Solarwinds Npm Offline Installer

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Part 1: What is SolarWinds NPM?

Before discussing the offline installer, it’s crucial to understand the product. solarwinds npm offline installer

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is a scalable, agentless network monitoring software that discovers, maps, and monitors network devices. Key features include: Here’s a social media post and a forum/community

• Real-time network visualization with dynamic maps.
• Intelligent alerts for bandwidth, latency, and packet loss.
• Deep packet inspection (DPI) and NetFlow analysis.
• Historical reporting for capacity planning and compliance.

Typically, a standard NPM installation (the "online" method) requires an internet connection to download prerequisites (like .NET Framework, SQL Server components, and SolarWinds itself) and to activate the product license. This is where the offline installer changes the game. Part 1: What is SolarWinds NPM

Part 6: Step-by-Step Installation Guide Using the Offline Installer

Let’s walk through a typical deployment on a Windows Server 2022 machine with no internet access.

Phase 3: Deployment Execution

With the environment ready, transfer the offline installer to the target server via USB drive, internal network share, or secure file transfer protocol.

1. Run as Administrator: Right-click the executable and select "Run as Administrator." This is non-negotiable; the installer modifies system registries and services that require elevated privileges.
2. Extraction: The offline installer is essentially a self-extracting zip. It will unpack gigabytes of data into a temporary directory. Ensure your C: drive (or system drive) has ample space—at least 15GB free is recommended for the temporary extraction files plus the final installation footprint.
3. The Installation Wizard:
   • The wizard will detect that no internet connection is present (or it will simply skip the "check for updates" phase if the offline package is correctly built).
   • It will run the Prerequisite Checker. This is the most critical stage. Because you are offline, if this checker flags a missing dependency, you cannot simply click "Install." You must stop the installation, manually source that specific dependency (e.g., a specific Visual C++ Redistributable), transfer it to the server, install it, and restart the NPM installer.
4. Configuration: Once prerequisites pass, the wizard proceeds to the database configuration. Enter the SQL server credentials (SQL Authentication or Windows Authentication). Since the SQL server is likely internal, this communication flows smoothly within the offline network.

Part 10: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q5: Is there an offline installer for SolarWinds High Availability (HA) as well?

Yes, HA components are bundled within the same offline installer when you select "Additional Polling Engine" or "High Availability" during custom setup.

Phase 2: The Installation Wizard

1. Language Selection: Choose English (or your locale). No localization files are downloaded; they are bundled.
2. License Agreement: Accept. The installer will not phone home to validate—this happens later.
3. Installation Type: Select "New Installation" (not Upgrade, unless you have a previous version).
4. Select Products: SolarWinds NPM is checked by default. Also select any additional modules (NetFlow, IPAM, NCM) if your license includes them. Since this is offline, ensure the modules you select are actually included in this package.
5. Prerequisites Check: The offline installer will scan the server. Warnings appear if IIS is not installed. The installer can enable Windows Features offline because it uses DISM with local source. Ensure your Windows installation media is accessible or that the Features on Demand (FOD) files are pre-staged.
6. Database Configuration:
   • Option A (Recommended for testing): Install SQL Server Express 2022 (bundled). The offline installer will silently run the SQL Express setup.
   • Option B (Production): Use an existing SQL Server instance. You will need the server name and credentials. Ensure TCP/IP and Named Pipes are enabled on the SQL instance.
7. Service Account: Provide domain or local service account credentials. The installer will grant necessary permissions (SQL Logins, IIS AppPool rights) without needing internet.
8. Web Console Configuration: Select port 8787 (default) or 443 for HTTPS. Note: If using HTTPS, you must manually install a certificate before running the installer because online cert validation is not possible.
9. Ready to Install: Review summary. Click Install. The process takes 20–60 minutes depending on disk speed.