Version

Argent for Topology all versions

Date

Tuesday, 25 Feb 2014

Summary

Remote Installation of Argent for Topology Agent

Technical Background

Argent for Topology monitors and analyses network traffic by capturing NetFlow data from Cisco routers

The captured NetFlow data is analyzed and categorized to identify which users, applications, machines and departments are top consumers of bandwidth

An agent needs to be installed on all machines across the network being monitored

This document describes how to install Argent for Topology Agent remotely

As this remote installation procedure is made up on Group Policy and there are difference in the implementation of Group Policy in Windows 2003 and Windows 2008, this document is divided in to two sections, one for Windows 2003 and other for Windows 2008

Remote Installation of Argent for Topology Agent on a Windows 2003 Server

Step 1 – Install Argent for Topology Web Component

Once you have successfully installed this Web Component, you can find an MSI file –

ARGENT_FOR_TOPOLOGY_AGENT.MSI – in

C:\Argent\ArgentForTopology\ARGENT_FOR_TOPOLOGY_WEB\ARGENT_FOR_TOPOLOGY_AGENT_INSTALLER (the path where you have installed)

This MSI file is used for remote installation of Argent for Topology Agent

Step 2 – Create a Distribution Point

As we are discussing the remote installation using Group Policy, first you have to create a distribution point which is nothing but a shared folder in the domain server

Follow the steps:

• Log on to the server as an administrator
• Create a folder called ‘Argent_Topology_Agent‘
• Make the folder as shared
• Set permissions on the share to allow access to the distribution package
• Copy the MSI package to the distribution point

To make a folder shared, follow the steps:

• Select the folder to share
• Click Right mouse button and select ‘Sharing and Security‘ menu

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Select ‘Sharing‘ Tab

• Select ‘Share this folder‘
• Click ‘OK‘ button

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Step 3 – Open Active Directory Users and Computers

Start -> Administrative Tools -> Active Directory Users and Computers

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Step 4 – Open Properties of Domain

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Step 5 – Add New Group Policy Object

• Select ‘Group Policy‘ tab
• Click on the ‘New‘ Button

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Step 6 – Name the Newly Created Group Policy Object (GPO) as ‘Argent_Topology_Agent‘

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Step 7 – Configure the Properties of Newly Created GPO ‘Argent_Topology_Agent‘

• Select ‘Argent_Topology_Agent‘
• Click on ‘Properties‘ button

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Step 8 – Configure Security

• Select ‘Security‘ tab
• Add or remove users who are required to apply this policy
• Set permissions
• Click ‘OK‘ button

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Step 9 – Edit Group Policy Object

• Select ‘Argent_Topology_Agent‘
• Click on the ‘Edit‘ button

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This step will open ‘Group Policy Object Editor‘

Step 10 – Set MSI package for This Group Policy

• Select User Configuration -> Software Settings -> SoftwareInstallation -> New -> Package

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This will open a screen to select the MSI package

Step 11 – Set the Path of the Distribution Point

Please note that you must specify the UNC path of the shared installer package that you want

For example, \\server\ Argent_Topology_Agent\ ARGENT_FOR_TOPOLOGY_AGENT.MSI

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Step 12 – Select Advanced in Deploy Software

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Step 13 – Configure Deployment Screen

• Select Deployment tab
• Select Assigned in Deployment Type
• Check ‘Uninstall the application when it fails out of the scope of management‘
• Check ‘Install the application at logon‘
• Select ‘Maximum‘ in ‘Installation user interface options‘
• Click OK button

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You have successfully created a group policy to install Argent Topology Agent

Agent will get automatically installed on every machine where the users configured in the policy log on their machines

Remote Installation of Argent for Topology Agent on a Windows 2008 Server

Step 1 – Install Argent for Topology Web Component

Once you have successfully installed this Web Component, you can find an MSI file –

ARGENT_FOR_TOPOLOGY_AGENT.MSI – in

C:\Argent\ArgentForTopology\ARGENT_FOR_TOPOLOGY_WEB\ARGENT_FOR_TOPOLOGY_AGENT_INSTALLER (the path where you have installed)

You can download this file from the configuration page of Argent for Topology

Step 2 – Create a Distribution Point

As we are discussing the remote installation using Group Policy, first you have to create a distribution point which is nothing but a shared folder in the domain server

Follow the steps:

• Log on to the server as an administrator
• Create a folder called ‘Argent_Topology_Agent‘
• Make the folder as shared
• Set permissions on the share to allow access to the distribution package
• Copy the MSI package to the distribution point

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Step 3 – Open Group Policy Management Console

Start -> Administrative Tools -> Group Policy Management

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Step 4 – Add New Group Policy

• Select Group Policy Object
• Click Right button on mouse
• Select New from the popup menu

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Step 5 – Name the New Group Policy Object

• Name new group policy object as ‘Argent_Topology_Agent‘
• Click ‘OK‘ button

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Step 6 – Configure New Group Policy Object

• Select Argent_Topology_Agent under Group Policy Objects
• Click right mouse button
• Select Edit from the popup menu

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Step 7 – Configure Using Group Policy Management Editor

• Select Software Installation under User Configuration -> Software Settings

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Step 8 – Add Package

• Click right mouse button
• Select ‘New -> Package‘ from popup menu

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Step 9 – Set the Path of the Distribution Point

• Please note that you must specify the UNC path of the shared installer package that you want
• For example, \\server\ Argent_Topology_Agent\ ARGENT_FOR_TOPOLOGY_AGENT.MSI

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Step 10 – Select Advanced in Deploy Software

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Step 11 – Configure Deployment Screen

• Select Assigned in Deployment Type
• Check ‘Uninstall the application when it fails out of the scope management‘
• Check ‘Install the application at logon‘
• Select ‘Maximum‘ in ‘Installation user interface options‘
• Click OK button

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Step 12 – Configure Newly Created Group Policy Object

• Activate Group Policy Management console

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Step 13 – Link Newly Created Group Policy Object

• Select domain under domains
• Click right mouse button
• Select ‘Link on Existing GPO‘

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Step 14 – Select GPO

• Select Argent_Topology_Agent
• Click OK button

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Step 15 – Linked GPO Will be Shown Under the Domain Name

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Step 16 – Select Newly Linked GPO Under the Domain Name

• A message box will be displayed

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Step 17 – Configure the Scope

• Add the target users

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You have successfully created a group policy to install Argent Topology Agent

Agent will get automatically installed on every machine where the users configured in the policy try to log on their machines

Appendix

Redeploy a Package

In some cases, you may want to redeploy a software package (for example, if you upgrade or change the package)

To redeploy a package, follow these steps:

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in

   To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers

2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties
3. Click the Group Policy tab, click the Group Policy Object that you used to deploy the package, and then click Edit
4. Expand the Software Settings container that contains the software installation item that you used to deploy the package
5. Click the software installation container that contains the package
6. In the right-pane of the Group Policy window, right-click the program, point to All Tasks, and then click Redeploy application

   You will receive the following message:

   “Redeploying this application will reinstall the application everywhere it is already installed

   Do you want to continue?“

7. Click Yes
8. Quit the Group Policy snap-in, click OK, and then close the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in

Remove a Package

To remove a published or assigned package, follow these steps: Click here to show/hide solution:

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in

   To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers

2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties
3. Click the Group Policy tab, click the Group Policy Object that you used to deploy the package, and then click Edit
4. Expand the Software Settings container that contains the software installation item that you used to deploy the package
5. Click the software installation container that contains the package
6. In the right-pane of the Group Policy window, right-click the program, point to All Tasks, and then click Remove
7. Do one of the following:

   Click immediately uninstall the software from users and computers, and then click OK

   Click Allow users to continue to use the software but prevent new installations, and then click OK

8. Close the Group Policy snap-in, click OK, and then close the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in

If ‘Sharing and Security‘ menu is missing, please make sure following services are working properly in Service Control Manager:

1. Computer Browser



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2. Server



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