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Installing WAN Agents and Distribution Server

Last Updated On: 27 Oct 2026|
9 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. A .zip file is downloaded, containing the DS installer .exe and DCAgentServerInfo.json.
    3. Note
    If your Endpoint Central server is on a build version lower than [Insert Build Number Here], the DS will still download as a single .exe instead of a .zip package.
    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.
Note
Make sure the DS installer .exe and DCAgentServerInfo.json are in the same folder. Do not rename DCAgentServerInfo.json or move it out of this folder. The agent reads the server details from this file during installation.

Installing WAN Agents

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

Note

The agent installer is the same for Windows Server OS and workstation OS. There is no separate agent for servers. To install the agent on a standalone server that is not part of a Remote Office, navigate to Agent → Computers and click Download Agent, as you would for any other Windows computer.

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.
Note

The Download Agent column is displayed only to users whose role has sufficient privileges. If you cannot see it, contact your Super Admin to get the required permission.

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 .zip file containing agent installer .exe and DCAgentServerInfo.json and run it.
    • Note
    If your Endpoint Central server is on a build version lower than [Insert Build Number Here], the agent will still download as a single .exe instead of a .zip package.
  • 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.
Note

If you are deploying the agent using GPO to computers in multiple remote offices, you do not need a separate installer for each remote office. Download and use only the Local Office agent, and configure IPSCOPE under Agent → Settings → IPSCOPE. Based on the IP address range configured in IPSCOPE and the IP address received by the computer, the computers are automatically moved to the respective remote office. For more information, see Managing roaming users using ManageEngine Endpoint Central.

Note

If the agent download fails or is blocked, the antivirus or endpoint security software on the computer may be blocking the agent download URL of the Endpoint Central server. Check the event or block log of the antivirus software and allow the download URL.

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.
Note
Make sure the agent installer .exe and DCAgentServerInfo.json are in the same folder. Do not rename DCAgentServerInfo.json or move it out of this folder. The agent reads the server details from this file during 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.