How does an administrator deploy WorkScape using group policy?

Using group policy, an administrator can install WorkScape on computers on the network remotely. Follow the steps below. A video illustrating all these steps is also available. Watch the video How does an administrator deploy WorkScape using group policy?

  1. Create a new group
    1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in by clicking the Windows Start button, selecting Administrative Tools, and then clicking Active Directory Users and Computers.
    2. In the console tree left panel, right click your domain. Then click New and then Group.
    3. Type the name WorkScape in the Group Name field. Select Global in the Group scope section. Select Security in the Group type section. Then click OK.
  2. Add the computers on which you want to install WorkScape
    1. In the right panel of the Active Directory Users and Computers dialog, right click WorkScape and then click Properties. The WorkScape Properties dialog opens.
    2. In the WorkScape Properties dialog, click the Members tab. At the bottom of the Members tab, click Add. The Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups dialog opens.
    3. In the Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups dialog, click Object Types…. The Object Types dialog opens.
    4. In the Object Types dialog, check Computers. Then click OK. The Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups dialog opens.
    5. In the Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups dialog, go to the Enter the object names to select field. Enter the name of a computer where you want to install WorkScape. Then click Check Names. If the name is correct (underlined), click OK. The WorkScape Properties dialog opens and displays the computer names you have added. If the list is correct, click Apply and then OK.

    You have successfully created a new group and added the computers where you want to install WorkScape.

  3. Create a new network location
    1. Click the Windows Start button and then Computer. The Windows File Explorer opens.
    2. In the left panel of the File Explorer, open the Folders drop-down. Find and click Local Disk (C:).
    3. Right click within the Local Disk (C:) right panel. Select New and then Folder. Name the new folder software.
    4. Right click the software folder and then click Share…. The File Sharing dialog opens.
    5. In the File Sharing dialog, open the Add drop-down and click Find…. The Select Users or Groups dialog opens.
    6. In the Enter the object names to select field, enter WorkScape. Then click Check Names. If the name is correct (underlined), click OK. The File Sharing dialog opens.
    7. In the File Sharing dialog, find WorkScape in the Name list and highlight it. Then click Share. A Your folder is shared confirmation opens. Click Done.
    8. Close the File Explorer.
  4. Download the WorkScape installation package
    1. Log in to the WorkScape Admin Panel. See the FAQ How do I log in to the WorkScape Admin Panel?
    2. Click the Download arrow on the top right. Then click Windows Client…. The Download Windows Client dialog opens.
    3. In the Download Windows Client dialog, scroll down to the Deploy WorkScape via group policy section. If you want WorkScape to be visible to employees and to allow employees to start and stop monitoring, select Show WorkScape in the system tray. Then click Download. The WorkScape setup program WorkScapeSetup.msi downloads to your Windows Downloads folder.
  5. Share the installation package on the network
    1. Click the Windows Start button and then Computer. The Windows File Explorer opens.
    2. In the left panel of the File Explorer, click to expand Local Disk (C:). Then expand Users. Then expand Administrator. Under Administrator, click Downloads.
    3. In the downloads list, find WorkScapeSetup.msi, copy it, and then paste it into the C:\software folder.

    You have successfully downloaded WorkScapeSetup.msi and shared it in your network.

  6. Create a group policy object
    1. Start the Group Policy Management snap-in by clicking the Windows Start button, selecting Administrative Tools, and then clicking Group Policy Management. The Group Policy Management panel opens.
    2. In the Group Policy Management left panel, expand your forest root domain. Then expand Domains. Then expand your domain. Then right click your domain. From the options listed, click Create a GPO in this domain, and link it here…. The New GPO dialog opens.
    3. In the New GPO dialog, change the text in the Name field to Deploy WorkScape. Then click OK.
    4. In the Group Policy Management left panel, find and click Deploy WorkScape below your domain. The Group Policy Management Console dialog opens. Click OK. The Deploy WorkScape settings panel opens.
    5. In the Deploy WorkScape settings panel, go to the Security Filtering section, highlight Authenticated Users, and then click Remove. Click OK to confirm you want to remove the privilege. Then click Add. The Select User, Computer, or Group dialog opens.
    6. In the Select User, Computer, or Group dialog, go to the Enter the object name to select field and enter WorkScape. Then click Check Names. If the name is correct (underlined), click OK.
    7. In the Group Policy Management left panel, find and right click Deploy WorkScape below your domain. Click Edit…. The Group Policy Management Editor opens.
    8. In the Group Policy Management Editor, expand Computer Configuration. Then expand Policies. Then expand Software Settings. Click Software installation.
    9. Right click in the right pane. Click New and then Package…. The Select Package dialog opens.
    10. In the File name field in the Select Package dialog, enter \\IP\software\WorkScapeSetup.msi and replace IP with the IP address or computer name of your server. This is the full Universal Naming Convention path of the shared installer package. Click Open. The Deploy Software dialog opens.
    11. In the The Deploy Software dialog, select Advanced and then click OK. The WorkScape Properties dialog opens.
    12. In the WorkScape Properties dialog, open the Deployment tab. Select Uninstall this application when it falls out of the scope management. Then click OK. Close all dialogs and panels.

    You have successfully created a new GPO for installing WorkScape remotely on employee computers.

  7. Manually force installation of WorkScape on employees' computers
    1. Click the Windows Start button and then Remote Desktop Connection. The Remote Desktop Connection dialog opens.
    2. Type the computer name or IP address of a user in the Computer field.
    3. In the Remote Desktop Connection dialog, click Connect.
    4. Click the Windows Start button. Find the command prompt field and enter cmd. Press Enter. The command prompt dialog opens.
    5. In the command prompt dialog enter gpupdate /force following C:\Users\Administrator>. Press Enter. When the OK to Restart question appears, type y. Then press Enter. The computer will reboot and WorkScape will be installed automatically by employee computers.

Keep in mind that logs generated by this installation will be discarded unless the administrator now assigns the computers on which WorkScape is installed to a license. See the FAQ How do I add a computer to monitor?

Watch the video How to deploy WorkScape using group policy:

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