Lansweeper IT Agent Discovery Portable runs on Windows without requiring installation. It allows on-demand local discovery without credentials, making it an efficient solution for scanning specific or hard-to-reach assets.
IT Agent Discovery vs. IT Agent Discovery Portable
IT Agent Discovery and IT Agent Discovery Portable both collect detailed inventory data from remote or offline devices, but they differ in how they’re deployed and used.
Feature | IT Agent Discovery | IT Agent Discovery Portable |
|---|---|---|
Installation | Permanent, service-based | Run‑once executable — no install |
Data collection | Continuous/automated | One‑time/manual |
Best for | Remote or roaming endpoints | Temporary or unmanaged systems |
Connectivity | Auto‑syncs when online | Uploads during execution |
Persistence | Background service | Non‑persistent |
In short:
IT Agent Discovery gives you continuous visibility of off‑network or roaming endpoints.
IT Agent Discovery Portable provides a flexible, one‑time way to audit unmanaged or short‑term systems.
Prerequisites
Before continuing, make sure:
You have an existing Network Discovery installation in your environment.
The required connections are open, and your Windows system meets the supported OS requirements.
Prepare your environment
In your site, select Discovery > systems > Download installers/packages.
Under IT Agent Discovery, select both:
Download IT Agent Portable
Download IT Agent Portable configuration
On the computer hosting, navigate to your Network Discovery Hub.
In the hub, go to Settings > Data Transfer > IT Agent Portable code(s).
Select Enable file import.
Enter a name for the import folder. The default is::
Windows:
C:\Program Files\Lansweeper Network Discovery\hub\importLinux/macOS:
./import
Select Generate key, then copy the key.
Select Save File Import Settings > OK.
Run IT Agent Discovery Portable and save results to a file
Run IT Agent Discovery Portable from a directory that provides elevated privileges for best performance.
Execute on a single machine
Open an elevated PowerShell command prompt.
Extract the contents of the downloaded package:
tar -xf C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Downloads\Lansweeper.IT.Agent.Portable.zip C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-PortableStart the local scan. Replace
fileimportkeywith the key you copied earlier:C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\Lansweeper-IT-agent-portable-windows-x64.exe scan --file C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\discoveryresult-%COMPUTERNAME%.data --key fileimportkey
Deploy via logon script (Active Directory)
Run the IT Agent Portable on all Windows domain computers at logon.
Copy
Lansweeper.IT.Agent.Portable.zipto yourNETLOGONshare (default:C:\WINDOWS\SYSVOL\domain\scripts).Open an elevated PowerShell command prompt.
Extract the contents of the ZIP file. Replace
DomainController01.domain.localwith your domain controller name:Expand-Archive -Force \\DomainController01.domain.local\NETLOGON\Lansweeper.IT.Agent.Portable.zipC:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-PortableRun the scan, replacing
fileimportkeywith your copied key:C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\Lansweeper-IT-agent-portable-windows-x64.exe scan --file C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\discoveryresult-%COMPUTERNAME%.data --key fileimportkey
Post-execution steps
After a successful run, copy the discovery result file:
C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\discoveryresult-%COMPUTERNAME%.dataOn the Network Discovery Hub machine, navigate to the import folder:
C:\Program Files\Lansweeper Network Discovery\hub\ImportPaste the
.datafile into this folder. The hub automatically syncs it with your site.In your site, go to Assets to confirm the asset details have been updated.
Run IT Agent Discovery Portable and send results directly to a Network Discovery Hub
Run IT Agent Discovery Portable with elevated privileges for best results. This method sends discovery data directly to the Hub without needing a manual import.
Method 1: Run directly with Hub URI
Ensure the device can connect to your Network Discovery Hub (
https://mynetworkdiscoveryhub.domain.local:59525by default).Open an elevated PowerShell command prompt.
Extract the ZIP package:
Expand-Archive -Force C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Downloads\Lansweeper.IT.Agent.Portable.zip C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-PortableStart the scan, replacing the Hub URL and key as appropriate:
C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\Lansweeper-IT-agent-portable-windows-x64.exe scan -h https://mynetworkdiscoveryhub.domain.local:59525 --key fileimportkey
Method 2: Use the configuration file
Ensure the asset can access your Network Discovery Hub (
https://mynetworkdiscoveryhub.domain.local:59525by default).Open an elevated PowerShell command prompt and extract the package:
Expand-Archive -Force C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Downloads\Lansweeper.IT.Agent.Portable.zip C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-PortableOpen the downloaded configuration file (
scanoptions.json) and update it to include your values:{ "ScanOptions": { "Key": "IT Agent Portable key from your Network Discovery Hub", "File": "optional: path where discovery output is saved, e.g. discoveryresult.data", "HubUri": "optional: your Network Discovery Hub URI, e.g. https://mynetworkdiscoveryhub.domain.local:59525" } }Run the scan:
C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\Lansweeper-IT-agent-portable-windows-x64.exe scan
FAQ
What is Lansweeper IT Agent Discovery Portable?
Lansweeper IT Agent Discovery Portable is a tool that runs on Windows without installation, allowing on-demand local discovery without credentials for scanning specific or hard-to-reach assets.
How does IT Agent Discovery Portable differ from IT Agent Discovery?
IT Agent Discovery is a permanent, service-based solution for continuous data collection, while IT Agent Discovery Portable is a run-once executable for one-time manual data collection.
What are the prerequisites for using IT Agent Discovery Portable?
You need an existing Network Discovery installation and ensure that the required connections are open, with your Windows system meeting the supported OS requirements.
Can IT Agent Discovery Portable be used on unmanaged systems?
Yes, IT Agent Discovery Portable is best suited for temporary or unmanaged systems.
Is it necessary to install IT Agent Discovery Portable?
No, IT Agent Discovery Portable does not require installation; it is a run-once executable.
How can I run IT Agent Discovery Portable on a single machine?
You can run it by opening an elevated PowerShell command prompt, extracting the downloaded package, and starting the local scan with the appropriate command.
What happens after I run IT Agent Discovery Portable?
After execution, you need to copy the discovery result file to the import folder on the Network Discovery Hub machine for automatic syncing.
Can I send results directly to a Network Discovery Hub?
Yes, you can run IT Agent Discovery Portable with elevated privileges to send discovery data directly to the Hub without manual import.