from being scanned.
  • Decrease the scanner trace level in the Edit Scanner Trace Settings task.
If all other options fail, reinstall the scanner.
30 The scanner query failed. Gather scanner logs and contact BigFix Support.
31 The scan process was interrupted. Stop the scan action that is running on the endpoints where the problem occurred and start the scans again.
37 Scanner internal error occurred. Gather scanner logs and contact BigFix Support.
40 An error occurred while creating the warning file during the software scan. Ensure that the administrator or root of the computer on which the problem occurred has the read and write permissions to the following directory:
  • Linux /var/opt/BESClient/LMT/CIT
  • Windows C:\Program Files (x86)\BigFix Enterprise\BESClient\LMT\CIT
41 Scanner process initialization failed. Gather scanner logs and contact BigFix Support.
42 The signature catalog schema cannot be found. Reinstall or update the scanner. If it does not help, gather scanner logs and contact BigFix Support.
49 The user that runs the scan does not have the read permission to the scanner properties file cit.properties. Ensure that the administrator or root of the computer on which the problem occurred has the read permissions to this file. By default, the file is in the following directory:
  • Linux /opt/tivoli/cit/config/
  • Windows C:\Program Files\tivoli\cit\config
51 The scanner configuration file was not found. Reinstall or upgrade the scanner.
52 Scanner internal error occurred. Gather scanner logs and contact BigFix Support.
54 The scan file cannot be compressed. Ensure that the administrator or root of the computer on which the problem occurred has the read and write permissions to the following directory:
  • Linux /var/opt/BESClient/LMT/CIT
  • Windows C:\Program Files (x86)\BigFix Enterprise\BESClient\LMT\CIT
56 The scan output signature file cannot be created. Ensure that the administrator or root of the computer on which the problem occurred has the read and write permissions to the following directory:
  • Linux /var/opt/BESClient/LMT/CIT
  • Windows C:\Program Files (x86)\BigFix Enterprise\BESClient\LMT\CIT
125 Memory allocation failed. Gather scanner logs and contact BigFix Support.

Return codes greater than 128

Unix Some return codes are triggered by the problems that are signaled by the operating system. These are the return codes greater than 128. To check what is the system signal , use the following calculation: 
return code - 128 = operating system signal

To identify the issue, check the meaning of the signal in the operating system documentation.

The following table presents the list of the most common return codes, their possible cause and solution.
Table 2. Scanner return codes greater than 128
Return code Signal Possible cause and solution
134 6 - SIGABRT There might not be enough memory available for the process to work. Increase the memory limit for this process by changing ulimit for data seg size: ulimit -d. If the problem persists, contact BigFix Support.
138 10 - SIGBUS There is not enough disk space on the computer. Free some disk space. If the problem persists, ensure that you use the latest version of the scanner.
139 11 - SIGSEGV There might not be enough memory available for the process to work. Increase the memory limit for this process by changing ulimit for data seg size: ulimit -d. If the problem persists, contact BigFix Support.