Prepare and Verify Images for Successful Agent ...

[Pages:10]GUIDE

Prepare and Verify Images for Successful Agent Installation on Windows Devices

Table of Contents

Introduction .............................................................................................1 Determine the best approach......................................................................2 Scenario: I have a clean device I'd like to set up for imaging ...........................3 Scenario: I have an existing image I'd like to verify ........................................3 Automated approach: Windows Image Prep Tool ..........................................3 Manual approach: Steps for image preparation.............................................3

Prepare the image ...............................................................................4 Verify the image ..................................................................................4 Unenroll the device and remove the agent .............................................5 Resources .................................................................................................7

Introduction

If you install the Absolute agent on Windows devices via disk imaging, follow the image preparation and verification steps in this guide to successfully install the agent on target devices. The following illustration provides an overview of the steps for preparing and verifying both new and existing images:

PREPARE AND VERIFY IMAGES FOR SUCCESSFUL AGENT INSTALLATION FOR WINDOWS DEVICES 1

Determine the best approach

Before you continue to the scenario section most relevant to you, determine the best approach for image preparation. There are two approaches available and the one you choose depends on whether your source device meets scripting requirements.

Automated approach

Manual approach

Operating system

All supported Windows versions

Scripting requirements

PowerShell 5.1 or higher

Not applicable

The automated approach uses the Windows Image Prep Tool which incorporates PowerShell scripts. Absolute recommends that you choose this approach if possible. Relative to the manual approach, this solution has far fewer steps. Using the tool, you'll execute scripts on the source device which will prepare and verify it for use as your image. To learn more, see Automated approach: Windows Image Prep Tool.

The manual approach requires that you perform several steps for image preparation and verification. To learn more see Manual approach: Steps for image preparation.

Once you've determined the best approach, choose the scenario that is applicable to you:

I have a clean device that I'd like to set up for imaging

I have an existing image that I need to verify

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Scenario: I have a clean device I'd like to set up for imaging

In this scenario, you're preparing a new image on a clean source device. This type of device is ideal for image preparation. If you are using the automated approach, see Automated approach: Windows Image Prep Tool. If you're using the manual approach, see Manual approach: Steps for image preparation. Here's a summary of the steps:

1. Prepare the image. 2. Verify the image.

? If the image has been properly prepared, it's ready for capture. ? If the image has not been improperly prepared, continue. 3. Unenroll the device and remove the agent. 4. Begin again at Prepare the image.

Scenario: I have an existing image I'd like to verify

In this scenario, you'll begin by verifying whether your existing image has been properly prepared. You'll start at the Verify the image section under Manual approach: Steps for image preparation and if necessary, will be guided to the next appropriate steps. Here's a summary of the steps:

1. Verify the image. ? If the image has been properly prepared, it's ready for capture. ? If the image has been improperly prepared, continue.

2. Unenroll the device and remove the agent. 3. Prepare and verify the image using the best approach:

? Automated approach: Windows Image Prep Tool ? Manual approach: Steps for image preparation

Automated approach: Windows Image Prep Tool

To prepare and verify your image using the Windows Image Prep Tool, follow the steps in the Windows Image Prep Tool User Guide. Download the tool and guide from Download Packages under Settings in the console. Once you've completed the steps in the guide, your image will be ready for capture.

Manual approach: Steps for image preparation

To prepare your image manually, follow the steps outlined in this section.

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Prepare the image

To prepare the image manually, complete the followings steps in the order provided. This is to prevent the Absolute agent from being activated on the source device, and consequentially, the image. An activated agent on the image will result in unsuccessful agent installation on target devices.

1. Install system updates, required software, and make appropriate configuration changes to the source device.

2. Disconnect the source device from the internet. It must not be able to communicate with Absolute.

3. Install the Absolute agent using your regular installer package.

Verify the image

To verify the image, you'll need to retrieve and review the Absolute Identifier (ESN) of the source device. The Absolute Identifier (ESN) is a unique alphanumeric identifier assigned to a device by Absolute and, in imaging scenarios, reveals whether the image has been improperly prepared. Follow these steps to verify your image:

1. Download and unzip the Persistence Status Tool package on your source device. It can be found on the Download Packages page under Settings in the console.

2. Open Command Prompt and go to the path of where the unzipped files reside. 3. Run the Persistence Status Tool in the unzipped folder by entering this command:

abtPS.exe Command Prompt returns Information about the tool and available commands. 4. Retrieve the Absolute Identifier (ESN) assigned to the source device by entering this command:

abtPS -ESN Command Prompt returns the Absolute Identifier (ESN).

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Retrieving the Absolute Identifier (ESN) using Command Prompt Review the last four digits of the Absolute Identifier (ESN). If the Absolute Identifier ends in 0000, your image is ready for capture. Remove any tools you've used (i.e. Persistence Status Tool and the agent installer package) to prepare and verify the image. Capture the image following the instructions of your particular disk imaging software. If the Absolute Identifier doesn't end in 0000, your image isn't ready for capture. Follow the steps under Unenroll the device and remove the agent.

Unenroll the device and remove the agent

An Absolute Identifier (ESN) that doesn't end in 0000 indicates that the image hasn't been properly prepared and will not successfully install the Absolute agent on target devices. You'll need to unenroll the device from your account, remove the agent from the source device, and prepare the image again.

1. Initiate an Unenroll request for the source device via the Absolute console.

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Select devices and click Unenroll to initiate an unenroll request 2. For full agent removal, the source device will need to call into Absolute. Ensure the device is

connected to the internet and initiate a call. To initiate a call, use the Persistence Status Tool: a. If you've closed Command Prompt, repeat steps 2 and 3 under Verify the image. b. Initiate a call by entering this command: abtPS -Startcall Optionally, check whether the device is calling into Absolute by entering this command: abtPS -IsCalling

3. Reboot the device. 4. Verify whether agent removal was successful. Open Task Manager and verify that rpcnet.exe and

rpcnetp.exe aren't running. You may need to initiate a call and reboot the device up to three times before this occurs. If these programs are still running, agent removal was unsuccessful. Repeat the steps under Unenroll the device and remove the agent or contact Technical Support. If these programs aren't running, agent removal was successful. You're ready to prepare the image either through the automated approach or manual approach.

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