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How do I include the Certero client agent as part of our standard build?

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The Certero client agent can be included as part of an operating system image, sometimes called a gold build or standard build.

For Windows computers, we recommend installing the Certero client agent after the computer has been domain joined. But if you are using imaging techniques such as Symantec Ghost, Acronis True Image or WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit) and want to include the Certero client as part of your image, you need to ensure that you have carried out the following steps prior to using Sysprep. You will need to be logged in as Administrator.

Windows Client:

There are two methods depending upon the version of the Certero client:

For Certero Client v8.6 or above use the Autostart option explained here How and why to use the Autostart option of the Certero client - Certero Unified Platform - Certero Documentation


For Certero Clients v8.5 or below use the steps below:

  1. Install the Certero Windows client on the computer you are using to create the image.

  2. Open Windows Services under Administrative Tools > Services . Or go to Run and type services.msc and click OK .

  3. Find the "Certero AssetStudio Client Service" (CSSVC) and stop the service

  4. Open Registry Editor by going to run and typing Regedit and click OK

  5. Browse to HKLM\Software\Certero\Client

  6. Delete the following Registry Values within this key:

  • ADGUID

  • UID

  • CoreUpload

  • UserSessionId

  • UserSID

  1. Close Registry Editor and Services

  2. Sysprep the computer as per the normal process

Certero recommends to not to start the "Certero AssetStudio Client Service" until the computer has been added to an Active Directory domain. To do this stop the service and set the Startup Type to Disabled in step 3. above. Once the image has been deployed and the computer domain joined, then the service Startup Type can be set to Automatic and the service Started.

Mac OSX Client:

1.Install the Certero Mac OSX client on the machine you are using to create the image.

2.Stop the AssetStudio Client Agent daemon (use sudo if not root)

launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.certero.assetstudio.plist

3.Remove all traces of the hidden AssetStudio unique identifier.

rm -F /tmp/.assetstudio.guid
rm -F /var/root/.assetstudio.guid.*
rm /Users/*/.assetstudio.guid.

4.Sysprep the computer as per the normal process.

These steps ensure that the unique identifier of the Certero client is not replicated as part of the build image. On first start the service will check and populate the ADGUID and UID with the correct values.

Alternatively you can use a batch file or script to install the Certero client after the computers have been imaged as part of your post build process.