Agent Installation - Knowledge base

Install Desktop Central agents using Start Up Script

You are trying to install a Desktop Central agent. However, it fails. You are unable to install the agent even after following the resolutions provided. You see either of the following errors on the screen:

• Access is denied
• The network path was not found
• Logon Failure: Unknown user name or password
• No Network provider accepted the given Network Path
• Not enough server storage is available to process this command

Each of the errors mentioned above can be solved using the resolutions provided in the respective knowledge base articles. However, if you cannot solve them you can use a script to install the agent manually.

Cause

Desktop Central installs agents remotely using the credentials of the administrator for a domain or that of a common administrator. These credentials are specified while adding a domain or workgroup. The installation may fail if a remote connection cannot be established.

Resolution

Run a script on a single computer

You are required to run a script required to install an agent on a single computer.

To run the script, follow the steps given below:

1. Download the DesktopCentral Agent, follow the steps given below:
   1. Click the Admin tab
   2. In the Global Settings section, click Scope of Management
   3. Click Download Agent. Agent will be downloaded in .Zip format.
   4. Select the required office

      Note: This can be a local office or a remote office depending on which computers you want to install agents in.

2. Download the script InstallAgent.txt
3. Rename it to InstallAgent.vbs
4. If you are usinf Desktop Central build # 90128 or older versions, run the script in each of the client computers from the command prompt as mentioned below:
   CSCRIPT InstallAgent.vbs DesktopCentralAgent.msi
   If you are using Desktop Central build # 900129 or later versions, then run the script in each of the client computers from the command prompt as mentioned below:
   CSCRIPT InstallAgent.vbs DesktopCentralAgent.msi DesktopCentralAgent.mst
   

You have run the script required to install an agent on a single computer.

Run the script in multiple computers using startup script of Active Directory

You can install an agent in your client computers using the startup script of the Active Directory. This is done by running a script in multiple computers adding the start up script of the Active Directory in your client computers.

To install agents in client computers using a GPO, follow the steps given below:

Note: Ensure that you complete the steps given below in a Domain Controller setting. You can map the script to a domain even If you have installed Desktop Central agents in a few client computers. The script will install the agent only in the computers in which the agent is not installed.

1. Download the Zip file, extract it and follow the steps given below:
   1. Click the Admin tab
   2. In the Global Settings section, click Scope of Management
   3. Click Download Agent
   4. Select the required office

      Note: This can be a local office or a remote office depending on which computers you want to install agents in.

2. Save the .msi & .mst file in the network share that you have created.
   Note: Desktop CentralAgent.mst is supported only if you are running Desktop Central on build # 900129 or later versions.
3. Click start>Run
4. Enter gpmc.msc
5. Click OK
6. Right-click the domain and select Create and Link a GPO here
7. Specify a name for the GPO
8. Select the GPO
9. Note: If you want to install the agent in only a few client computers, follow the steps given below. To install the agent in all your client computers skip these steps.
   1. Click the Scope tab
   2. In the Security Filtering section, click Add
   3. In the Select User, Computer, or Group dialog box, click Object Types
   4. Select specific computer object types
   5. Click OK
   6. Specify the computer names
   7. Click Check Names
   8. Click OK
10. Right-click the GPO and click Edit
11. Expand Computer Configuration>Windows Settings>Scripts
12. Right-click Startup and click Properties
13. Click Show Files
14. Drag and drop the InstallAgent.vbs & DesktopCentralAgent.msi DesktopCentralAgent.mst to this location and Copy the location (\\Domain name\SysVol\Domain name\Policies\{ID}\Machine\Scripts\Startup) and close. Note: Desktop CentralAgent.mst is supported only if you are running Desktop Central build # 900129 or later versions.
15. In the Startup Properties dialog box, click Add
16. Browse and select the InstallAgent.vbs script
17. If you are using Desktop Central on build # 900128 or older versions, specify the script parameters as mentioned below:
    \\Domain name\SysVol\Domain name\Policies\{ID}\Machine\Scripts\Startup\DesktopCentralAgent.msi.
    If you are using Desktop Central on build # 900129 or later versions, specify the script parameters as mentioned below:
    \\Domain name\SysVol\Domain name\Policies\{ID}\Machine\Scripts\Startup\DesktopCentralAgent.msi.
    \\Domain name\SysVol\Domain name\Policies\{ID}\Machine\Scripts\Startup\DesktopCentralAgent.mst.
    Note : The copied location is specified in the script parameter.
    
18. Click OK to close the Add a Script dialog box
19. Click OK to close the Startup Properties dialog box
20. Close the Group Policy Object Editor
21. Close the Group Policy Management dialog box
    
    
    Note : The script mentioned below will be applicable only to computers group and this cannot be used to the entire domain.

The script will be executed when the client computers reboot next. After the execution of the script, the Desktop Central agents is automatically installed in all the client computers.

Notes

• Set the file association properties of .vbs files to Microsoft Windows (r) based script host in all the client computers. This ensures that the script is executed successfully. Do not modify the file association properties to open in a text editor as the execution of the script will fail.
• You can leave the Desktop Central GPO object installed indefinitely to ensure that the agent is installed in future client computers.
• This will not re-install the agent that is already installed as the script is programmed to ensure that it doesn't re-install agents that are already installed. This will not cause any problems during startup.
• You also do not need to update and download the DesktopCentralAgent.msi file everytime Desktop Central releases a new version. The agent is programmed to check for new versions from the server and upgrade itself automatically. When an agent is installed, it updates itself automatically when new versions are released.
  
  You have now installed an agent in client computers using a GPO.
  
  

  Configuring IP Scope will help you while you deploy agents using GPO

  • If IP scope is configured for all the remote offices created in Desktop Central server, administrators can directly download local office DesktopCentral_Agent.msi and deploy it in all remote offices using GPO.
  • IP scope has an automatic intelligence to detect computers within the specified IP range and reinstall the appropriate agent for the remote office.
  • To know about how to configure IP scope click here

Applies to: Agent Installation Failure, Desktop Central Agent Installation

Keywords: Agent Installation, Desktop Central Agent Installation Failure, Installation Failure, Access Denied