Frequently Asked Question

5. Remote Deployment and Configuring DeskCamera

Last Updated 13 days ago

Note: Run the installer and the first DeskCamera command with administrator privileges.

Use this article to install DeskCamera silently, activate the license, and apply common settings during deployment.

Silent Setup

Install DeskCamera silently with no user interaction. Use the actual installer file name from your DeskCamera package:

SetupDeskCamera_x64.exe /install /quiet

If your installer file name includes a version number, use that exact file name in the command.

Before Running Configuration Commands

If an App Password is already set, command-line changes to protected settings are refused. For a new deployment, apply the required settings before setting the App Password, or include /SetAppPassword in the same first-run command.

If you need to change protected settings later, remove the App Password in DeskCamera first, apply the deployment change, and then set the App Password again.

If you use Multi-user mode, test the command on one PC before rolling it out. Shared mode can be refused on Windows Server, Remote Desktop hosts, or other systems where several users can be signed in at the same time. For details, see Multi-user Mode and Lock Settings.

Online Activation

Use this method on workstations with Internet access. It imports and activates the license, sets the camera login for the NVR/VMS, selects the camera mode, and sets the App Password.

"%ProgramFiles%\DeskCamera\DeskCamera.exe" ^
 /ImportLic LicenseFile.lic ^
 /SetCameraInstanceMode peruser ^
 /SetCameraUsername onvifUser ^
 /SetCameraPassword onvifPass ^
 /SetHiddenMode 0 ^
 /SetAppPassword appPass

The camera username and password are the ONVIF login used by the NVR/VMS. They are not the Windows login and are not the browser management password. For login troubleshooting, see NVR/VMS Asks for a Username or Password.

Offline Activation

Use this method for workstations without Internet access. It requires creating a request file and generating an activation file manually.

Create a license request file:

"%ProgramFiles%\DeskCamera\DeskCamera.exe" /CreateReq my.req

Generate an activation file at activationservice.net using the .req file and your license file.

Import the activation file and configure DeskCamera:

"%ProgramFiles%\DeskCamera\DeskCamera.exe" ^
 /ImportAct ActivatedLicense.act ^
 /SetCameraInstanceMode peruser ^
 /SetCameraUsername onvifUser ^
 /SetCameraPassword onvifPass ^
 /SetHiddenMode 0 ^
 /SetAppPassword appPass

Command Reference

Command	Description
`/ImportLic [file.lic]`	Imports and activates a perpetual license on a PC with Internet access.
`/CreateReq [file.req]`	Creates an offline activation request file. DeskCamera exits after creating the request.
`/ImportAct [file.act]`	Imports an offline activation file.
`/SetCameraUsername [name]`	Sets the ONVIF username used by the NVR/VMS.
`/SetCameraPassword [password]`	Sets the ONVIF password used by the NVR/VMS.
`/SetAppPassword [password]`	Sets the App Password that protects the DeskCamera application.
`/SetHiddenMode 0` or `/SetHiddenMode 1`	Turns Hidden mode off or on.
`/SetCameraInstanceMode shared`	Uses one machine-wide DeskCamera camera. This mode can be refused on multi-user systems.
`/SetCameraInstanceMode peruser`	Uses a separate DeskCamera camera for each Windows user.
`/SetCameraInstanceMode managedperuser`	Uses Per-user mode with locked settings. Configure and test this carefully before deployment.

For more about Hidden mode, see Hidden mode. For App Password details, see Protect DeskCamera with an App Password.

Example batch files for online and offline activation are available:
Download here