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Enterprise Console: how does the 'Protect computers wizard' perform an installation?

You can use the Enterprise Console 'Protect computers wizard' to install Sophos Anti-Virus to single or multiple remote computers. This allows you to rapidly deploy Sophos Anti-Virus over a small or large network.

What to do

How to start the 'Protect computers wizard':

  1. Open Enterprise Console and on the toolbar click 'Protect'.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions. The wizard will first ask for a username and password that is valid for the administration of remote computers.
    • If the computers are all on the same domain, the domain administrator account should ideally be specified here in the form domain_name\user_name.
    • If the computers are on different domains covered by the same Active Directory schema, use the Enterprise Administrator account in Active Directory instead.

Technical details

How does the 'Protect computers wizard' work?

  1. Using the target computer's Task Scheduler service, Enterprise Console creates a scheduled task, called Sophos_InstTask, on the target computer(s). This task runs using the username specified in step 2 above.
  2. Upon execution, Sophos AutoUpdate, Sophos Remote Management System (RMS), and Sophos Anti-Virus are installed silently from the location specified in the updating policy.
  3. The 'Protect computers wizard' installs RMS before Sophos Anti-Virus, so you will usually see the Sophos Anti-Virus and on-access status change during the installation. The Sophos shield in the computer's System tray which is initially grey, is displayed in blue when the on-access scanner becomes active.
    When installation is complete, the target computer appears as managed, with full information as to the status of Sophos Anti-Virus.

Note: If, after running the Protect Computers wizard, the console displays the message "Could not access the installation program [0x00000034]", this indicates you have set the updating policy incorrectly.

If you need more information or guidance, then please contact technical support.