Acronis Snap Deploy is a flexible, efficient software solution for deployment of a fully configured
operating system (with or without applicatio n software and any other data) to multiple computers.
Because the product uses disk imaging technology, it is ideal for rapid bare-metal installations and
flexible centralized provisioning.
2. Acronis Snap Deploy components
Acronis Snap Deploy includes the following components:
1. Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console is an administrative tool for remote access to
Acronis servers and Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent.
When disconnected from the Acronis components, the console allows only installing Acronis
products on remote machines.
2. Acronis OS Deploy Server is a component that performs centralized deployment through the
network with the help of Acronis Snap Deploy Agents.
3. Acronis Snap Deploy Agent is a b ootable component that performs deployment on each target
computer under control of the Acroni s OS Deploy Server.
There are two ways to load Acronis Snap Deploy Agent on target computers: locally from bootable
media or remotely using Acronis PXE Server.
4. Acronis Master Imag e C rea t or is a bootable, locally controlled component that takes an image
of the master system.
There are two ways to load Acronis Master Image Creator on a master computer: directly from
bootable media or remotely using Acronis PXE Server.
5. Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent is a component that takes an image of the master
system in Windows environment under the administrator’s control through the Acronis Snap
Deploy Management Console. The administrator can also manage files and execute applications on
a remote computer us ing Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent.
6. Acronis PXE Server allows for network booting computers into Acronis Snap Deploy Agent,
Acronis Master Image Creator or Preinstallation Environment. The computers must support PXE.
Using Acronis PXE Server considerably reduces t he time required for booting multiple computers
as compared to using bootable media. It also eliminates the need to have a technician onsite to
install the bootable media into the system that must be booted.
7. Acronis Wake on LAN Proxy is a component that enables the Acronis OS Deploy Server to
wake the target computers located in the other subnet.
8. Acronis Standalone Utility is a bootable component that enables full functional deployment
with GUI on a standalone computer (a computer isolated fr om the network or included in a
network without Acr onis Snap Deploy infrastructure.)
9. Acronis License Server is a component that tracks licenses of Acronis products.
10. Acronis Universal Deploy (optional) is an add-on to Acronis Snap Deploy that enables
hardware-independent operating system deployment.
To upgrade from Acronis Snap Depl oy version 2.0 or 1.0 to version 3.0, upgrade both the licenses and
the program components.
3.1 Upgrading licenses
Buy the necessary number of upgrade licenses and import the licenses to your license server.
The table below illustrates how the various combinations of licenses will be upgraded. Use the table to
calculate the number of 3.0 upgrade licenses you need.
(1) You have a v 1.0 license that has not yet bee n used. Import a v 3.0 upgrade license. You will
be able to deploy to any computer with Acronis Snap Deploy 3.0.
(2) You have a v 1.0 license that is used and assigned to the computer Host1. Import a v 3.0
upgrade license. You will be able to deploy to Host1 with Acronis Snap Deploy 3.0.
(3) You have a combination of v 1.0 license and v 2.0 upgrade license. The licenses ha ve not yet
been used. Import a v 3.0 upgrade license. You will be able to deploy to any computer with
Acronis Snap Deploy 3.0.
(4) You have a combination of v 1.0 license and v 2.0 upgrade license. Either license is assigned
to the computer Host1 by v 1.0 or v 2.0. Import a v 3.0 upgrade license. You will be able to
deploy to Host1 with Acronis Snap Deploy 3.0.
(5) You have a v 2.0 license that has not yet bee n used. Import a v 3.0 upgrade license. You will
be able to deploy to any computer with ASD 3.0.
(6) You have a v 2.0 license that is used and assigned to the computer Host1. Import a v 3.0
upgrade license. You will be able to deploy to Host1 with Acronis Snap Deploy 3.0.
(7) You don’t have any ASD licenses. Import a v 3.0 license. You will be able to deploy to any
computer with ASD 3.0.
Deploy to
Host1
(assigned
to Host1)
Deploy to
any target
Deploy to
Host1
New Used
(assigned
to Host1)
Deploy to
any target
Deploy to
Host1
New Used
(assigned
to Host1)
Deploy to
any target
-
3.2 Upgrading components
Install the components of v 3.0 ove r the v 2.0 or v 1.0 components.
Components of v 3. 0 cannot communica te with v 2.0 and v 1.0 components sin ce they use
cryptographic communication protocol that was not supported by the previous program
The Acronis Universal Deploy option installs from its own installa tion file.
6. Common installation configurations
Acronis Snap Deploy components can be installed in various configurat ions, in terms of distributing the
components and features among the networked computers.
1. The minimal configuration that enables only offline imaging and standalone deployment:
Acronis License Server (custom installation, includes only:
Acronis License Server)
Acronis OS Deploy Serve r
Acronis PXE Server
Generally, you can install all Acronis servers on separate computers. In this case, you will have to
connect the management console to each server separately to manage the server. With all servers on
one computer, only one console connection is needed.
4. To add the ability to de ploy Wi n do w s o n dis si m i la r har dw a re to any configuration but (1),
install the Acronis Universal Deploy add-on on a computer where Acronis OS Deploy Server is
installed.
5. To add the online imaging ability and the ability to validate images integrity to any
configuration, install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent.
Online imaging means that the master system is imaged live (without reboot or suspending
operations.) Online imaging can be performed remotely whenever you need on connecting the console
to the management agent installed on the master computer. The management agent will be included
in the master image and deployed on all target computers. This will enable you to manage files and
execute applications on target computers at any time after deployment.
However, having excess software in the master image is not always rational. Besides, installation of
the agent takes a license.
We recommend that you create a master image using bootable Acronis Master Image Creator or the
command line utility in PE. Nevertheless, having at least one management agent on the network (not
necessarily on the master computer) makes sense. You will be able to validate (check) your images
integrity using the management agent.
6. To add the Acronis OS Deploy Server ability to deploy in ot her subnet (across a switch) to any
configuration but (1), install Acronis WOL Proxy on any server in the subnet where the target
computers are. No additional actions are required.
Acronis WOL Proxy has to be installed only if:
- you are going to perform scheduled deployment (manual or event-driven deployment do not
require WOL Proxy Server)
AND
- all or some of the target computers are in subnet(s) other than Acronis OS Deploy Server.
7.1 Installation of Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console
Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console is an administrative tool for remote access to Acronis
servers and Acronis Snap Deploy Manageme nt Agent. Install Acronis Snap Deploy Management
Console on any networked computer from which you prefer to operate.
To install Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console:
3. Follow the Install Wizard instructions on the scree n.
Typical and complete installations install, besides Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console, Media
Builder for Acronis Image Creat or, Media Builder for Acronis Snap Deploy Agent and Media
Builder for Acronis Standalone Utility. We strongly recommend that you install all the features
that enable creation of bootable CD, DVD or other removable media with bootable Acronis
components.
Once Acronis Snap Deploy Mana ge me nt Cons ole is in stalled, you can install the other components
remotely using the console’s remote installation feature (for more information, see the Acronis Snap
Deploy User Guide section
4.2 Installation and update of Acronis components on remote computers
.)
7.2 Installation of Acronis License Server
7.2.1 Installation
Acronis License Server is a component that tracks licenses of Acronis products. Install Acronis
License Server on a computer accessible to Acronis OS Deploy Server. Installing both products on
the same computer would make sense.
A typical installation installs Acronis License Server and the Acronis License Server Management
Console. A complete installation installs, besides these two, Acronis License Server Management Tool.
A custom installation lets you choose components to install.
The Acronis License Server Management Tool is a simple command-line utility for controlling
Acronis License Server. Acronis License Server Management Console provides an easy-to-use
GUI. Alternatively, you can control Acronis License Server using Acronis Snap Deploy Management
Console. So you can choose to install only the Acronis License Server.
If you have alrea dy instal led Acroni s License Server t hat ca me with a nother Acr onis prod uct,
you still need to install Acronis License Ser ver that came w ith Acronis Snap Deploy. Y ou can
install both license servers on the same computer. The Acroni s License Server then will be
seen as a common server for all Acronis products.
There is no need to install Acronis License Server Manag ement Console or Acronis License
Server Management Tool once again, because you already have the necessary management
instruments.
3. Follow the Install Wizard instructions on the scree n.
4. Reboot on prompt.
After installation, Acronis License Server launches automatically as Windows service.
Before installing Acronis OS Deploy Server, import serial numbers to Acronis License Server either in
command-line mode or using Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console.
7.2.2 Adding licenses using Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console
1. Run the Acronis Snap Deploy Management Console.
2. Click Manage licenses. Connect to the compute r where Acronis License Server is installed.
3. Click Add License on the sidebar.
4. In the Add License window, type in the serial number or a path to the .txt or .eml file containing
the serial numbers. Or you can browse to the file.
5. In the final window, click Proceed. Acronis License Server performs the operation and reports the
number of newly-added licenses.
The license server has 5 free workstation licenses
7.2.3 Adding licenses in command line mode
If you have installed Acronis License Server Mana gement Tool, you can add licenses to the Acronis
License Server in the command line mode.
1. Run cmd.exe (Windows Command Prompt)
2. Go to the folder where Acronis License Server is installed. By default, it is
This will add the serial numbers from C:\AcronisEnglish.txt to the license server Ltest-2.
7.3 Installa tion of A cron is O S Dep loy Serv er
Acronis OS Deploy Server is a component that performs centralized deployment through the
network with the help of Acronis Snap Deploy Agents.
Before installing Acronis OS Deploy Server, you need to install the Acronis License Server and import
license numbers to it (for more information see the previous section).
To install Acronis OS Deploy Server:
1. Run the Acronis Snap Depl o y setup program
2. Click Install Acronis OS Deploy Server
3. Follow the Install Wizard instructions on the scree n.
4. Reboot on prompt.
The wizard will ask you for Acronis License Server. Browse to the server, or enter its name or IP
address, or let the server be found automatically on the network. This will not decrease the number of
deployment licenses. The program just checks the availability of the licenses and store s the specified
Acronis License Server parameters to be able to access the Acronis License Server later, when the
deployment is launched.
7.4 Installation and setup of Acronis PXE Server
Acronis PXE Server allows the network booting of the Acronis Snap Deploy Agent, Acronis Master
Image Creator or Preinstallation Environment on target computers. Using Acronis PXE Server
considerably reduces the time required for booting the computers as compared to using bootable
media. It also eliminates the need to have a technician onsite to install the bootable media into the
system that must be booted. This allows for unattended scheduled deployment.
Using Acronis PXE Server makes sense if there is a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server in
your network, so that the booting computers can automatically get IP addresses. Without DHCP, you
can boot computers from PXE, but have to configure their network se ttings manually.
We recommend that you have only one PXE server within a subnet to ensure predictability of the
booting computers behavior.
3. Follow the on scre en Install Wizard instructions.
Acronis PXE Server runs as a service immediately after installation. Later on it will automatically launch
at each system restart. You can stop and sta r t this program in the same way as other services.
7.4.2 Setting up a computer to boot from PXE
For bare metal, it is enough that the machine’s BIOS supports network booting.
On a machine that has an operating system on the hard disk, the BIOS must be configured so that the
network interface card is either the first boot device, or at least prior the Hard Drive device. The
example below shows one of reasonable BIOS configu r ations. If you don’t insert bootable media, the
computer will boot from the network.
Setting up the BIOS (example) for network boot
In some BIOS versions, you have to save changes to BIOS after enabling the network interface card
so that the card appears in the list of boot devices.
If the hardware has multiple network interface cards, make sure that the card supported by the BIOS
has the network cable plugged in.
7.4.3 Setting up PXE and DHCP on the same server
If Acronis PXE Server and the DHCP server are on the same computer, add to the DHCP server
option 60: “Client Identifier” with string value “PXE Client”. This can be done as follows:
To enable the Acronis PXE Server to work in other subnet (across the switch), c onfigure the switch
to relay the PXE traffic. The PXE server IP addresses are configured on a per-interface basis using IP
helper functionality in the same way as DHCP server addresses. For more information please refer to:
Acronis Wake on LAN Proxy e nables the Acronis OS Deploy Server to wake the target computers
located in the other subnet.
Acronis WOL Proxy has to be installed only if:
- you are going to perform scheduled deployment (manual or event-driven deployment do not
require WOL Proxy)
AND
- all or some of the target computers are in subnet(s) other than Acronis OS Deploy Server.
Install Acronis WOL Proxy on any server in the same subnet as the target computers. No additional
actions are required.
To install Acronis WOL Proxy Server:
1. Run the Acronis Snap Deploy setup program
2. Click Acronis WakeOnLAN Proxy
3. Follow the Install Wizard instructions on the s creen.
Acronis WOL Proxy runs as a service immediately after installation. Later on it will automatically lau nch
at each system restart. You can stop and sta r t this program in the same way as other services.
7.6 Installation of Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent
Installation of Acronis Snap Deploy Management Agent adds the online imaging a bility and the
ability to validate integrity of your images.
Online imaging means that the master system is imaged live (without reboot or suspending
operations.) Online imaging can be performed remotely whenever you need on connecting the console
to the management agent installed on the master computer. The management agent will be included
in the master image and deployed on all target computers. This will enable you to manage files and
execute applications on target computers at any time after deployment.
However, having excess software in the master image is not always rational. Besides, installa tion of
the agent takes a license.
We recommend that you create a master image using bootable Acronis Master Image Creator or the
command line utility in PE. Nevertheless, having at least one management agent on the network (not
necessarily on the master computer) makes sense. You will be able to validate (check) your images
integrity using the management agent.