How to install BitDefender Client Security

• BitDefender Management Server is the main component of this suite. It enhances an easy management of all BitDefender products installed onto the network. It uses the concept of database to store all necessary data regarding the clients and uses Microsoft SQL Server Express to access it;
  
• BitDefender Management Console is the interface that allows access to BitDefender Management Server and provides means to configure it;
• BitDefender Update Server creates a local mirror of our update servers in order to reduce bandwidth when downloading BitDefender updates;
• BitDefender Management Agent is the communication component which ensures the connectivity between the server and the clients for centralized management;
• BitDefender Business Client is the antivirus itself which is installed on the network stations for protection purposes.
  

BitDefender Client Security implies installing components at two different levels: the server level and the clients level. The installation kit for BitDefender Client Security is available here. Please note that once you download the latest available version you do not need to use the patches or the other tools available for download in the same location.

Installing the server

At the server side you will need to install the following components: BitDefender Management Server, BitDefender Management Console and BitDefender Update Server.

Note: if you want to use an existing database instead of letting BitDefender create a new one please make sure to prepare for this action before actually starting to install the management server.

Double click the installation kit in order to launch the installation wizard and then read the license agreement prior of accepting it. You will then be prompted to choose the components to install - we strongly recommend to install all management components on the same server.

After choosing the components to install you will then be prompted to choose between the master-slave (if you want to have multiple management servers installed throughout the organization) and single architecture (for only one management server installed on the network).

The next stage of the installation process is to make sure that .NET framework 2.0 is installed on the server and then install Crystal Reports in order to manage the report templates that BitDefender Client Security provides.

The final phase allows installing Microsoft SQL Server Express and configuring the database to be used by BitDefender Management Server.

Installing the clients

In order to be able to install and manage the network stations you need to install BitDefender Management Agent (action called deployment). Once the deployment is finished you can proceed with installing and managing BitDefender Business Client. 

Note: before attempting to deploy the agents throughout the network please make sure to prepare the clients. Additionally, you can deploy the communication agent onto the servers in the network.

1. Open the management console, go to the Unmanaged computers group, right-click on one of the stations and click Deploy agent on this computer. This method requires that an users with administrative rights on the target computer will provide the username, password and a set of initial settings;
2. Use Network Builder, available in the management console, under Tools. Except providing the option to ping a range of computers and dragging them into groups, Network Builder has a credentials manager which can be used to store all credentials used throughout the network for agent installation purposes;
3. Use Deployment Tool to install the agent - this process is similar with the one at point A.
   

Once the agent has been successfully deployed onto the network stations, these stations will enter the Managed computers group and will be identified by a yellow icon. The easiest way to install BitDefender Business Client onto these stations is to apply any policy from the BitDefender Business Client Templates category over a managed station (the systems having BitDefender Business Client installed will be identified by a blue icon).

Note: This does not apply to the server side of the network. In order to secure the servers please read below.

Securing the server

Please keep in mind that after installing the management server the server itself is not protected against malware. Additionally, we do not recommend attempting to install BitDefender Business Client on the servers as this installation will not work - BitDefender Business Client is designed for network stations. We strongly recommend using BitDefender Security for File Servers in order to protect the server, instead.

If you have several servers that you need to protect throughout the network please contact your BitDefender vendor in order to obtain a BitDefender Client Security license that allows the server to manage this type of protection. Once you obtained this license you need to install the server add-on over the management server in order to be able to remotely install and manage BitDefender Security for File Servers from the management server. The server add-on is available for download here.