Installing Windows Probes

Installing Windows Probes

The Windows probe can be installed on any server behind the firewall. When monitoring a very large environment, however, we recommend that the probe be installed on a dedicated server.

Windows probes are installed using either a generic installation program or a customer-specific installation program. Both versions of the installation program are available from the Software Download screen.

From the Software Download page, you can download customer specific (preferred) or generic system installation software.

You will need a probe activation key in order to install generic system probe software. The activation key is displayed on the Setup > Probes screen with a key icon, and on the System Communication tab when you edit a probe. For more information, refer to Probe Activation Key.

To install a Windows Probe

Note: / The following procedure can only be performed at the Service Organization or customer level. Select the appropriate Service Organization or customer in the navigation pane to continue. For more information, refer to Navigating N-central.
1. / On the menu bar, select Setup > Software Download.

The Software Download screen appears.

2. / Click the appropriate link as follows:
a. / To download customer specific installation software, click Windows Probe <Customer name> in the Customer Specific Software section.
b. / To download generic system installation software, click Windows Probe in the System Software section.
3. / Follow the browser instructions to open the InstallShield Wizard for the Windows probe.

The Choose Setup Language dialog box appears.

4. / Select a language from the drop-down.
5. / Click OK.
6. / Click Next.

The Destination Folder screen appears.

7. / Click Next to accept the default folder or click Change to select a different folder.

The default folder is C:\Program Files\N-able Technologies\Windows Software Probe.

The Activation Key screen appears if you are using the generic installation program. If you are using the customer-specific installation program, the Proxy String screen appears and you can skip to step 10

8. / Paste the activation key in the Activation Key field if you are using the generic installation program.
9. / Click Next.

The Proxy String screen appears.

10. / If you need a proxy string, select I need to use a Proxy Server and specify the proxy information in the following format: <address>:<port>.

For example: 192.168.0.1:8080

11. / Click Next.

The Credentials screen appears.

12. / Select one of the following options:
Local User / The probe will not be able to monitor remote WMI services or run asset-discovery tasks. The probe can, however, monitor local WMI services and SNMP services and run interface-discovery tasks.
Note: / To properly monitor Backup Exec services (including Asigra Backup and XiloCore Backup) on devices, the probe must have domain administrator privileges in order to create a Backup Exec user.
Domain User / You must specify the Domain, Username and Password of the user account that will access the probe.
Note: / Windows probe software should be installed using a dedicated and unique Domain Administrator account. This avoids the problem of a shared or common Domain Administrator account not being able to monitor the Customer environment if it is locked out. Additionally, the password must not contain any spaces.
Workgroup User / You must specify the Username and Password of the user account that will access the probe. The specified Username and Password must be the same username and password of the devices to be monitored in the workgroup. Otherwise, the probe will not be able to monitor the devices.
Note: / To properly monitor Backup Exec services (including Asigra Backup and XiloCore Backup) on devices, the probe must have domain administrator privileges in order to create a Backup Exec user.
Changes to the username and password of the specified account should be implemented by uninstalling and reinstalling the Windows probe software. During the installation of the Windows probe software, the specified credentials are cached for later use during the Windows probe upgrade. If the cached credentials are no longer current, the Windows probe will log on as the local system account preventing monitoring of the Customer environment.
13. / Click Next.

The AMT Datastore Registration screen appears.

14. / Select I want to use the AMT datastore if you want to manage systems using Intel® vPro™.
Note: / You must specify a Username and Password (and confirm the Password) to access the AMT datastore.
15. / Click Next.

The Add Discovery Jobs screen appears.

16. / If you want to define settings for a discovery job at this time, perform the following:
a. / Specify a Discovery Name.
b. / Click Add.
c. / Specify either the IP Range or the IP Address and Netmask of the Target Network.
Note: / Adding a discovery job during the installation of a Windows probe is optional.
17. / Click Next.

The Ready to Install the Program screen appears.

18. / Click Install.

The probe is installed and the Windows Probe setup wizard appears.

19. / Click Finish.

The Windows Probe setup wizard closes.

Note: / If you are using a customer-specific installation program, the Windows probe will then register with the central server and initiate discovery of all of the devices on the specified network. This may take some time depending on the size and configuration of the network being scanned.