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KACE Desktop Authority 11.1 - Administrator Guide

Administrator's Guide
Product Improvement Program Installation Help Concepts User Interface Validation Logic Configuration Computer Management User Management Reference File Paths
Setup Tool

Welcome to Desktop Authority

The prerequisite components include:

  • Microsoft IIS 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5 or 10 depending upon the Operating System of the server

    - IIS 7 will be installed to 2008 servers

    - IIS 7.5 will be installed to 2008 R2 servers

    - IIS 8.0 will be installed to 2012 servers

    - IIS 8.5 will be installed to 2012 R2 servers

    - IIS 10 will be installed to 2016 and 2019 servers

The default installation of IIS does not install a few components that are required by Desktop Authority. If these components are missing, the Desktop Authority install will allow you to install the missing components by pressing the Add Features button.


These extra IIS components include the following:


HTTP Errors, Application Development, ASP.NET, .NET Extensibility, ISAPI Extensions, ISAPI Filters, Tracing, Windows Authentication, Dynamic Content Compression, IIS Management Scripts and Tools and Management Services.

In addition, the installer will configure the following:

  • Windows Firewall Exceptions (This will enable an exception for the File and Printer Sharing service)
  • WMI and Remote Procedure Call (RPC) system services are used to install and configure Desktop Authority services remotely. They will be turned on during installation.

Note: If there is no Internet connection available on the machine where Desktop Authority is being installed to, the prerequisite components can be downloaded prior to starting the installation and placed in a folder of your choice. During the install, you will be prompted to choose the file path.

License Information

Enter your license key.

Database Information

Desktop Authority requires an instance of either Microsoft SQL Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 Express Edition. The database is used to store all configurations as well as a data collection repository for reporting. Desktop Authority can install a new instance of SQL Server Express or use an existing SQL Server instance. On Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQl Server 2008 R2 Express will used. On all other supported operating systems, Microsoft SQL Server 2014 R2 Express will be used. Select the appropriate option in the dialog.

When selecting to have Desktop Authority install a local instance of SQL Express, you must supply an 'SA' password. The new instance will be installed using Mixed Mode authentication (uses both Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication) which requires an 'SA' account. This password is required and must meet the password complexity policies set for the domain.

When selecting to use an existing SQL Server instance, type in the SERVERNAME\INSTANCE or press the Browse button to select an existing instance. During an upgrade, the SQL Server Instance Name will automatically be entered for you. After choosing an existing SQL Server instance, select an authentication method for it. Select either Windows or SQL Server authentication.

Note: To use Windows Authentication for an existing instance of Microsoft SQL Server, you must ensure that the user ID that you are currently logged into Windows with is assigned to the SQL Server 'System Administrators' server role.

If Microsoft SQL 2008 R2 Server Express Edition (x86/x64) is being used, it will be downloaded at this point, if necessary.

File Locations

Select a path and destination folder for the SQL Server Express Database (if selected) and the Desktop Authority Manager. Please reference the File Paths table in the appendices for default path locations. Press the Browse button next to the desired component to select a different path. Once the file locations are set, click Next to continue.

Note: The SQL Server Express Database installation folder option will only be available when Desktop Authority is installing a local instance of Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition.

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