VDI Installation (Cloning or Master Image)

In virtual environments, to provision a computer/virtual machine with the ObserveIT Agent and replicate the master image on several VDIs, you must prevent registration of the replicated VDIs on the Application Server during the Agent installation. In this type of installation (known as "quiet" installation), the Agent is installed on the computer but does not communicate nor register with the ObserveIT Application Server. At the end of the installation, the Agent does not automatically start nor self-register on the Application Server. However, the Agent will start normally and register with the ObserveIT Application server after the first time that the computer is cloned and a user logs on to it. In this way, each VDI will be registered in the system with its own Server ID.

From version 7.12.0, before deploying, you must download the JWT file with authentication details.
The downloaded file will be valid for the specified number of days. When the file expires, it cannot be used for additional installations. Make sure the file will not expire before you have time to complete the installation. It is suggested that you set the number of days to 180. For security reasons, after successful installation, it is recommended that you remove the file.
(See Configuring Service Settings.)

Preparing the computer (or virtual machine) for cloning should be done before running the System Preparation tool (SYSPREP) and shutting down the machine.

Each VDI infrastructure (such as, Citrix, Microsoft, and so on) typically has its own procedures on how to edit the Master image which are beyond the scope of this document. If required, please consult with the vendor’s technical library and documentation.

You can deploy the Agent on Windows-based Master (or Gold) VDI images:

  • Using the ObserveIT Agent Installation Setup Wizard opened by running the WinAgent64bit.msi (or WinAgent32bit.msi) installation file.

  • By running an installation script.

To deploy the Windows Agent on a Master (or Gold) VDI image using the Installer

  • Note: When specifying the Agent registration mode, select the Master Image option.

To deploy the Windows Agent on a Master (or Gold) VDI image by running an installation script:

  • Run the installation script:

    The parameter NeverRegister="1" prevents the Agent from ever being registered with the master image machine name on the ObserveIT system. Any other clone machine from that image can be registered with its own name, as long as the name is different to the original name. For a description of the switches and other parameters that are used in the script, see Installation Script Switches and Parameters.