Use Microsoft Group Policy to Install the Backblaze Client

Microsoft’s Group Policy management system for Windows Domains can simplify the process of installing Backblaze Computer Backup on multiple computers.

Locate the GroupID and GroupAuthenticationToken

These can be found by logging onto the Admin account for the Backblaze group and going to Group Management.

1. Sign in to your Group Admin account.
2. In the left navigation menu under Business Groups, click Group Management.
3. Click Send Invites.
4. Click Advanced Instructions.
   The GroupID and the GroupAuthenticationToken are the last two parameters in the command as shown in the following image.
5. Copy and paste these values into a text file.

Set Up the MSI and MST File

Before you begin:

• Download the ORCA MSI table editor.
• Download the Backblaze Backup Client MSI installer.

1. Open ORCA, click File, and click Open to open the Backblaze MSI file.
2. Select the Properties table.
3. Click Transform, and click New Transform.
4. Use the Table > Add Row command to add the BZGROUPID property and the GroupId value, and add the BZGROUPTOKEN property and the GroupAuthenticationToken value.
5. Click Transform, and click Generate Transform.
6. Click Transform, and click Close Transform.
7. Exit ORCA.

Setting up the Group Policy

1. Select Administrative Tools, and select Group Policy Management.
2. Locate the Group Policy for the domain.
3. Select and right-click the Group Policy Objects to display the context menu.
4. Create a new policy object, and click OK.
5. Select and right-click the new policy in the right menu, and select Edit.
6. In the Group Policy Editor, select and right-click Software Installation under User Configurations.
7. Select New Package, and select the Backblaze Installer. 
8. Click Advanced, and click OK.
9. In the Properties dialog, select the Modifications tab and add the file that you created in the previous step.
10. Click OK, and close the Group Policy Editor.

As users sign in over the next few days and update their computers with the DC (domain controller), their machines will run the policy, installing the Backblaze Backup Client.