How to deploy SurveilStar Monitoring Software

This document provides detailed guidelines on how to deploy SurveilStar PC/Internet monitoring software. Content on this topic is also available in both PDF and Doc documents, you can download either of the document for latter reference. Review the IT structure of SurveilStar employee monitoring system before getting started.

Summary

1. Installing SQL Server

2. Installing SurveilStar Server

3. Installing SurveilStar Console

4. Installing SurveilStar Agent

5. Creating monitor/control policies

6. Uninstalling

7. Registration & Upgrade

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1. Installing SQL Server

SurveilStar monitoring system requires a SQL data server to store and feed the collected data. The server can be deployed on a dedicated computer or any computer deemed appropriate to be used as a data server, according to the following requirements:

System Requirement:

  • OS: Win2000 SP4/2003 SP1/XP SP2/Vista
  • Available Hard Disk Space: 10 GB - 50 GB, or more
  • RAM: > 512 MB

SQL Server Requirement:

In choosing SQL Server application, you can select one of the free editions or pay to buy the enterprise edition. When selecting a version of SQL Server, you should review and follow the installation instructions suggested by Microsoft.

 SQL Server Note
Free edition SQL 2005 Express With limited storage capacity.
MSDE 2000 SP4 Maximum storage capacity: 2GB. Not compatible with Vista.
Enterprise edition SQL Server 2000 SP4  
SQL Server 2005 SP1 Recommended

Note: Before installing SQL Server, you may need to update Windows Installer, .Net Framework and Windows PowerShell.

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2. Installing SurveilStar Server

Before installing SurveilStar Server, please make sure the SQL Server application is running. You can download SurveilStar setup file from our website or install it from installation CD.

SurveilStar Server should be installed in the same computer with the SQL Server application. When prompted to select components, choose SurveilStar Server, and then proceed.

Installing monitoring server

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3. Installing SurveilStar Console

The installation of SurveilStar Console uses the same setup file as installing the SurveilStar Server. Select SurveilStar Console when prompted to select components, and then proceed.

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4. Installing SurveilStar Agent

SurveilStar Agent should be deployed to computers that are required to be monitored and controlled. The Agent can install in silence mode and run in stealth mode.

There are 3 ways to deploy SurveilStar Agent to computers: Direct Installation, Remote Installation, and Logon Script Installation.

Method 1: Direct Installation

Adopting the Direct Installation method, you need to install the Agent one by one following these steps:

Step 1. Create SurveilStar Agent setup file

On the desktop of the server, click "Start > All Programs > SurveilStar > Agent Installation Generator"

Create SurveilStar moniroting Agent setup file
  • Server IP/Name: Specify the IP address of the server here. If more than one server exists, please use comma to separate them. Static IP and Dynamic DNS are supported.
  • Setup File Full Path: Choose a folder to save the setup file, and give it a file name.
  • Silent Installation: If you check this option, the Agent will install without showing any visible interface.
  • Account info: Installing SurveilStar Agent requires administrator privilege.

Step 2. Copy the setup file to target computers

Step 3. Double-click the setup file to install the Agent

Method 2 : Remote Installation

Remote Installation can easily deploy SurveilStar Agent to a massive number of computers in remote and batch mode. Details ...

Method 3: Logon Script Installation

If the local area network (LAN) of your company has a domain server, you can use this method to deploy the Agent to computers within the LAN. Details ...

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5. Creating monitor/control policies

A Control Policy describes when a PC/Internet activity is detected, what kind of action should be automatically taken against that activity. Control policy can be applied to the whole network, a certain group, or a selected computer/user.

User Policy > Computer Policy > Group Policy > Whole Network Policy

High priority < ----------------------------------------------------- > Low priority

You can assign one of the following policies to any specified PC/Internet activity:

  • Block the activity
  • Allow the activity
  • Inaction
  • Ignore the activity

You can take further actions against the detected activity:

  • Alert the administrator/supervisor
  • Send warning message to the monitored user
  • Lock/reboot the monitored computer

Click the Basic Policy or Advanced Policy tab in SurveilStar Console, and then click on a sub-tab to create new policy.

Basic computer and Internet monitoring policy
Advanced computer and Internet monitoring policy

Add a new computer/Internet monitoring policy Add a new policy Move up computer/Internet monitoring policy Move up Move down computer/Internet monitoring policy Move down Delete computer/Internet monitoring policy Delete policy Reset control policy Reset policy Save computer/Internet monitoring policy Save policy

For instance, you can create a website policy to filter websites with porn content:

Create website monitoring policy

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6. Uninstalling

Note: If you want to remove the entire SurveilStar PC/Internet monitoring system, including Agents, Consoles and Server, please delete all SurveilStar Agents first. Otherwise, the deployed SurveilStar Agents will continue to run in those computers, even though the SurveilStar Server is removed. Uninstall Agent, Uninstall Console, Uninstall Server.

Uninstall SurveilStar Agent

Only IT manager or senior supervisor with administrator access to SurveilStar Console can uninstall SurveilStar Agent.

There are two methods to uninstall SurveilStar monitoring Agent:

Method 1: Uninstall Agent from SurveilStar Console

Login to the SurveilStar Console, right-click on any selected computer, or the entire network, and choose Uninstall Agent from the pop-up menu (as shown bellow).

Uninstall SurveilStar monitoring software agent

Note: Uninstalling an Agent does not delete the history data of this computer. The uninstalled Agent will still appear in the Console, marked in dark gray color. To delete an Agent completely, please click the Console menu "Tools > Computers" , select the computer name, and then click the Delete button.

Method 2: Uninstall Agent from the client computer

If the client computer is offline or is out of control of SurveilStar Console, you can uninstall the Agent directly from the computer. Read detailed instructions on this topic.

Uninstall SurveilStar Console

On the desktop of Windows system, click " Start > All Programs > SurveilStar > Uninstall SurveilStar" , or go to "Control Panel > Add/Remove Program" to uninstall SurveilStar Server.

Uninstall SurveilStar Server

Note: Before uninstalling SurveilStar Server, all SurveilStar Consoles should be closed first.

On the desktop of Windows system, click " Start > All Programs > SurveilStar > Uninstall SurveilStar" , or go to "Control Panel > Add/Remove Program" to uninstall SurveilStar Server.

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