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
Installation packages are prepared by, and ordered from, Snow Support. When ordering the installation package, 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
Run the package.
An installation wizard starts.
Follow the displayed instructions.
Command
Start a terminal
Run the following command:
sudo installer –pkg snowagent-<version>.x86.pkg –target /
Install the agent manually
Start a terminal and use sudo for all commands.
Copy the following files to the opt/snow directory on the computer:
snowagent
xMetering2 (optionally)
snowagent.config
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
Make snowagent and xMetering2 executable with the command lines:
chmod +x /opt/snow/snowagent chmod +x /opt/snow/xMetering2
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 manually
Start a terminal and use sudo for all commands.
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
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
Default location of files
The table below shows the default locations of the binary files and log files of the agent after an installation using a prepared installation package.
File name | Directory | Description |
|---|---|---|
snowagent | /opt/snow | The Snow Inventory Agent binary file |
snowagent.config | /opt/snow | The Snow Inventory Agent configuration file |
*.snowpack | /opt/snow/data | The inventory result file |
snowagent.log | /opt/snow/data | The Snow Inventory Agent log file |
.hst.lg | /opt/snow/data | The log file for information on installation date and last scan date |
xMetering2 | /opt/snow | The metering binary file |
*.met | /opt/snow/data | The metering result file |
metering.log | /opt/snow/data | The metering log file |
Temporary files are by default located in the /tmp/snow directory and will be deleted when no longer needed.