Engine Only InstallΒΆ
An Engine Only Install refers to a deployment method where only the core
service executable (e.g., winsyslg.exe, mwagent.exe, evtlog.exe)
and its essential dependencies are installed, without the full client application
and user interface components. This type of installation is particularly useful for:
Mass deployments where you want to minimize the installation footprint
Server environments where GUI components are not needed
Automated deployments where configuration is managed via registry files
Security-conscious environments where you want to reduce the attack surface
In an engine-only install, the service runs with the configuration stored in the Windows Registry, which can be exported from a master installation and imported during deployment. This allows for consistent configuration across multiple systems without requiring the full installation package.
Key characteristics: - Smaller disk footprint (typically just a few MB) - No GUI components or client tools - Configuration via registry import/export - Suitable for headless/server deployments - Can be updated by simply replacing the executable files
This approach is commonly used in enterprise environments where hundreds or thousands of systems need to be monitored with consistent configuration.