--- title: "First Steps with VDI & DaaS On-Premises" slug: "first-steps-with-vdi-daas-on-premises" updated: 2025-10-23T08:08:06Z published: 2025-10-23T08:08:06Z canonical: "support.controlup.com/first-steps-with-vdi-daas-on-premises" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.controlup.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # First Steps with VDI & DaaS On-Premises Welcome to ControlUp! The following article guides you through the installation and configuration process for the Real-Time Console on ControlUp On-Premises (COP). Each section explains the different components of an on-premises deployment, where you can find links to learn more details about the installation and configuration process. ## Release Notes Find information about the latest features and bugfixes in our [ControlUp On-Premises Release Notes](https://www.controlup.com/controlup-on-premise-release-notes/). ## Architecture Diagram The following high-level architecture diagram displays the different components of a COP environment. The main difference between a COP and Hybrid Cloud deployment is that in an on-premises environment, you install and run all ControlUp components on your organization's servers, providing you full control and responsibility of maintenance. ![Diagram showing components of controlup on-premises and their connections to each other](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/4404673699473On-PremisesArch2021-07-2715-45-44.jpg) The main components of a COP deployment include: - Active Directory domain controller(s). - Microsoft SQL Server database (optional). - Backend services, running on IIS on the COP server. - SMTP server for sending email, such as alerts or other notifications from ControlUp. - Insights On-Premises (IOP). - Solve On-Premises (SOP). - ControlUp Real-Time Console for real-time data collection. - ControlUp Monitor. If you install more than one monitor, ControlUp automatically creates [a monitor cluster](/v1/docs/introduction-to-controlup-monitor-clusters-in-v8). - IOP Forwarder to forward metrics to the IOP server. - Monitored Resources, such as EUC platforms, hypervisors, access gateways, physical devices or cloud connections. ## Prerequisites Verify that your on-premises environment is ready for COP according to the following prerequisites: - [Hardware / Software Prerequisites](/v1/docs/on-premises-installation-prerequisites-at-a-glance-for-8-1-and-higher) - [Port Requirements](/v1/docs/communication-ports-used-by-controlup-on-premises-mode) - [SQL Server Prerequisites](/v1/docs/sql-server-prerequisites-for-on-premises-installation) - [Sizing Guidelines](/v1/docs/sizing-guidelines-for-controlup-v8-x) ## Components and Installation Guides ### ControlUp On-Premises (COP) Server The first component that you must install is the COP server. The COP server consists of backend components that build the underlying infrastructure of the on-premises environment. For more information about installing the COP server, see [Installation Guide COP](/v1/docs/controlup-on-premises-server-installation). ### ControlUp Real-Time DX Console After you install the COP server, you can install the Real-Time Console. The ControlUp Real-Time Console is a desktop application that offers [real-time monitoring](https://www.controlup.com/products/controlup/monitoring/) and altering, remote, and real-time management of your end-user environments. For more information about installing the Real-Time Console, see [Installation Guide Real-Time Console](/v1/docs/controlup-on-premises-real-time-console-installation). ### Insights On-Premises (IOP) Server Insights is an analytics and monitoring solution that provides historical data. The web interface shows you real-time and historical-based performance data from your ControlUp environment. The integrated virtual expert offers sizing recommendations for your monitored machines, enabling you to better allocate resources in your environment. The analytics platform collects, stores, indexes, and presents performance logs from any ControlUp resource. We recommend to install the IOP server after you install the COP server and Real-Time Console. You can install IOP from an Open Virtualization Appliance (OVA) file or on a Linux machine in your environment. Additionally, you must install the IOP Forwarder to forward metrics to your IOP server. For more information about installing the IOP server from an OVA file, see [Installation Guide IOP (appliance-based)](/v1/docs/insights-on-premises-virtual-appliance-installation). For more information about installing the IOP server on a Linux machine, see [Installation Guide IOP (Linux installation)](/v1/docs/insights-on-premises-linux-based-installation). For more information about installing the IOP Forwarder, see [Installation Guide IOP Forwarder](/v1/docs/insights-iop-forwarder-installation). ### Solve On-Premises (SOP) Server Solve is a web-based application that offers current, constantly-updating dashboards that visualize the real-time metrics of your environment. You must purchase a Solve license to install and configure the SOP server. For more information about installing Solve, see [Installation Guide Solve](/v1/docs/solve-on-premises-installation). For more information about configuring Solve, see [Configuration Guide Solve](/v1/docs/solve-on-premises-configuration). ## Activate Your License After you purchase a COP license, you receive a COP license email including the license activation link. **Perform the following steps to activate your license:** ### Prepare Your License File **To prepare your license file:** 1. Logon to the COP server. 2. Go to **Programs and Features > ControlUp Server** and click **Change.** ![Programs and Features window showing ControlUp Server and Change option selected](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image%28476%29.png) 3. Click **Apply License**. ![COP installation window with apply license button selected](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image%28522%29.png) 4. Click the **Request a license with the following details** checkbox. Leave the fields as is. Click **Continue**. ![configure a license window with Request a license with the following details option selected](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image-3QSNVLG3.png) 5. On the license request notification, click **OK**. ![license activation window](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image-V02G28VF.png) 6. Save the XML request file on the COP server. ![save as window with XML request file](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image%28525%29.png) 7. In the COP license email you received, click the license activation link to enter the activation portal. ![COP license activation link](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image-8FUYBSXT.png) 8. In the activation portal, browse to the **ControlUp Server License Request.xml** and click **Submit**. ControlUp creates a ***PrivateCloudLicenseFile.xml*** that you must activate on the COP server. ![Drag and drop window](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image-K77S54WJ.png) ### Install Your License After you prepare your license file, you can install the license on your COP server. **To install your license:** 1. On the COP server, go to **Programs and Features > ControlUp Server** and click **Change.** 2. Click **Apply License** > **Browse for an existing license file**. ![ControlUp configure a license window](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image%28526%29.png) 3. In the **Select a License File** wizard, open the ***PrivateCloudLicenseFile.xml*** and click **Apply**. ![Select a License File wizard showing file path](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image%28527%29.png) 4. After the license applies, the **Updated Successfully** notification shows that your license installation is complete. ![Updated Successfully notification](https://cdn.document360.io/098100b7-b9da-4bea-b4b9-017140ab863e/Images/Documentation/image%28528%29.png) ### Troubleshooting As explained in the steps above, you must click **Apply License** to install your COP license. If the settings menu closes after you click **Apply License**, use the following workaround: 1. Logon to the COP server. 2. Open **Control Panel > Programs and Features**. 3. Select **ControlUp Server** > **Uninstall**. **Important!** Don't continue with the uninstallation process. 1. After the wizard launches, you are asked to confirm the uninstallation. Click **No**. 2. Reapply the license as described in the [Prepare Your License File](/v1/docs/getting-started-with-controlup-on-premises#activate-your-license) steps above. ## Configure Your Environment To configure your ControlUp Real-Time Console to start using ControlUp in your environment, perform the following steps: ### Add Machines Connect physical and virtual machines to ControlUp by installing the ControlUp Agent on the machines. To learn how to add machines, see [ControlUp Agent Installation](/v1/docs/controlup-agent-installation). Tip You can create folders in your ControlUp organization tree to organize the machines that you add. To learn how, visit [Create Folders](/v1/docs/create-folders). ### Create Shared Credentials When any ControlUp component connects to a resource that requires authentication, such as hypervisors, EUC environments, or cloud environments, the same set of credentials must be used by each ControlUp component. We recommend that you add credentials to ControlUp and share them so that all ControlUp users in your organization can use the same credentials. To learn how to add shared credentials, see [Configuring Shared Credentials](/v1/docs/configuring-shared-credentials). Service account permissions The credentials that you use to connect resources to ControlUp require specific permissions depending on the resource. You should create a service account for each resource with the permissions listed in [User Permissions in ControlUp](/v1/docs/user-permissions-in-controlup). ### Add a Monitor

Setting up a monitor allows you to continously monitor your ControlUp environment. You need at least one monitor to be able to access Solve and the VDI view in app.controlup.com

 To learn how to install and configure your monitor machines, see [ControlUp Monitor](/v1/docs/controlup-monitor-on-prem). Note Make sure you install the ControlUp Agent on each monitor machine. ### Configure a Dedicated Data Collector A Data Collector increases the performance capabilities of both your console and monitor when collecting metrics from external sources such as VMware vCenter, Citrix Delivery Controllers, XenServer Pool Masters, AHV Clusters, and ADC appliances. A Data Collector can be any machine that has the ControlUp Agent installed. To learn more about Data Collectors, see [ControlUp Data Collector](/v1/docs/controlup-data-collector#data-collector-configuration). ### Configure Audit Log You can configure the Audit Log to save data about your managed assets to a local Syslog server. To learn how to configure the Audit Log, see [here](/v1/docs/on-premises-audit-log). ### Add Hypervisors Monitor and manage your virtualization infrastructure by connecting to VMware Vsphere, Citrix Hypervisor, Nutanix AHV, or Microsoft Hyper-V. To learn how to add hypervisors, see [Connect to Your Hypervisors](/v1/docs/connect-to-your-hypervisors). ### Add EUC Environments For details on how to add a connection for each type of EUC environment, and what you can monitor, see the following articles: - [Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops](/v1/docs/add-cvad-integration) - [Omnissa Horizon](/v1/docs/add-horizon-integration) - [Citrix Cloud](/v1/docs/add-citrix-cloud-integration) ### Add Cloud Environments ControlUp comes with built-in support for [Azure](/v1/docs/azure-integration-getting-started) and [AWS](/v1/docs/add-cloud-infrastructure) monitoring. ### Add an ADC Appliance To learn how to add Citrix ADC to your ControlUp environment, see [Add an Application Delivery Controller](/v1/docs/add-netscaler-appliance). ## Next Steps After you set up your ControlUp environment and connect all your resources, follow the next steps to effectively use ControlUp: - [Add the rest of your team to your ControlUp organization.](/v1/docs/manage-cu-org-membership-etc) - [Set up Triggers to record incidents and automatically remediate issues as soon as they occur.](/v1/docs/setting-up-triggers)