Using the Deployment Utility

Manage Computers

Before you can install the Client Recorder on computers, you must build an executable Client Installation file.  

Deploying your own installation gives you the flexibility to configure Client settings exactly as you wish for individual or groups of computers. After the "secret" installation, the Client begins recording according to your configuration, and all this can happen with absolutely no user interaction at Client computer itself.

The Deployment Utility takes you step-by-step through selecting Client Recorder settings and building a Client Install file with a default name of:  spsetup_Settings.sds

To run the Deployment Utility:

1. Start the utility.

1. Open the Control Center and select Manage Computers.  

2. Open the Action menu, or right click on Manage Computers, and select Deployment Utility. The Client Deploy Utility wizard opens.

3. Read the Client Deploy Utility Agreement box. Click Review Agreement to read the  Software License Agreement you have with SpectorSoft. You may only install the Client on the number of computers for which you are licensed. See Registration and Licensing. If you agree to the terms of the agreement, click I Agree.

2. Choose a configuration file.
   The configuration file determines which settings the Deployment Utility will present, and under which name the .sds Client Install file will be created.

1. Select the default Configuration file C:\...\SpectorCNE\Settings.ini to start with default SpectorSoft settings. You can change settings as you progress through the Deployment Utility wizard, and your changes will be retained the next time you use the utility.

2. Click Start to continue.

3. Set options for recording activity.
   After you select the Configuration File, the Deployment Utility presents panels that allows you to specify whether or not you want an activity recorded, or whether you want to set options. By default, all types of recording are turned ON. Click Next to accept the default settings, or after changing the default settings. (Click each of the following for help with the settings panel.)

• Email

• Web Sites

• Chat/IM

• Keystrokes

• Programs

• Network

• Files Transferred

• Document Tracking

• Screen Snapshots

4. Limit general recording.  
   By default, the Client records ALL users at the Client computer, ALL their activity, ALL the time the computer is on. "Record When" settings allow you to limit when, what, and who is recorded. For example, you might record only on work days, exclude certain users from recording, and exclude recording of common programs.

• When to Record

• Click Next to accept the default settings, or accept your selections, and continue.

5.  Set HotKey combinations.
   The bottom of the "Record When" panel provides two buttons that allow you to set Hotkey combinations that you can use at the Client computer to control recording. By default, there are no hotkey combinations that start/stop recording or take a snapshot.

To create hotkeys:

• Click the Toggle Record Hotkey and enter a key combination in the dialog box. You will be able to use this key combination at the Client computers to manually stop recording after the Client is installed and to manually restart recording. See When to Record for more details.

• Click the Take Snapshot Hotkey button and enter a key combination in the dialog box. After the Client is installed, you will be able to use this key combination at Client computers to manually take a Snapshot of the screen currently displayed. See When to Record for more details.

6. Set Keyword Alerts.
   Keyword Alerts settings allows you to define keywords that cause an "Alert" event. The Client will watch for these keywords in web sites, email, and keystrokes. By default, there are no keywords that cause an alert.

To set up keyword alerts:

Follow instructions in:

• Keyword Settings

 Be sure to take care in setting up the email notification.

7. Set Client Security.
   The Security panel provides an option to install a Viewer on the Client computer and fine-tune visibility of the Client. As a rule, for security, you do NOT want to install the Client Viewer unless there are issues with a network connection to a computer. By default, the Client is set to Stealth Mode and the Viewer is NOT installed.

To set security:

• Accept the default settings to keep the Client completely invisible to the user.  

• You can make the Client visible to the user by clearing the Set Spector Client to Stealth Mode option. See Stealth vs. Visible Mode. If you decide to Include Viewer with Spector Client Installation be sure to set a password and a Hotkey combination to access the Viewer. The Viewer allows you to see Client recordings at the local Client computer.   

• This panel also provides access to Client data file storage limits, under the Client Data Files button.

• See Configuring Client Security.  

8. Block Internet Access.  
   You can block Internet access for computers on which this Client Install file is installed, specify which users of the computer should be blocked, and set up a schedule for applying blocking.

To block Internet Access:

Select Block Internet Access. If you deselect this option, there are no limits on Internet access, and no other settings are available. Follow instructions in:

• Block Internet Access

• When to Block

9. Server Communication.
   The last panel in the build is "Server Communication," which specifies the computer names and IP addresses of the Primary Server and Data Vault computer(s). The default settings are taken from the Server Components installation.  There is likely little need to change them. See Server Communication Settings. Click Finish.  

10. Set build options.
    At this point you have created the Settings.ini (or other) Configuration file and are ready to build the spsetup_Settings.sds file, the executable Client install file.

To build the Installation File:

Click Build. If you are using the Deployment Utility on a Windows XP client with Firewall enabled, a rule is automatically added — Program: 'System Event Dispatcher', Port: 2468. Choose your build options

• Install in Quiet or Silent Mode?  See Quiet vs. Interactive Installation.
  Check this option to have the Client installation run without requiring user interaction (recommended for remote installation). Clear this option for user interaction with the installation.

• Interactive Options - If you deselect Quiet or Silent Mode, the other options become active. Choose the dialog boxes you want to appear.  See Quiet vs. Interactive Installation.

• Show Installation Warning Dialog?
  Check to show a warning dialog box. Click Edit to open a Spector Installation Warning box. Type the warning message you wish to appear to the user. Click Save. Clear this option to omit the warning.

• Use Fixed Filenames
  Check this option to use unchanging file names for the Client Recorder software. SpectorSoft normally installs monitoring software with filenames that change with each installation to remain undetected.

11. End the build.
    At the end of the Build options, a message informs you that the Spector Client Installation file was created and where it is located. Click OK.

To install the Client from the Control Center you will select the .sds file you just created. To install the Client at the Client computer, you will rename the install file from spsetup_xxx.sds to an spsetup_xxx.exe file extension.