MetaDefender Core now requires Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2017

This is a reminder that the Visual C++ Redistributable 2017 package is required for all Windows deployments of MetaDefender Core.

If you don’t yet have the Visual C++ Redistributable 2017 please download and install it from the Microsoft website: https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe

Without this Redist package installed, every time MetaDefender Core attempts to deploy the latest File Type and Archive modules, it will fail, resulting in a short outage (no more than a few seconds) that could lead to a few files failing to be processed.

In addition, the Management Console will show status of “permanently failed” for File Type v6.0 and Archive v6.0 engines (modules), even though they will be functional after the short outage mentioned above.

CAUTION: If you are using MetaDefender version 5.1.1 or earlier, do not disable and re-enable the module, as this will delete your previously active version that the module won’t be able to recover.

We strongly recommend that you install the VC++ 2017 Redist as soon as possible. However, if you cannot do so right away, and if you also cannot afford any outages or do not want “permanently failed” status messages, you have the option to “Pin the engine”. This will lock the File type and Archive module to the existing version. Be sure to pin the engine and the database. Once the VC++ 2017 Redist requirement is met, you can unpin it and MetaDefender Core will download and rollout the new version.

Please note that earlier this year we sent a similar communication out regarding the dependency of the Deep CDR module on Visual C++ Redistributable 2017 package. If you had already deployed the Visual C++ Redistributable 2017 package based on that communication, no action is required at this time.

If you have any questions, please contact our customer support team for assistance. We are here to help.