NOD32 Control Center
USER MANUAL
ver.1.53/1209
© Eset, LLC

1. Introduction

NOD32 Control Center (NOD32CC) was developed to support: Main improvements implemented in the current version of NOD32CC:

2. Setup of the Automatic Update - Stand-Alone Computer

  1. Automatic Update - Stand-Alone Computer Connected to Internet
  1. Setup of the Automatic Update - Stand-Alone Computer Without Internet Connection
    This type of setup is used when no internet connection is available and/or the user selects to install new update on a particular computer by means of a CD-ROM/LAN, as an alternative option.
    1. Click at NOD32 Control Center icon located on the main system taskbar. Select the Update Tab (usually offered as a default option)
    2. Select the CD-ROM drive from the available list of servers (your computer has to have one installed).
    3. Click at Connection Setup button. Select None and confirm selection by clicking at OK button.
    4. Select the Update method. It is recommended that you select Full in this case. For details on Update method, please, see section 2.1 of this manual.
    5. Insert the update CD into the CD-ROM drive and click at the Update Now button.

3. Setup of the Automatic Update in Computer Networks

    Although the NOD32 Control Center is very useful tool for a stand-alone computer, its application potential in computer network environment acquires new meaning. Automatic Update of NOD32 in a network environment can be set in such way that the whole process can be controlled and managed by a single network administrator. This is achieved by means of a ”mirroring” mechanism, a process of creation of a certain number of the update copies. NOD32CC (in charge of the process controlled by the system administrator) has to be installed in the administrator mode. After the mirror parameters were set up (by the network administrator) and the update process was executed (triggered manually or automatically), the mirror-generating computer/s is/are updated and the copies of the update file/s are created on the predefined locations available for all network users.

    NOD32 provides scalable solution and, hence, can be applied for different sizes of computer network. This chapter is divided into several sections, providing installation instruction for both smaller and large networks. (see sections 3.1 and 3.2). Information on the client computer setup is presented in section 3.3. Finally, the use of the Configuration file is discussed in section 3.4.

    Trial installation of NOD32CC on a limited number of computers is recommended. If the automatic update is set up correctly, the following message will be displayed on a particular (trial) computer after clicking at the Update Now button: ”Current version of NOD32 system available on this computer. No Update necessary.” On the other hand, if the current NOD32 version installed on a trial computer is older than the one available for update, the update process should commence.
     

  1. Automatic Update - Small Computer Network
    This type of update will typically be used in a network environment managed by a single network administrator. Network administrator sets up the NOD32CC parameters to automatically download the update files and create the copies of the update files in a predefined directory. All client computers within a particular network will subsequently be updated using the update files in the aforementioned, predefined directory. (NOTE: If the directory for update files (mirror) is selected on a machine with NOD32 Control Center installed in the administrator mode, do not select (for the location of the mirror) the UPDATE directory - located in the Eset directory.)

    In general, the network administrator has two basic options:


    Setup of the Automatic Update in a small network:

    1. In the first step, the network administrator will select a computer within the network with Windows 95 / 98 / ME/NT/2000 operating system. The selected computer will (after proper installation – see below) run NOD32CC in the administrator’s mode. Install (or reinstall) of the NOD32 system will be performed on computer selected. During the (re)installation, the process of creation of the update copies is enabled by selecting the option: I want to install support for creation of Update copies in LAN (for network administrators). This option appears before the installation is completed and, as a result, installed version of NOD32CC runs in the administrator’s mode. In the case, when NOD32 system is being reinstalled, the checkbox: I want to change other settings too(automatic Update, automatic execution of Amon...) needs to be selected. Consequently, the setup program prompts the user to change the current program settings. Since, NOD32CC, after this (re)installation runs in the administrators mode, a new button – Mirror Setup, located in the Update Tab of the main panel of the Control Center will appear. Creation of the update copies and the details of this process are set in a window that opens after clicking at the Mirror Setup button.
    2. New, NOD32 Control Center Icon appears on the main system taskbar after the installation described in the previous section. To start the setup process of the NOD32CC module, click at the Control Center icon. Two main features need to be selected to run the Control Center properly:
      • Setup of the parameters/options for creation of the Update copies (mirror) pursuant to applicable situation described in section 3.E.1 or 3.E.2. Follow the steps described therein to set the parameters for creation of the mirrors/update files.
      • Setup of the downloading parameters controlling creation of the update copies for the network administrator as specified in chapter 2.1 and/or 2.2.
    3. Create the update files (mirror) clicking at Update now button located in the Update Tab.
    4. Finally, follow instructions in section 3.3 to set up NOD32CC parameters for the network end-users.
    Case 3.E.1
    1. Each administrator will have to replace the parameters used by an alternative options, applicable for his particular situation. For example, let us assume that the name of the administrator’s computer is ADMIN_C and the shared disk is the D: drive. The assumed name of the shared disk is D-DISK. Let us further suppose that the name of the directory on drive D:, used to save/store all the update files will be NOD_UPD. This directory needs to be created manually.
    2. Click at the Mirror Setup button and enter the Path for updates of the copies as follows:
        D:\NOD_UPD
    3. In the entry line for Access path for clients enter:
        %CurrentPath%
      or, more specifically:
        file://ADMIN_C/D-DISK/NOD_UPD
    4. Keep the Username and Password blank since you will not need them to access your local disk when saving the mirror.
       
    Case 3.E.2
    1. Each administrator will have to replace the parameters used by an alternative options, applicable for his particular situation. In this example, let us assume that the administrator’s computer name is: ADMIN_C and the server name (computer where the mirrors will be saved/stored) is: SERVER_C. Further, let us assume that the access to a shared disk E: (located on the server) is via the name: E-DISK. Let the directory (located on disk drive E:) where the updates will be saved is NOD_UPD. As in the previous case, this directory needs to be created manually.
    2. Click at Mirror Setup button and enter the Path for updates of the copies entry as follows:
        \\SERVER_C\E-DISK\NOD_UPD
    3. In the entry line for Access path for clients enter:
        %CurrentPath%
      or, more specifically:
        file://SERVER_C/E-DISK/NOD_UPD
      Hence, you may use the select the Use the same path for clients checkbox.
      Do not use the access via mapped disks. NOD32CC runs under different account (LocalSystem) on Windows NT and Windows 2000 platforms. This account does not recognize the mapping information of a currently logged user. In addition, each user can have different mapping. It is more convenient to use the UNC path.
       
    4. Username and Password can be left blank provided no user needs to log on to SERVER_C, or else, enter the Username and Password of a user with write privileges for SERVER_C\D-DISK\NOD_UPD. If the update computer is located in a different domain, enter the name in the following format: DOMAIN\NAME, with DOMAIN being the name of the domain where SERVER_C belongs to and NAME is the valid name in the domain with DOMAIN name.
       
    Note.: In Case 3.E.2 two different sharing options of the NOD_UPD directory can be set: a/ for reading only- NODUPD_R and, b/ for writing- NODUPD_W. Consequently, the paths will be set as follows:
      Path for updates of the copies: \\SERVER_C\NODUPD_W
      In the entry line for Access path for clients enter:
        %CurrentPath%
      or, more specifically:
        file://SERVER_C/NODUPD_R
  1. Automatic Update Setup - Wide Area Networks
      Support of the wide area network automatic update by NOD32 Control Center is achieved using the multi-level mirroring mechanism. The principal network administrator downloads the Update files from available source (www.nod32.com, CD-ROM, etc.) and creates a proper mirror on a selected local or network disk. Lower level network administrators create new mirrors for their dedicated end-users.

      Alternatively, mirroring can be set by the principal network administrator and the mirrors can be replicated to appropriate servers available to end-users for update of their computers.

      (NOTE: If the directory for update files (mirror) is selected on a machine with NOD32 Control Center installed in the administrator mode, do not select (for the location of the mirror) the UPDATE directory - located in the Eset directory.)
       

    1. Setup of the multi-level mirroring system
      Setup of the multi-level mirroring mechanism encompasses, in the simplest case, two steps. Principal network administrator performs the first one while the lower level administrators carry out the second one.

      Mirror Setup by the Principal Administrator

      1. Computer and file names selected for this example will have to be replaced by alternative options, applicable for particular situation within particular network.
        Let us assume that the administrator’s computer name is: ADMIN_C and the server name (computer where the mirrors will be saved/stored) is: SERVER_C. Further, let us assume that the access to a shared disk D: is via the name: D-DISK. Let the directory (located on disk drive D:) where the updates will be saved is NOD_UPD. As in the previous case, this directory needs to be created manually.
      2. Click at Mirror Setup button and enter the Path for updates of the copies entry as follows:
        \\SERVER_C\D-DISK\NOD_UPD
      3. In the entry line for Access path for clients enter:
        %CurrentPath%
        or, more specifically:
        file://SERVER_C/D-DISK/NOD_UPD
        Hence, you may use the select the Use the same path for clients checkbox.
      4. Username and Password can be left blank provided no user needs to log on to SERVER_C, or else, enter the Username and Password of a user with write privileges for SERVER_C\D-DISK\NOD_UPD. If the update computer is located in a different domain, enter the name in the following format: DOMAIN\NAME, with DOMAIN being the name of the domain where SERVER_C belongs to and NAME is a valid name in the domain with DOMAIN name.
        Note: The mirrors can be saved/located in the administrator’s local disk. In this particular case, the Path for updates of the copies might be, e.g.: C:\NOD_UPD, and the Access path for clients will read %CurrentPath% or, file://ADMIN_C/C-DISK/NOD_UPD.
      Mirror Setup by the Lower-level Administrators:
    1. Setup of the Mirroring Mechanism via the Replication Approach
      Setup of the mirroring is performed on the principal administrator’s computer. This computer will save the mirror on a disk of a network computer that will automatically replicate the mirror onto other same-level servers. Automatic replication is provided by other (system) utilities.

      Setup of the mirroring on by the principal administrator:
      1. Let us assume that the administrator’s computer name is: ADMIN_C and the name of the computer where the mirrors will be saved/stored is: SERVER_C. The shared disk is the D: drive and its name is: D-DISK. Let the directory (located on disk drive D:) where the updates will be saved is NOD_UPD. This directory needs to be created manually.
      2. On the ADMIN_C computer, in NOD32CC program, click at Mirror Setup button and enter the Path for updates of the copies entry as follows:
          \\SERVER_C\D-DISK\NOD_UPD
      3. In the entry line for Access path for clients enter:
          %CurrentPath%
        The above path must be a generic one, since this mirror will be used on different servers. This path will be replaced by NOD32CC on a particular end-user machine based on the server setup in the Update Tab.
      4. Username and Password can be left blank provided no user needs to log on to SERVER_C, or else, enter the Username and Password of a user with write privileges for SERVER_C\D-DISK\NOD_UPD. If the update computer is located in a different domain, enter the name in the following format: DOMAIN\NAME, with DOMAIN being the name of the domain where SERVER_C belongs to and NAME is a valid name in the domain with DOMAIN name.
        Finally setup the NOD32CC on the end-user machines pursuant to section 3.3.
  2. Setup of the Automatic Update on End-user computers
    NOD32CC of the end-user needs to be set up in such way, that it is automatically updated from its corresponding, proper server. If the mirroring mechanism was set for a small network (pursuant to section 3.1), all end-users Control Centers will use the same parameters, otherwise, each end-user’s Control Center will require its corresponding update/mirror server.
      Setup of the end-user computers can be performed automatically or manually. For an automatic method, please, see section 3.3.2 below. The manual setup is described in the following section (3.3.1).
         
      1. Manual setup of the automatic update on end-user computers
        1. Let us assume that the administrator’s computer name is: ADMIN_C and the name of the computer where the mirrors will be saved/stored is: SERVER_C. The shared disk is the D: drive and its name is: D-DISK. Let the directory (located on disk drive D:) where the updates will be saved is NOD_UPD. The update files should have already been created in this directory by means of creation of the mirror.
        2. On the end-user computer, in NOD32CC program, click at the Mirror Setup button and the Servers button. In the New server line enter file://SERVER_C/D-DISK/NOD_UPD and click at Add server. Click at Close button to close the window.
        3. Select the \\SERVER_C\D-DISK\NOD_UPD\ from the list of servers in the Update Tab. If the username and password are required to access the \\SERVER_C\D-DISK\NOD_UPD\ directory, enter correct values into the Username and Password entry lines (located in the Location group).
        4. Click at Connection Setup and, for the Internet connection, select None
        5. Select the update type. Full update is recommended for the end-user computers. The network administrator can control the update type by modifying update type on his (administrator’s) Control Center.
        6. Setup the update interval and allow the automatic update.
           
      2. Automatic Setup of the End-user Computer Update by means of the Configuration File
        In the environment of a large computer network, manual setup of the end-user computers might be very time consuming and cumbersome. NOD32 Control Center avoids the manual process introducing a Configuration File allowing automatic setup of the end-user computers.
        The Configuration File can be used during the first installation of NOD32 on an end-user computer, or when the old update system is being replaced by a new one. It can also be used when the end-user setup needs to be changed. Application of the Configuration file is mostly recommended for the end-user computers. Detail information on creation and application of the Configuration file are presented in section 3.4.
    1. Configuration File
       
      1. How to create the Configuration file
        1. To create the Configuration File run the NOD32CC in the administration mode. Click at the Mirror Setup button and Check the Use the Configuration file for workstations checkbox. (Create Update mirror needs to be selected during the whole aforementioned procedure).
        2. Click at the Browse button to select the location (directory) of the Configuration file. Selection of the following directories should be avoided:
          • \Program Files\Eset\Update - this directory is the NOD32CC working directory.
          • Directory selected to save the update files (NOD32CC will copy the Configuration file into this directory automatically)
          • Directory used for the old type of automatic update (version 1.52 and older) This is the directory that could be configured in Amon module by means of the following commands: Amon -> Setup -> Network -> Change the directory for Update file.
          It is recommended that the Configuration file is created on a local disk. (E.g., in the NOD32 installation directory a CFG subdirectory can be created for this purpose.)
        3. To modify the parameters of the configuration file, click at Modify the file button and carry out desired modifications. Description of the available options is presented in the following section.
           
      2. Modification of the Configuration file
        To modify the Configuration file, click at the NOD32CC icon to open the main program window. In the Update Tab, click at the Mirror Setup button, and the Modify the file button located in the Configuration file group. This action will open the Configuration file dialog window with 8 checkboxes without name located in the left side of the window.

        If a ”name-less” checkbox is selected, access to the corresponding options on the right side of the window become available. Selection of any available option (or no selection, for that matter) will be ”imposed” on each end-user machine updated from the server with this Configuration file after application update of the system is performed.
        On the other hand, if a ”name-less” checkbox is not selected the corresponding parameters on an end-user computer will not be effected in any way.
        In what follows, the meaning of particular Configuration file options are discussed in the order as they appear in the file dialog window.
         

        1. Run Amon at startup and Install NOD32 for Outlook/Exchange checkboxes provide automatic execution of the resident antivirus protection module – Amon, and installation of protection of the MAPI compatible e-mail client programs.
        2. Path to the Update file represents the path to the update server set on a particular end-user machine. To set the path click at the Mirror button. The system will use the path defined in the Mirror Setup window, in particular, the path defined in Access path for clients.
          Important note! If the %CurrentPath% was initially used then, after clicking at the Mirror button, the path that would appear in the dialog is, obviously: %CurrentPath%. This default value must be replaced by a specific server name used by a particular end-user to download the updates. If, for example, the name of the server where the mirrors are located is SERVER_C and the updates are located at
          \\SERVER_C\D-DISK\NOD_UPD, than the path that needs to be entered into the dialog is file://SERVER_C/D-DISK/NOD_UPD.
           
        3. Check the checkbox in the section with Username and Password. The Username and Password could be left blank. In this case, the clients will log on to the mirror server using the implicit username and password, i.e. the password and username that the Windows system remembers from the last connection to this server. This method may not work on a network with Windows NT computers. It is recommended that a Username be specified so that NOD32CC could use it to access the server. In some cases, the following format of the Username has to be used: DOMAIN\USERNAME. To secure safe installation, it is recommended to test the access on a sample computer/s. It is also possible to create a special name (e.g. NOD_USER) with special privileges to access the update directory.
        4. Select the update type options. It is recommended that the network user use the Full update option. Control over the update type can further be influenced by administrator’s NOD32CC setup. If, e.g., the administrators chooses to update the virus definition database only (on the mirror server) the end-users will only be able to receive this type of update.
        5. To receive information on occurring errors or incidents on any network computer, you may setup a feature providing e-mail notification to a predefined user/address. Parameters of this option can be set in the Send messages via SMTP dialog. Detailed description of different options available can be retrieved from the program help files. To access the information, press F1 button.
        6. If no warning messages are to be seen by the end-user, Silent mode can be selected.
        7. Lock settings can be selected in the next group. To do that check the Lock settings button. Click at Change password to password protect the settings. The password will lock the settings of the NOD32CC, Amon, and the Network Tab in NOD32 module.
        8. Checking of the Initial installation setup dialog checkbox is done upon the first installation of NOD32 on the end-user computers. This option determines the location of the NOD32 installation on a particular computer. Standard (default) value %ProgramFiles%\Eset\ is recommended. The parameter %ProgramFiles% is than replaced with a specific path to the program files on a particular computer.
          Note: Modification of the Configuration file for the end-user computer has no effect whatsoever on the settings of the NOD32CC on the administrator’s computer.
           
      3. Application of the Configuration File
          Configuration file can be used in three situations:
          1. Upon initial (first) installation of NOD32.
          2. New installation of NOD32CC supported version on a computer with version supporting old automatic update feature (version 1.52 and older).
          3. Update of a computer with NOD32CC supported version (1.53 and higher).
          Each of the aforementioned situations is described the following sections.
           
        1. Application of the Configuration file upon the first NOD32 installation
          Save the Configuration file into a shared network directory (manually), jointly with the NOD32 installation files. Provide for execution of the installation on the workstations running the setup.exe program with the following parameters: /auto_script=”CONFIG” and /silent_install, where the CONFIG parameter is the path to the Configuration path with the file name. The set of the installation files consists of setup.exe and setup.ini, data1.dat, data2.dat files. On a Windows NT and Windows 2000, the execution of the installation must be performed with administrator’s privileges.
    4. Troubleshooting and Remedies
    1. The system temporarily hangs up while updating.
      If an Automatic update is selected and Amon (the resident protection module) is running, a temporary hang up of Windows may occur while Amon is being updated by the new virus signatures. Although the time necessary to carry out this operation is relatively small, some systems may be sensitive to such temporary lack of response and may result in application output problem. (This might happen on a computer while recording the files onto a CD, capturing the video, or a similar time critical application.) It is recommended that the Update every X hours option is not selected on such systems. Manual update (or the Ask option) should be selected.
    2. Problems occurring at an attempt to access the network computer when update is to begin.
      Check the server name, located in the Server field and Actualization Tab of NOD32CC program. Also check the username and password used to log on to this server. The user has to have the read privileges (from the selected directory). Try to use the Username in the following format: DOMAIN\USERNAME with DOMAIN being the domain or a workgroup a particular update server belongs to, and the Username is the name of the user who can log onto this workgroup.
    3. Problems occurring at an attempt to access the network computer when mirror is to be created.
      NOD32CC works as a service under LocalSystem account on Windows NT and Windows 2000 systems. Hence, it does not have the authorization of a user who is currently logged on (e.g. the administrator). As a result, NOD32CC can run and create mirrors even without the administrator being logged on the system. The following problems may occur while the mirror is configured: If the above problems are observed the Path to Update of the copies needs to be entered manually in a format as follows: \\SERVER\SHARE\DIRECTORY. Fill out the username and password necessary to access this server. If the server rejects the username it needs to be eneterd again in the following format: DOMAIN\USERNAME.
    4. Problems occuring at the process of creation of the update copies (mirrors)
      Incorrect selection of the directories for the creation of the update copies (mirrors) may lead to the following problems:
      For any inquiries and support, please, contact us at: support@nod32.com