---
title: "Run IT Agent Discovery Portable | Lansweeper Platform"
slug: "run-it-agent-discovery-portable"
description: "Run IT Agent Discovery Portable on Windows without installing it. Perform on-demand local discovery without credentials to scan specific devices fast."
updated: 2026-07-09T17:29:45Z
published: 2026-07-09T17:29:45Z
canonical: "docs.lansweeper.com/run-it-agent-discovery-portable"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lansweeper.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Run IT Agent Discovery Portable

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](/v1/docs/install-network-discovery-windows) installation in your environment.
- The required connections are open, and your Windows system meets the supported OS requirements.

### Prepare your environment

1. In your site, select **Discovery > Systems > Download installers/packages**.
2. Under **IT Agent Discovery**, select **Download IT Agent Portable Zip**. This downloads a ZIP package (`lansweeper-it-agent-portable.zip`) that contains the portable executable and the `scanoptions.json` configuration file.
3. On the computer hosting, navigate to your **hub**.
4. In the hub, go to **Settings > Data Transfer > IT Agent Portable code(s)**.
5. Select **Enable file import**.
6. Enter a name for the import folder. The default is:
  - **Windows:** `C:\Program Files\Lansweeper Network Discovery\hub\import`
  - **Linux/macOS:** `./import`
7. Select **Generate key**, then copy the key.
8. Select **Save File Import Settings > OK**.

## Run IT Agent Discovery Portable and save results to a file

Run IT Agent Discovery Portable from an elevated PowerShell prompt for best performance.

### Execute on a single machine

1. Open an elevated PowerShell command prompt.
2. Extract the contents of the downloaded package:

```
Expand-Archive -Force C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Downloads\lansweeper-it-agent-portable.zip C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable
```
3. Start the local scan. Replace `fileimportkey` with the key you copied earlier:

```
C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\Lansweeper-IT-agent-portable-X.X.X-windows-x64.exe scan --file C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\discoveryresult-%COMPUTERNAME%.data --key fileimportkey
```

              Executable version

              

Replace `X.X.X` in the executable name with your installer version. Find it in your site under **Discovery > Download installers/packages > IT Agent Discovery > Version**.

### Deploy via logon script (Active Directory)

Run the IT Agent Portable on all Windows domain computers at logon.

1. Copy `lansweeper-it-agent-portable.zip` to your `NETLOGON` share (default: `C:\WINDOWS\SYSVOL\domain\scripts`).
2. Open an elevated PowerShell command prompt.
3. Extract the contents of the ZIP file. Replace `DomainController01.domain.local` with your domain controller name:

```
Expand-Archive -Force \\DomainController01.domain.local\NETLOGON\lansweeper-it-agent-portable.zip C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable
```
4. Run the scan, replacing `fileimportkey` with your copied key:

```
C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\Lansweeper-IT-agent-portable-X.X.X-windows-x64.exe scan --file C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\discoveryresult-%COMPUTERNAME%.data --key fileimportkey
```

### Post-execution steps

1. After a successful run, copy the discovery result file:

```
C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\discoveryresult-%COMPUTERNAME%.data
```
2. On the hub machine, navigate to the import folder:

```
C:\Program Files\Lansweeper Network Discovery\hub\Import
```
3. Paste the `.data` file into this folder. The hub automatically syncs it with your site.
4. 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 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.

              Untrusted hub certificate

              

If your hub uses a self-signed or otherwise untrusted certificate, the scan fails to send. Add the `--unsafe` (`-u`) option to the scan command to accept the untrusted certificate, or install the hub certificate on the device first.

### Method 1: Run directly with hub URI

1. Ensure the device can connect to your hub (`https://mynetworkdiscoveryhub.domain.local:59525` by default).
2. Open an elevated PowerShell command prompt.
3. Extract the ZIP package:

```
Expand-Archive -Force C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Downloads\lansweeper-it-agent-portable.zip C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable
```
4. Start the scan, replacing the hub URL and key as appropriate:

```
C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\Lansweeper-IT-agent-portable-X.X.X-windows-x64.exe scan -h https://mynetworkdiscoveryhub.domain.local:59525 --key fileimportkey
```

### Method 2: Use the configuration file

The configuration file (`scanoptions.json`) ships inside the ZIP package and is an alternative to passing options on the command line. You only need it for this method.

1. Ensure the asset can access your hub (`https://mynetworkdiscoveryhub.domain.local:59525` by default).
2. 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-Portable
```
3. In the extraction folder, open `scanoptions.json` and update it to include your values:

```
{
  "ScanOptions": {
    "Key": "IT Agent Portable key from your hub",
    "File": "optional: path where discovery output is saved, e.g. discoveryresult.data",
    "HubUri": "optional: your hub URI, e.g. https://mynetworkdiscoveryhub.domain.local:59525"
  }
}
```
4. Run the scan:

```
C:\Temp\Lansweeper-IT-Agent-Portable\Lansweeper-IT-agent-portable-X.X.X-windows-x64.exe scan
```

## Frequently asked questions (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 hub machine for automatic syncing.

### Can I send results directly to a hub?

Yes, you can run IT Agent Discovery Portable with elevated privileges to send discovery data directly to the hub without manual import.