Deploying Remote Probes

For a general introduction to remote probes, please see manual section Remote Probes and Multiple Probes.

You can perform a remote installation of a probe directly via PRTG's web interface: PRTG Manual: Remote Probe Quick Install. This is basically a silent remote probe installation. Note: This is an experimental feature as of PRTG 12 and might not work in every case.

Important note: The approach below might not work with current versions of PRTG! Please try this workaround if remote probe installation via the web interface does not work:

The information below is outdated! We provide it for your information only.

Deploy and Auto-Configure Remote Probes Using Kaspersky

There is a small C++ command line program that can be used to auto-configure remote probes using Kaspersky Admin Kit deployment. The program uses minimal DLLs (only Kernel32.dll and advAPI32.dll) to avoid installation of MSVC++ 2008 Runtime. This article describes how you can set up and configure PRTG's remote probes remotely.

Note: PRTGRemoteProbeCfg is a freeware add-on from PRTG's user community. It comes with no warranty and we cannot officially support it.

A big "Thank You!" to Vincent from Nolmë Informatique for sharing this tool!

Steps to take

  1. In the PRTG web interface, choose Setup | Downloads / Add-Ons | Remote Probe Installer from the main menu and download the Remote Probe Installer (PRTG_Remote_Probe_Installer.exe).
  2. Deploy the remote probes using Kaspersky Network Agent:PRTG_Remote_Probe_Installer.exe /SILENTFor help with this, see Kaspersky Technical Support.
  3. Download http://code.google.com/p/prtg7addons/downloads/detail?name=PRTGRemoteProbeCfg1.0.0.500.exe from Google Code

    [UPDATE] New version for PRTG v13 available here: http://www.nolme.com/datas/prtg/PRTGRemoteProbeCfgV13.exe
  4. Set parameters for a remote computer using Kaspersky Network Agent and PRTGRemoteProbeCfg.exe (renamed). Example:PRTGRemoteProbeCfg.exe /SERVERADDRESS <MyServerPublicIPAddress> /SERVERPORT 23560 /KEY <MyHashKey> /TAG NOLME_
  5. Machine does not need to be rebooted to take changes. If you want to check the connection between Remote Probe and Server, please see PRTG manual section Remote Probes and Multiple Probes for more information.

Notes

  • You can run PRTGRemoteProbeCfg.exe without any parameter to display help.
  • The program produces a debug log file in %TEMP%/NolmeDebug.log
  • If no name is specified, the program gets the machine's name (which should be unique for all good network admin ;p). Tag is inserted before for "classification".
  • Although these instructions are optimized for Kaspersky, remote deploy should work similar with other tools like OCS Inventory, Kaseya, ManageEngine Desktop Central, etc.

Help

{{{
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paessler PRTG Remote Probe Configuration Help - (c) 2010 Nolmë Informatique     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Version  : 1.0
Encoding : UNICODE
 
DESCRIPTION
~~~~~~~~~~~
Set remote probe configuration for Paessler PRTG Monitor
 
SYNTAX
~~~~~~
PRTGREMOTEPROBECFG [/SERVERADDRESS[:]address] [/SERVERPORT[:]port] [/KEY[:]access key] [/LANGUAGE[:]language] [/RECONNECTTIME[:]time]
                   [/TAG[:]tag name] [/WORKGROUPPREFIX] [/NAME[:]probe name]
                   [/NORESTARTSERVICE]
 
  /?     Display help. Must be UNIQUE parameter
  
  /SERVERADDRESS    Define remote server address
          Address can be an IP or FQDN
          Default : 127.0.0.1
  
  /SERVERPORT       Define remote server port
          Port can be in [1..65535]
          Default : 23560
  
  /KEY              Access key hash code
          See in registry of server to get hash code (DECIMAL)
          Default : 0
  
  /LANGUAGE         Set default language
          English : english.lng
          French  : french.lng (Default)
          German  : german.lng
          Japanese: japanese.lng
          Spanish : spanish.lng
  
  /RECONNECTTIME    Time sync (in seconds) with server
          Default : 300
  
  /TAG              Define local probe tag name
          Add this tag before probe name
          Default : PROBE_
  
  /WORKGROUPPREFIX  Add computer workgroup name in probe name
          Default : <none>
  
  /NAME             Define local probe name
          If not specified, machine name will be used. /TAG can be combined
          Default : MyProbe
  
  /NORESTARTSERVICE Don't restart PRTG service after installation (Default: false)
  
Arguments are not case sensitive. You can use both slash '/' or '-' for specifying options.
}}}

Version History

Build : 1.0.0.500 : Help displayed from command line display good default value

Build : 1.0.0.400 : No need to restart computer to apply changes Add workgroup/domain name in probe name generation (see parameter: WORKGROUPPREFIX) Add parameter to avoid service restart (see parameter NORESTARTSERVICE)