CapaInstaller Windows Agent

Owned by Martin Gudme Søndergaard
May 23, 2022
2 min read

Introduction

Each client must have the CapaInstaller Agent installed. The Agent initiates all management tasks by checking with the system at regular intervals. It collects inventory information about the client and checks the Management Server for any new packages waiting for that client. It then runs any new packages and returns status and inventory information back to the Management Server. A CapaInstaller Agent must be run by each client at a regular interval. It serves as the trigger for running incoming packages and returning inventory details. It collects inventory information about the client and checks the Container for any new packages waiting for that client. It then runs any new packages and returns status and inventory information back to the Container. Agent functionality is provided by the following set of files, look in the list below for further details.
 
These files are automatically updated by the Health check service, and the CapaInstaller Stub Service, which can update itself.


Element

Description

CapaInstaller Agent.exe

This is the actual agent program. It is located in _<program Files>_\CapaInstaller\Agent on each client computer. The folder can be customized in System Administration in the ‘Configure Agent’- right-click menu of the management server/point.
 

CapaInstaller agent.xml

The configuration for the CapaInstaller Agent.exe is stored within this file, which is located in the same folder as the .exe file. The file holds information about authentication, Account settings, intervals, delays and folder settings. The file is a combined configuration filer for CapaInstaller Agent, CapaInstaller Stub and CapaInstaller InfoCenter.
 

CIStub.exe

As the name implies, the CIStub is the service part of the agent. CIStub is always running as an automatic service, and the reason, that the Stub and the Agent are divided into two files, is that CIStub is able to manipulate the account settings for itself. That way the CIStub can assure that when it launches the CapaInstaller Agent.exe, it is happening in the desired user context, which is either a local system account or a named account.
 
CiStub.exe is located in the <program Files>\CapaInstaller\Services\CIStub folder.
 

CapaInstaller InfoCenter.exe

The info center is a two-purpose utility. Firstly it serves as a way of communicating with the user in his/her context. This is normally accepted/reject dialogs for new software packages.
 
Secondly, it gives the end-user the ability to interact with the CapaInstaller client software. From its position in the system tray, the user can trig the CapaInstaller Agent.exe to run, either in the user's own context (directly) or in the predefined computer context, launched by CIStub.exe.
 

CIInstsvc.exe

The CapaInstaller Service Installation Service is also known as the health check service.
 

  

The Agent is able to run in two modes:

Mode

Description

Computer

When called with the COMPUTER command-line parameter, it runs computer packages and gathers information about a client computer such as hardware and software inventory.

User

When called with the USER command-line parameter, it runs user packages.