How to configure Group Policy Management for bulk agent deployment on Windows servers via Active Directory?

How to configure Group Policy Management for bulk agent deployment on Windows servers via Active Directory?

Overview

When adding multiple Windows servers through Active Directory, you can automate the deployment of the Applications Manager's FSO agent  for Windows using Group Policy. This method ensures that the agent installation script runs automatically on all target machines during system startup.

Steps to configure Group Policy

Follow the steps given below to configure Group Policy:
  • Open Group Policy Management from Start → Administrative Tools → Group Policy Management.
  • Right-click on your domain and select Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here in the console tree. 
  • Provide a suitable name for the new GPO.
  • Right-click the newly created GPO and select Edit to open the Group Policy Management Editor.
  • Navigate to Computer Configuration → Policies → Windows Settings → Scripts → Startup.
  • Double-click on Startup to open the Startup Properties window.
  • Click Add, then click Browse, and select the agent installation script ( \\<MyServer>\MyShare\InstallAgent.vbs). Ensure the script is accessible by all the target Windows servers.
  • Click OK to save the configuration and close the Group Policy Management console.
  • Notes
    Note:
    1. Ensure that all target systems have access permissions to the shared location where the installation script is hosted.
    2. The script will execute during system startup, enabling automatic agent installation across all systems linked to the GPO.
    3. Verify that the agent installation package and required dependencies are correctly referenced within the script.

    Verification

    After applying the policy:

    • Restart the target machines (or wait for the next reboot cycle).
    • Log in to Applications Manager and navigate to Settings → Manage Agent → View Agents
    • Confirm that the agents are successfully installed and reporting data.

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