Installing the DNA Agent via Active Directory Group Policy
Download PDF: KB0603
Summary
One of the easiest ways to deploy the DNA agent is us use Active Directory. This document outlines the steps necessary us distribute the DNA agent via Active Directory.
Details
- Open Group Policy Management.
- Right click the Organizational Unit that contains the machines you wish to deploy and select “Create a GPO in this domain and link it here.”
- Enter a Name for the Group Policy Object when prompted, for example DNA Agent.
- Select the group policy object you have created and click Edit. This will open the Group Policy Object Editor.
- In the group policy window, you are given two possible installation types/levels for the DNA Agent package: “Computer Configuration” and “User Configuration.”If you are using the “Computer Configuration” the package will be installed before the user is prompted to login. The installation will use the System Service Account to install the package.If you use the “User Configuration” the package will be installed when a user logs on. Please note that the user will require administrator rights in order to install the software at this level.
It is advisable to install the package under the “Computer Configuration” to prevent the possibility of any issues installing at the “User” level.
- Select the type of configuration you require (Either “Computer Configuration” or User Configuration”) then select Policies – Software Settings – Software Installation.
- Right Click Software settings and select New > Package.
- You will be prompted for the location of the Package installer files (The DNA Agent.MSI and DNA.INI files). This location must be accessible by all Agent machines you wish to deploy too, they must also have read access for these files.It is recommended to use a UNC path and not a mapped drive as the client machines mapped drives may differ from machine to machine.
i.e \servershareDNA_Agent.msi - When prompted for the deployment method select Assigned.
- After a brief delay the Package will be displayed. Right Click the package and select Properties.
- Close the Group Policy Editor.
- Right click the newly created Group Policy Object and select Enforced.
Setting Installation Options
The installation options required by both the DNA Agent deployments can be easily set by the use of the DNA.INI file. These files are located in the below folder from a DNA Console machine:
32bit – C:Program FilesNetSupportNetSupport DNAConsole
64bit – C:Program Files (x86)NetSupportNetSupport DNAConsole
This DNA.INI should be copied to the package storage location as specified above. The deployment installation will automatically detect the presence of the DNA.INI file and install the application with the specified installation options.
The DNA.ini file contains the configuration of the DNA Client. Contents of the default DNA.ini file have been placed below:
[All]
ServerAddress=xx.xx.xx.xx
InstallDir=
[Client]
EnableLSP=0
NOARP=0
; ServerAddress: IP Address or hostname of computer where DNA Server Application resides
; EnableLSP: 1=Install LSP, 0=Do not install LSP
; NOARP: 0=Allow Add/Remove Programs entry, 1=No Add/Remove Programs entry