---
title: "Windows"
date: 2020-05-26T20:57:10+03:00
draft: false
pre: '<i class="fab fa-windows"></i> '
weight: 2
tags: ["setup", "windows"]
---

## Deployment

{{% notice tip %}}
Don't get scared if the Infection Monkey gets [flagged as malware during the installation](/faq/#is-the-infection-monkey-a-malwarevirus).
{{% /notice %}}

After running the installer, the following prompt should appear on the screen:

![Windows installer screenshot](../../images/setup/windows/installer-screenshot-1.png "Windows installer screenshot")

1. Follow the steps to complete the installation.
1. Run the Monkey Island by clicking on the desktop shortcut.

{{% notice info %}}
If you're prompted to delete your data directory and you're not sure what to
do, see the [FAQ]({{< ref
"/faq/#i-updated-to-a-new-version-of-the-infection-monkey-and-im-being-asked-to-delete-my-existing-data-directory-why"
>}}) for more information.
{{% /notice %}}
>
## Configuring the server

You can configure the server by editing [the configuration
file](../../reference/server_configuration) located in installation directory.
The default path is
`C:\Program Files\Guardicore\Monkey Island\monkey\monkey_island\cc\server_config.json`.

### Start Monkey Island with user-provided certificate

By default, Infection Monkey comes with a [self-signed SSL certificate](https://aboutssl.org/what-is-self-sign-certificate/). In
enterprise or other security-sensitive environments, it is recommended that the
user provide Infection Monkey with a certificate that has been signed by a
private certificate authority.

1. Stop the Monkey Island process.
1. (Optional but recommended) Move your `.crt` and `.key` files to `%AppData%\monkey_island`.
1. Modify the `server_config.json` (by default located in `C:\Program Files\Guardicore\Monkey Island\monkey\monkey_island\cc\server_config.json`) by adding the following lines:
    ```json
    {
      ...
      "ssl_certificate": {
            "ssl_certificate_file": "%AppData%\\monkey_island\\my_cert.crt",
            "ssl_certificate_key_file": "%AppData%\\monkey_island\\my_key.key"
      },
      ...
    }
    ```
1. Run the Monkey Island by clicking on the desktop shortcut.
1. Access the Monkey Island web UI by pointing your browser at
   `https://localhost:5000`.

### Change logging level

1. Stop the Island server.
1. Modify the `server_config.json` (by default located in `C:\Program Files\Guardicore\Monkey Island\monkey\monkey_island\cc\server_config.json`) by adding the following lines:
    ```json
    {
        ...
        "log_level": "INFO",
        ...
    }
    ```
1. Run the Monkey Island by clicking on the desktop shortcut.
1. Access the Monkey Island web UI by pointing your browser at
   `https://localhost:5000`.

## Troubleshooting

### Support

Only **English** system locale is supported. If your command prompt gives output in a different
language, the Infection Monkey is not guaranteed to work.

For supported Windows versions, take a look at the [OS support page](../../reference/operating_systems_support).

### Missing Windows update

The installer requires [Windows update #2999226](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2999226/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows).
If you're having trouble running the installer, please make sure to install the
update via Windows Update or manually from the link above.

### Supported browsers

The Monkey Island supports Chrome (and Chrome-based) browsers. If your Windows
server only has Internet Explorer installed, please install Chrome or a similar
modern browser. [You can download Google Chrome
here](https://www.google.com/chrome/).

## Upgrading

To upgrade the Infection Monkey on Windows, download the new installer and run
it. The new Monkey version will be installed over the old version.

If you'd like to keep your existing configuration, you can export it to a file
using the *Export config* button and then import it to the new Monkey Island.

![Export configuration](../../images/setup/export-configuration.png "Export configuration")