So, once we've installed our DNA server and our management console as we see here, the
final step of the process is to discover the devices across our network and
deploy our agent technology onto each of them for ongoing management. How do we do that?
Well, there are three approaches we can take. The first and simplest is to visit
each device or PC
in turn with the NetSupport DNA agent setup file on a memory stick and manually install the
product onto each and every PC. Slightly time-consuming, so the second and more
practical approach is to use the NetSupport DNA discovery and deployment tool
that is provided as standard within the product. Selecting our Tools menu from the menu here -
you will see discovery and deploy is presented and available to us on the menu here.
Once we open the discovery and deployment utility, we can see at the top of
the dialog, we have three options:
discovering PCs based on IP address or range; discovering devices by using Windows
networking; or finally, by identifying machines via Active Directory. So let's have a look at
all three options. By our IP address, we can simply select the Add button and enter an
IP range of computers on the network. So let's select the range 10.0.0.1 through to 128, and say OK.
You will see instantly we create a list for each IP address within that range - and NetSupport DNA in the background will
be scanning and identifying machines on the network that are suitable for installation.
Where a DNA agent is already installed, that will be reported and shown within the view.
So that's our first option; simply discovering the machines over the network
via the IP address. The second option is to move to our Windows networking tab. And by selecting Add, the
system will allow us to now discover, based on all the available Windows networking or
Windows work groups that are available. In this case, we have a long list here - let's
select UK - and instantly we are presented with a list of devices within that
membership. If we select OK, they are now added to the system. In this case here, you will see that not only do we
have the machine name,
department, IP address, DNS name - but we also have the MAC address, platform... If they have a DNA agent
installed, we can see the current version of the agent. We can see what
driver is used (if any) for managing our internet control within DNA. Then finally,
details of the manufacturer for each device. Finally, via Active Directory, we have a similar option.
Again, we can select Add, and from Active Directory we can discover and select any
AD groups - in this case, the UK group - and once again we are presented with exactly the
same option to select either all or members within that domain - when we say OK, they are then presented for us again within our view.
So each of these approaches allows us to discover the devices across
our network as presented using either our Windows networking details, our Active Directory groups or
specific IP address ranges. Once we have found a particular PC or PCs, we can select all or
individual PCs (in this case, let's select a couple) and you will see we have the option to
both deploy our technology and, where appropriate, to remotely uninstall
our technology.
Selecting deploy allows us to present a dialog ready to begin our installation. If we select our Options
tab, we can identify and specify the address of the server. Because we're running the
deploy from within our current console, the current server address is provided
automatically within the dialog. We can choose if we want to enable our internet
restrictions driver as part of the installation,
and we can also choose whether we want to have the product displayed within our Add
or Remove Programs entry. Finally, if the deployment fails, we can specify a
number of retries as well as a time delay between each of those attempts. Once we are
happy, we can simply select Start and NetSupport DNA will
automatically deploy the agent to
each of the selected devices.
The NetSupport DNA discovery and deployment tool can be used
across a number of Windows platforms: from Windows XP, 2003, Vista, Server 2008, Windows 7,
Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 10. However, due to operating
system limitations, the discovery and deployment utility will not work with Windows XP Home,
Windows Vista Home Premium, or Windows 7 Starter or Home editions.
Ok, so that is our agent technology deployed on each PC and device that we have discovered across our network today.
Of course, in reality, there will be other devices that are currently off-site or
be acquired and added new to our enterprise in the weeks ahead. So as well as our
discovery and deploy component, NetSupport DNA also provides the ability
to constantly monitor the network and present details of any new devices that
are discovered automatically. Those discovered devices can then be selected by a
console operator and, if deemed appropriate, the DNA agent can then be deployed
onto those for future management. Any new devices that are discovered are displayed within
the Discovered tab at the top of our hierarchy view. Selecting "discovered" provides us
with a list of devices within any of the different groups we can see and then,
where appropriate, we can deploy our technology. In this case, there are a
number of unknown devices we can choose to monitor and manage accordingly. So how
do we go about identifying these devices in the first instance and then
subsequently pushing our technology? Let's go to our Settings tab.
You will see we have a feature, "auto-discovery" which is currently enabled.
If we select the auto-discovery tab, you will see, very simply, we need to enable the
feature and specify a range or ranges of IP addresses that we wish to scan on a
repeat basis to identify any new devices that are added to the network. In this
example here, we have entered a scan range of 10.0.0.1 through to 10.0.0.128 by entering in the boxes below
and selecting Add. And we have provided credentials for a network administrator that has
administrative rights to discover and investigate each PC on the network.
Once that's enabled, the system will constantly poll and, where appropriate, new
devices will be identified as they are here. A very limited inventory information is provided
about each machine, providing us with the option to decide if the machine is
appropriate for us to subsequently deploy a DNA agent onto. As you will see,
right-clicking on any selected PC gives me two options: 1) deploy an agent; and the second, to ignore that machine
and not to continue reflecting it within my view. It's as simple as that. If we select a PC and select
"deploy to", as we saw before, we can identify the PC in a familiar deploy dialog
and, if appropriate, now we see the information -
it's Windows Server 2003 - we can use our deploy tool to push our technology quickly
and easily onto the machine for subsequent management. When we are done, we can hit "close" and
return to our PC view. This reflects all devices that we have identified that have a NetSupport DNA agent on.
We can then now monitor that machine, moving forwards.
Thank you for viewing this tour. Please visit www.netsupportdna.com to find out more
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