Otto  background

Installing Custom Software with Automox

Connect With Us

Start now, and patch, configure, and control all your endpoints in just 15 minutes.

Today’s post will show you how to deploy custom Python scripts or other non-packaged software with Automox.

Distributing packaged code can be done easily by using the Custom Policy feature.

At a high-level you will:

  • Create a custom policy
  • Assign the policy to a group
  • Execute the policy

Deploying custom Python scripts (or other non-packaged software)

To begin, log in to the console. We’ll use a Python script as an example in the steps below.

Step 1: Navigate to the system management page

Step 2: Select create policy

Step 3: Select your OS

Step 4: Name the policy

Step 5: Evaluation code

The evaluation code section of the page is where code is entered to check to see whether or not the program is already installed. The return code will either be a 1 or 0. If Automox receives an error code (return code 1) then it will perform the install. In the example below, I use test -f to see if the file is there. If the file is there, the return code will be 0 which means the file will not be installed.

Step 6: Remediation code

In this step, you will tell the app how to install the file. Uploading your file will deploy the remediation code. Here, you have the option to upload tar, zip, etc., but be sure to include tar -x or unzip if you use an archive. Since this is a Python script, all we need is to copy it into place.

Step 7: Upload file

Selecting ‘Upload File’ launches the save policy screen.

Step 8: Save the policy

A prompt will display asking you to save the policy to continue. If you’re ready to continue, select ‘Save’.

Step 9: Set the install schedule

Select the months, weeks, days, and times when you would like the software to install.

Step 10: Select ‘save policy’

Step 11: Navigate back to the system management page

Step 12: Select the new policy you just created

Step 13: Select ‘Add group’ to add the new policy to a group

Step 14: Either add the policy to an existing group or create a new group

For this example, we will create a new group.

Step 15: If you’re adding a new group, assign devices

Step 16: Select ‘Create group’ to save it

Step 17: Navigate back to the Policy page, pick the new group, and then select ‘Assign to groups’

Step 18: Save the policy

Step 19: Should you decide to run the policy immediately, select ‘Devices’, pick the device and finish by selecting ‘Run policy’

That’s all there is to it!

It’s important to keep in mind that we went through adding a new group and really broke down the steps into minute detail. Following these steps will help you to create a custom policy to distribute code using the Automox console. 


Automox for Easy IT Operations

Automox is the cloud-native IT operations platform for modern organizations. It makes it easy to keep every endpoint automatically configured, patched, and secured – anywhere in the world. With the push of a button, IT admins can fix critical vulnerabilities faster, slash cost and complexity, and win back hours in their day. 

Grab your free trial of Automox and join thousands of companies transforming IT operations into a strategic business driver.

Dive deeper into this topic

loading...