Agent Management for Windows and macOS

About this article:

Watchdog makes it easy to distribute the Watchdog Agents to End User PCs. An admin or asset manager user role is required. This article explains two methods for agent distribution:

1. Remote installation with shared token: Admins or asset managers request a shared token and download the latest Windows of macOS version or the Watchdog Agent for Desktop local. Deploy the agent via endpoint management to employee PCs. The agent will onboard automatically to the project associated with the activation token. Name and group the agents in the Watchdog Dashboard.

2. End-user installation and activation: Admins or asset managers create agents on the Agent page. Watchdog sends an email to each end-user containing a download link and a one-time activation token. The end-user downloads and installs the agent to their PC and activates the agent with the Activation Token.

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1. Remote installation with a shared token:

Watchdog supports remote installation and activation using endpoint management systems like InTune or JAMF.

Step 1: Request a shared token from your Watchog account manager

Step 2: Download the latest Windows or macOS agent from this site. Download Watchdog Agent for Desktop

Step 3: Remotely install the Watchdog Agent to end-user PCs using your organization’s endpoint management tools and processes:

• Associate the shared activation token in your endpoint management configuration
• The agent will pass the PC’s serial number for identification in the Watchdog Dashboard
• Configure the endpoint management system to pass the device name and/or user’s email address if available. This will help you identify onboarded agents in the dashboard.
• Upon activation, the Watchdog Agent automatically onboards to the Watchdog project associated with the activation token

Step 4 Visit the Watchdog Dashboard Agents tab

• The new agents will appear with the PC’s serial number and the other identifiers configured in the endpoint management system
• Check the activation status
• Assign the agents to groups for easy target assignment and search

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2. End-user installation and activation method

Step 1: Navigate to the Agent page

The Admin or Asset Manager adds new agents on the Agent page.

Step 2: Add new agents

1. Agent addition field

   • Click Add Agent to add a field.

   • Automatic emails are sent unless Skip Activation Email is checked
     
     

   

   

2. Excel upload

   Add up to 100 agents at once by excel upload.

• Click Add Agent
• Download the Excel template by clicking Upload Excel

• Complete the template and enter:

  • Agent Name (required): Enter a unique name for each agent in the names column
  • Assign Group (optional): Assign the agent to an agent group by entering the group name in the group column
  • Primary address (optional): Enter the agent’s location in the address column. Entering the full address is best, but entering the city/locality and state/province is sufficient for most locations.
  • Email Address (required): Add the contact email address associated with the agent in the email column
  • Skip Activation Email (Optional): Enter “Yes” in the skip email column to avoid sending emails for each agent created.
• Upload the completed Excel template by clicking Upload

• Fix any errors and click Create and an email with a download link and activation token is sent to the email address

  

  

  

  

Step 3: Send an email

Once an Admin or Asset Manager enters the end-user’s email address, an email with an activation token and a link to install will be automatically sent to your end-users.

End-users activation instructions:

• Agent Installation for macOS
• Agent Installation for Windows

Step 4: End-user activates agent by entering the activation token

The end-user then launches the remotely installed agent and activates it by entering the activation token, confirming their location, and click Start .

Step 5: Check the activation status

If the activation status is Not Activated, a Watchdog Installation email can be sent using the email icon next to the email address.