2.2 Designating a Discovery and Deployment Proxy Server

ZENworks Servers running on Linux cannot perform discovery tasks that use Windows-specific technologies such as WMI and WinAPI. Linux servers also cannot perform deployment of ZENworks Agents to Windows devices, as deployment uses Windows-specific technologies. In order to enable the execution of discovery and deployment tasks by Linux ZENworks Servers, you can designate a Windows managed device in your zone to function as a discovery and deployment proxy server. The managed device can be either a Windows server or workstation.

When a Linux ZENworks Server receives a discovery task that includes Windows-specific technologies, it processes the non-Windows discovery technologies and offloads the Windows-specific technologies to the proxy. The proxy performs the discoveries and returns the results to the Linux ZENworks Server. The deployment task is totally offloaded to the Windows Proxy.

If you have only Linux servers in your environment, you must first manually install ZENworks Agent on a Windows device by downloading the agent from https://IP_address_of_the_ZENworks_Server/zenworks-setup, then designate the device as a proxy for discovery and deployment tasks.

2.2.1 Designating a Windows Proxy Server

  1. In ZENworks Control Center, click the Configuration tab.

  2. In the Management Zone Settings panel, click Discovery and Deployment, then click the Windows Proxy option.

  3. Fill in the following fields:

    Windows Proxy: Click Browse icon to browse for and select a Windows managed device (server or workstation) to be used as a Windows Proxy for performing the discovery and deployment tasks instead of a ZENworks Server. The Windows Proxy must reside in the same network as the target devices.

    Windows Proxy Timeout: Specify the number of seconds you want the ZENworks Server to wait for a response from the Windows Proxy.

  4. Click OK to save the changes.

2.2.2 Designating a Linux Proxy Server

  1. In ZENworks Control Center, click the Configuration tab.

  2. In the Management Zone Settings panel, click Discovery and Deployment, then click the Linux Proxy option.

  3. Fill in the following fields:

    Linux Proxy: Click Browse icon to browse for and select a Linux managed device (server or workstation) to be used as a Linux Proxy for performing the discovery and deployment tasks instead of a ZENworks Server. The Linux Proxy must reside in the same network as the target devices.

    Linux Proxy Timeout: Specify the number of seconds you want the ZENworks Server to wait for a response from the Linux Proxy.

  4. Click OK to save the changes.