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Install the agent

Snow Inventory Agent for macOS can be installed either by using a prepared installation package, or manually by using copies of the binary files.

The files are one executable file named snowagent and one configuration file named snowagent.config. These two files are by default located in the same directory. To see a command line summary of the executable, use the following command from a command prompt:

/opt/snow/snowagent -?

Prepare an installation package

As a Snow Atlas user, you can create your own installation packages by using Package Builder.

Otherwise, Snow Support will create the installation packages for you. When ordering an installation package from Snow Support, the current configuration file must be supplied. If no configuration file exists, certain information, according to the description below, must be supplied so that a new configuration file can be created.

Required information:

  • address to the Snow Inventory Server, including port number

  • site name

  • if xMetering should be included

Optional information:

  • name of the configuration file

  • if previous versions of the Snow Inventory Client for macOS should be removed

The installation package can be copied to any folder on the target computer.

Install the agent using a prepared installation package

The installation can be run in two ways, either as a user interface or as a command.

Note

During the installation, an uninstall script is created.

User interface

  1. Run the package.

    An installation wizard starts.

  2. Follow the displayed instructions.

Command

  1. Start a terminal

  2. Run the following command:

    sudo installer –pkg <package name>.pkg –target /

Install the agent manually

  1. Start a terminal and use sudo for all commands.

  2. Copy the following files to the opt/snow directory on the computer:

    • snowagent

    • xMetering2 (optionally)

    • snowagent.config

  3. Copy the following files to the Library/LaunchDaemons directory on the computer:

    • com.snowsoftware.Inventory.plist

    • com.snowsoftware.Metering.plist (if xMetering2 is installed)

    • com.snowsoftware.Cloudmetering.plist

  4. Make snowagent and xMetering2 executable with the command lines:

    chmod +x /opt/snow/snowagent
    chmod +x /opt/snow/xMetering2
    
  5. Load and start the snowagent and xMetering daemon processes with the command lines:

    launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.snowsoftware.Inventory.plist
    launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.snowsoftware.Metering.plist
    

Uninstall the agent

If the agent was installed via a prepared installation package, run the uninstall.sh file located in the agent installation directory:

sudo ./uninstall.sh

Otherwise, follow these steps:

  1. Start a terminal and use sudo for all commands.

  2. Stop the snowagent and xMetering daemon processes with the command lines:

    launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.snowsoftware.Inventory.plist
    launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.snowsoftware.Metering.plist
    launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.snowsoftware.Cloudmetering.plist
    
  3. Delete all installed files, data files, and temporary files with the following command lines:

    sudo rm -fR /opt/snow
    sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.snowsoftware.Inventory.plist
    sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.snowsoftware.Metering.plist
    sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.snowsoftware.Cloudmetering.plist