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Manage browser extensions

Browser extensions must be installed on each computer for which cloud application metering data should be collected. This can be achieved either via the Snow Inventory Agents for Windows and macOS or via a management tool.

If your company already uses a management tool to centrally manage browser extensions, configure the paths according to your guidelines, otherwise you may cause conflicting policies. For example, if your extension management tool uses HKCU:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForceList, and you install the browser extensions via the agents, the installation via the agents will take precedence. For instructions on how to install the extensions via a management tool instead of via the agents, see Install browser extensions via management tool or policy.

The default configuration for the Windows and macOS agents is to install the extensions, as described in Install browser extensions via agent. The Apple Safari extension must be installed manually, as described in Install Apple Safari browser extension.

For Snow License Manager, note that the cloud application metering data flow must be enabled for the site a computer belongs to, as described in Enable the cloud application metering data flow, otherwise the agent will not install any browser extensions on the computer, regardless of the agent configuration.

For Snow Atlas, the cloud application metering data flow is enabled by default. If you do not want cloud application metering data to be collected you must disable the flow, as described in Disable cloud application metering.

note

The browser extension communicates with a native messaging host via the browser. If the native messaging host is blocked, the extension will not work. If your company has set a policy to block all native messaging hosts by adding a wildcard to the native messaging blocklist, you must add the cloudmeteringhost ID, com.snowsoftware.cloudmetering, to the native messaging allowlist for the browser extension to work. For more information, refer to the Chrome Enterprise Policy List & Management and Microsoft Edge Browser Policy documentation.

In the following sections, saas.[browser].enabled is used as a placeholder for the supported browser settings, for example, saas.firefox.enabled. To find all supported settings, see configuration-doc.html.

Install browser extensions via agent​

To install browser extensions via the Snow Inventory Agents for Windows and macOS:

  1. For Apple Safari, see Install Apple Safari browser extension.

  2. For all other browsers: in the agent's configuration for the computer, set the saas.[browser].enabled setting for the respective browser to true. Note that true is the default value of the configuration file.

    EXAMPLE
    <SystemSettings>
        <Setting key="saas.firefox.enabled" value="true" />
    </SystemSettings>

The agent will then install the browser extension. Note that for Snow License Manager, the agent will only install the extension provided that the cloud application metering data flow is enabled, as described in Enable the cloud application metering data flow.

Install browser extensions via management tool or policy​

To deploy and manage browser extensions by a management tool or policy, instead of via the Windows and macOS agents:

  1. In the agent's configuration for the computer, set all saas.[browser].enabled settings to enable.

    EXAMPLE
    <SystemSettings>
        <Setting key="saas.firefox.enabled" value="enable" />
    </SystemSettings>

  2. Deploy the browser extensions by the management tool or policy of choice, using one or more of the following methods, depending on the browsers:

note

Setting the saas.[browser].enabled settings to enable instead of true (default) is important, since it allows your local policies to take precedence. Installing browser extensions via a management tool while the saas.[browser].enabled settings are set to true can cause conflicts and removal of plugins.

Install Apple Safari browser extension​

The Apple Safari browser extension is installed independently of the Snow Inventory Agent for macOS. It must be installed on the target computer and then enabled in the browser.

  1. Download the installation package (.pkg) attached to this Snow Globe article: https://community.snowsoftware.com/s/article/Cloud-Application-Metering-extension-for-Safari . You must be signed in to Snow Globe to access the article.

    Make sure you are using the required versions of browser, operating system, and products listed in the article.

  2. Run the installation package and follow the steps of the installation wizard.

    Note that you must authenticate yourself as an Administrator user during the installation process.

  3. On the Safari Preferences page that opens after the package has been installed, turn on the Snow Web Application Metering extension.

    If the page does not open automatically, go to the Apple Safari browser and open it.

    For detailed instructions, refer to Apple's documentation: Use Safari Extensions on your Mac .

Uninstall Apple Safari browser extension​

  • In the Apple Safari browser on the computer, uninstall the Snow Web Application Metering extension by selecting the Uninstall button for the extension.

    For detailed instructions, refer to Apple's documentation: Use Safari Extensions on your Mac .

Deploy Mozilla Firefox browser extension via management tool or policy​

Make sure that step 1 of Install browser extensions via management tool or policy has been carried out, and then follow the description below.

  • Extend your policies.json file with the following values:

    {
        "policies": {
            "3rdparty": {
                "Extensions": {
                    cloudmetering@snowsoftware.com: {
                        "consentgiven": true
                    }
                }
            },
            "ExtensionSettings": {
                cloudmetering@snowsoftware.com : {
                    "install_url" : file://C:\\Program Files\\Snow Software\\Inventory\\Agent\\FFCloudmetering.xpi,
                    "installation_mode" : "force_installed"
                }
            }
        }
    }

    Note that the install_url must be the actual path to the location of the extension.