Install KACE Desktop Authority Step by Step

Install KACE Desktop Authority step by step, including appliance setup, prerequisites, configuration, deployment options and administration tasks.

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

Identifying prerequisites (OS, Ports, AD, SQL …) and installation of KACE Desktop Authority

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

Install KACE Desktop Overview

Supported OS

Installation

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard/Enterprise
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard/Enterprise
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016

Client

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • Microsoft Windows 7 (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1 (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows 10 (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard/Enterprise
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard/Enterprise
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016

Port Opening

PortServices
135Remote Service Management Port
139Remote Registry needed to install the admin service.
443HTTPS port used by IIS
1433Microsoft-SQL-Server.
1529Off-Network Remote Management Gateway Service.
2000Remote Management (if used and the port can be changed in the element for Remote Management)
8017Desktop Authority Operation Master Settings
57238Desktop Authority Manager Service

Antivirus Exceptions

Add the following exceptions

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

Clients:

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • C:Desktop Authority
  • C:Program FilesQuest
  • C:Program Files (x86)Quest
  • C:WindowsSystem32SLInstall.exe
  • C:WindowsSystem32SLBoost.exe
  • C:WindowsSysWOW64SLInstall.exe
  • C:WindowsSysWOW64SLBoost.exe
  • C:WindowsTempDesktop Authority
  • C:WindowsPrefetch

Server:

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • C:Program Files (x86)QuestDesktop Authority
  • C:WindowsSystem32DAAdminSvc.exe
  • C:WindowsSysWOW64DAAdminSvc.exe

SQL Server

By default, Quest installs a SQL Express 2014, but you can also use a SQL server with the following versions:

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • 2008
  • 2008 R2
  • 2012
  • 2014
  • 2016
  • 2017

The SQL server MUST be installed on the same server as QUEST Desktop Authority

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

If you install SQL server manually, you must enable “SQL Authentication” mode (SA Account)

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

Active Directory Functional Level

Supported Active Directory functional levels:

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • Microsoft Windows 2008 domain functional level
  • Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 domain functional level
  • Microsoft Windows 2012 domain functional level
  • Microsoft Windows 2012 R2 domain functional level
  • Microsoft Windows 2016

Service Accounts

3 accounts are required

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • Installation Account => Domain Administrator (netlogon modification required)
  • Super User Group => A group for Desktop Authority administrators
  • Operation Service => Local Administrator of the QUEST server
  • Manager Service => Local Administrator of the QUEST server
  • IIS Application => Local Administrator of the QUEST server

The last 3 accounts can be identical

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

Server Sizing

On the same server with SQL and Desktop Authority, with at least:

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • Quad-core processor (dual-core in LAB)
  • 16 GB of memory (4 GB RAM in LAB)

For disks, no specific prerequisites are indicated; you can start with:

Useful external reference: Quest KACE resources.

  • A System partition of 60 or 80 GB
  • A partition for QUEST of 20 GB
  • A partition for the SQL database of 20 GB

Install KACE Desktop Overview

  • Disable Enhanced Security. This is not a prerequisite for installation, but it allows the WEB console to launch correctly at the end of installation.
Install KACE Desktop screenshot
  • Add “Operator Service” and “Manager Service” accounts to the local administrator group
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • The installation will check the prerequisites and then start the installation
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • The setup will then offer to install additional components
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • Enter your serial number
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • Install or provide information for the SQL express database
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • Provide paths for the SQL database and “Desktop Authority” installation
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • Provide the accounts (or account) for the services
  • The default ports for these services are 8017 and 57238.
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • Specify the administrator group for the solution (the account performing the installation will also be an administrator)
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • Confirm the IIS configuration
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • To manage a client remotely off-network, configure the feature during installation.
  • Enable the feature by selecting “I want to use Off Network Remote.”
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • Select a self-signed certificate, or your certificates
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • Start the installation
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot
  • The installation takes between 15 and 30 minutes
KACE Desktop Authority installation screenshot