Documentation forWeb Help Desk

Install a WHD evaluation

SolarWinds strongly recommends that you install Web Help Desk on a server that is protected from unauthorized access by the public. If your use of Web Help Desk does not need to be public or internet-facing, install it on a server that is neither public, nor internet-facing. To learn about best practices for configuring your Web Help Desk installation securely, see Best practices to secure SolarWinds Products.

The evaluation version is a full product version, functional for 14 days. After the evaluation period, all tech accounts are deactivated. You can convert your evaluation license to a production license by obtaining and applying a license key.

To update the license, contact SolarWinds Sales to purchase a full license of the product. For SolarWinds Platform products, access the License Manager to update the license with the purchased key.

To use a separate Microsoft SQL Server database, or if you are installing this product into the production deployment of an existing SolarWinds Platform, see Plan for a production deployment for details.

When you install the evaluation, you can install the SolarWinds Platform and the Microsoft SQL Server database on the same server. The installer automatically installs SQL Server Express. You can use that database or configure the server to use another SQL Server database. You can also install the application on a desktop system, but this configuration is not supported.

This product is intended for use in evaluation and production environments described below.

Evaluation and Production Environments Evaluation Environments Only

Windows Server 2016

Windows 11
Windows Server 2019 Windows 11
Windows Server 2022 Windows 11

Select one of the following procedures that apply to your host environment: 

Install an evaluation on a server running Windows Server 2016

  1. Download the WHD evaluation file from the WHD website.
  2. Follow the standalone installation instructions, including the installation and configuration wizard.

    To use the PostgreSQL database that installs with the product, click Use Embedded PostgreSQL database (recommended).

    To use your own Microsoft SQL Server database, click Use Custom SQL database (advanced).

  3. Open the WHD Administrator Console.

    The 14-day evaluation begins.

    If the console does not open automatically, launch the WHD Administrator Console in your WHD program folder.

    For security purposes, SolarWinds recommends that you change the password used for the WHD service.

Install an evaluation on a server running Windows Server 2019 or 2022

  1. Download the WHD evaluation file from the WHD website.
  2. Open the directory where you downloaded the installer.

    For example:

    C:\Downloads

  3. Extract the contents of the ZIP file.

  4. Verify that Open Java Development Kit (OpenJDK) 8.0 or later is installed on your WHD server.   
    1. Open a command prompt window.
    2. Run:

      java -version
    3. Verify that OpenJDK 8.0 or later is installed on your WHD server. This version is required to complete the WHD installation.

      In the following output example, OpenJDK 11.0.5 is installed on the server.

      C:\Users\Administrator>Java -version
      openjdk version "11.0.5" 2022-4-19 LTS
      openJDK Runtime Environment Microsoft -32930 (build 11.0.15+10-LTS)
      OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Microsoft -32930 (build 11.0.15+10-LTS, mixed mode) C:\Users\Administrator>
      When you complete the WHD installation, the supported OpenJDK version for your release is installed on your server, if required.
  5. Change directories to the location where you downloaded the installation ZIP file.

    For example, if the installation file is in the Downloads directory, run:

    cd "C:\Downloads"
    
  6. Set the current operating system in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to Windows 7. This will help facilitate the installation procedure.

    Run:

    SET JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS="-Dos.name=Windows 7"
  7. Run the installation file you downloaded from the Customer Portal on the same command prompt.

    For example, if you downloaded the installer for WHD 12.7.10, run:

    WebHelpDesk-12.7.10-x64_eval.exe
  8. Complete the on-screen instructions.
  9. When the installation is complete, click Done.

    The Configuration Wizard opens the default browser.

  10. Go to Install WHD in a stand-alone deployment.

  11. Follow the steps in Complete the installation.

Install an evaluation on a system running Windows 11

  1. Download the WHD evaluation file from the WHD website.
  2. Open the directory where you downloaded the installer.

    For example:

    C:\Downloads

  3. Extract the contents of the ZIP file.

  4. Verify that Open Java Development Kit (OpenJDK) 8.0 or later is installed on your system.
    1. Open a command prompt window.
    2. Run:

      java -version
    3. Verify that OpenJDK 8.0 or later is installed on your system. This version is required to complete the WHD installation.

      When you complete the WHD installation, the supported OpenJDK version for your release is installed on your server, if required.
  5. Change directories to the location where you downloaded the installation ZIP file.

    For example, if the installation file is in the Downloads directory, run:

    cd "C:\Downloads"
    
  6. Set the current operating system in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to Windows 7. This will help facilitate the installation procedure.

    Run:

    SET JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS="-Dos.name=Windows 7"
  7. Run the installation file you downloaded from the Customer Portal on the same command prompt.

    For example, if you downloaded the installer for WHD 12.7.10, run:

    WebHelpDesk-12.7.10-x64_eval.exe
  8. Complete the on-screen instructions.
  9. When the installation is complete, click Done.

    The Configuration Wizard opens the default browser.

  10. Go to Install WHD in a stand-alone deployment.

  11. Follow the steps in Complete the installation.