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Installing WAN Agents and Distribution Server

Last Updated On: 10 Jul 2026|
5 minutes read |

Overview

This guide walks you through setting up ManageEngine Endpoint Central to efficiently manage remote offices by installing a Distribution Server and WAN Agents.

It covers both automatic and manual installation methods, helping you optimize network bandwidth and seamlessly control your remote endpoints.

Prerequisites

Before you begin the installation, ensure the following requirements are met:

Prerequisites
  • The Distribution Server must be installed on a dedicated machine.
  • Assign a static IP to the Distribution Server for stable communication.
  • For Automatic Agent Installation, you need Domain Credentials with administrator rights for all target computers in the remote office.
  • Target computers must be directly reachable from the Distribution Server for Automatic Installation.
  • Ensure that port 8383 is open inbound on the Endpoint Central Server for communication from the Distribution Server, and port 8384 is open inbound on the Distribution Server for communication from WAN Agents.

Installing the Distribution Server

The Distribution Server must be installed on a dedicated computer with a static IP for smooth communication. You can install it automatically or manually.

1. Automatic Installation

  1. Navigate to Agent → Scope of Management → Remote offices. Click the Add Remote office icon.
Adding a Remote Office from Agent > Scope of Management > Remote offices
  1. Scroll down to Remote Agent Installation section under Add Remote Office.
  2. Check the box for Install Distribution Server Automatically.
  3. Provide Domain credentials with administrator privileges for all managed computers in the remote office.
  4. Click the Add button to save the Remote Office.
Enabling Install Distribution Server Automatically and entering domain credentials before saving
  1. Check the DS Status column for Successful Installation.
DS Status column showing successful Distribution Server installation

Alternatively:

  1. Under the Remote Offices tab, in the Actions column, click Actions and select Install DS for the added remote office.
Selecting Install DS from the Actions column for the remote office
  1. Check the DS Status column for Successful Installation.

2. Manual DS Installation

  1. Navigate to Agent → Scope of Management → Remote offices.
    2. Remote offices list under Agent > Scope of Management
  2. In the Download Agent column, find the remote office and click the Distribution Server icon.
    3. Clicking the Distribution Server icon in the Download Agent column
    1. Run the downloaded installer.
    Running the downloaded Distribution Server installer
  1. Select the folder path for the Distribution Server files.
    2. Selecting the folder path for the Distribution Server files
  2. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
    3. Following the on-screen prompts to complete the Distribution Server installation
  1. Check the DS Status column for Successful Installation.

Installing WAN Agents

WAN agents are required to manage computers in the remote office. They can be installed automatically or manually.

1. Automatic Installation

  1. While adding the remote office, Navigate to the Remote Agent Installation section under Remote office.
  2. Check the box for Install WAN Agent Automatically
  3. Provide Domain credentials for administrator access on all managed computers.
Enabling Install WAN Agent Automatically and entering domain credentials
  1. Ensure the communication type is set to Distribution Server under Communication Details section
    2. Setting the communication type to Distribution Server under Communication Details
  2. Click the Add button to save the Remote Office.
Note

Agent installation will not work if the devices are not directly reachable from the Distribution server, such as in cloud or MSP setups

  1. The WAN agent installation will start once the Distribution Server contacts the central server. Check the Managed Computers column to verify successful WAN agent installation.
Managed Computers column showing successful WAN agent installation

2. Manual Installation

To install WAN agents manually:

  1. Navigate to Agent → Scope of Management → Remote offices.
  2. In the Download Agent column, click the Download WAN Agent icon.
Clicking the Download WAN Agent icon in the Download Agent column
  1. Select the platform (Windows, macOS, or Linux) and download the installer:
  • Windows: Download the .exe file and run it.
  • macOS: Download the .pkg file and complete the setup.
  • Linux: Download the UEMSLinuxAgent.zip, unzip the file, and follow the steps given in this link to install it using terminal commands.
Selecting the platform and downloading the WAN agent installer
  1. Run the Download Installer
Running the downloaded WAN agent installer
  1. Select the folder path for the Agent and Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
    2. Selecting the folder path and completing the WAN agent installation
  2. Navigate to Agent → Computers → Computer(s) for approval. Approve the newly added Computer(s).
Note

If you configured automatic approval criteria to automatically approve the computers then skip this step and move to next.

Approving the newly added computers under Computers for approval
  1. The WAN agent installation will start once the Distribution Server contacts the central server. Check the Managed Computers column to verify successful WAN agent installation.

Conclusion

By following these steps, the Distribution Server and WAN agents will be installed successfully, ensuring proper management of computers in the remote office.