Install & Register Launchpads

GroundControl Launchpad can be installed on any Mac running Mac OS X 10.9 or newer. Check System Requirements for additional information.

Install the Mac Launchpad

1. Download the latest Launchpad DMG (choose one option):
   • Log into the GroundControl Server and navigate to the Launchpads tab, and download using the Mac link in the upper-right corner.
   • Alternatively, download using this link: /download/mac
2. Double-click the GroundControl Launchpad disk image to open
3. Double-click the GroundControl Launchpad app
4. Accept the prompt to open the software
5. Accept the prompt to copy the app to your Applications folder
6. Eject the disk image

Prevent iTunes for activating devices

If your Mac is running Mac OS 10.13.x or earlier, you must tell iTunes to stop trying to activate devices. This step is not required for Mac OS 10.14 and later.

Open iTunes, then open Preferences > Devices.

Check the box “Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically.

Close Preferences, then quit iTunes.

Allow GroundControl to use a Proximity Badge Reader

Macs running recent operating systems may display an additional security prompt. “Applications” would like to receive keystrokes from any application. This prompt appears if you are using GroundControl Checkout features, have enabled the features for proximity badge readers, and are running macOS 10.15 “Catalina” or later.

GroundControl really is not interested in keystrokes from other applications. However this is how Catalina presents requests to access USB HID devices, which appear to the Mac as something like a keyboard.

To use these devices,  you must grant permission for “Input Monitoring” to the Launchpad app. Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Input Monitoring.

Check the checkbox next to “GroundControl Launchpad.app” to grant permission. (If needed, click the lock in the lower-left corner and enter administrator credentials). If the Launchpad app is running, the system will remind you to quit and relaunch the app.

The next time you run the Launchpad app, it will have the access to hub or card reader you expect.

GroundControl Launchpad can be installed on any PC running Windows 10. Check System Requirements for additional information.

Install the Windows Launchpad

1. Download the latest Launchpad Installer (choose one option):
   • Log into the GroundControl Server and navigate to the Launchpads tab, and download using the Win link in the upper-right corner.
   • Alternatively, download using this link: /download/win
2. Double-click the GroundControl Launchpad EXE to install
3. Choose whether you will install for all users on the machine (recommended) or just for the local user
4. Extract and install MobileDevice components bundled with iTunes using these instructions. This is required on Windows.

Use these instructions when using a package manager such as SCCM to install the Launchpad software.

Download and Extract the Windows Launchpad

1. Download the latest Launchpad Installer (choose one option):
   • Log into the GroundControl Server and navigate to the Launchpads tab, and download using the Win link in the upper-right corner.
   • Alternatively, download using this link: /download/win
2. Extract the MSI from the Launchpad EXE with a tool such as 7-Zip.

Download and Extract MobileDevice

Extract and install MobileDevice components bundled with iTunes using these instructions. This is required on Windows.

Silently Install the Software

To silently install the MSIs, please install with the following switches:

• GroundControl Launchpad: /i

The GroundControl Launchpad MSI also allows for parameters to set Launchpad name, host name, and proxy.

For example:

msiexec /i GroundControl.msi GCHOST=company.groundctl.com GCLPNAME="LaunchpadName" GCPROXY="192.168.1.1:8080"

Launch the GroundControl Launchpad app. An unconfigured Launchpad will prompt for registration. 

The default server hostname “launchpad.groundctl.com” is correct for most organizations. If you are using a dedicated cluster, you should enter the correct name for your organization here.

The Launchpad Name is used to identify this Mac to the server. The Mac or PC computer name is entered by default.

If your network requires an unauthenticated proxy to access the GroundControl server, you may add that information here.

Click Next.

On the next screen, enter your GroundControl user name and password and click Login.

The app will test connectivity and connect to the server.

Alternatively, you may use a text file to automatically register a Launchpad. This feature is available in Launchpad 4.9 and greater.

First, obtain a Launchpad Registration Token from Imprivata Support. Please include the following in your request:

1. • The email address of the GroundControl user for “Registered By”
   • An expiration date for your token, for example 1 day or 30 days or 1 year

You may use the same token to register as many Launchpads as you like.

Once you have obtained the token, create a text file named gc-auto-reg.txt with the following:

server: launchpad.groundctl.com
token: ABCD123456789
launchpad: FN-2187

The server and token keys are required.

The launchpad key is optional: if included it will be used for the Launchpad name. If omitted, GroundControl will use the Mac/PC system name for the Launchpad name. Note all Launchpads must have unique names.

Install the file gc-auto-reg.txt in the temporary folder of the Mac or Windows system:

• Mac: /tmp/gc-auto-reg.txt
• Win: %Temp%\gc-auto-reg.txt

Install this file before the Launchpad software is first run.

When this file is present and valid, the Launchpad app will skip the usual interactive registration steps, and automatically register and start up. If registration is successful, GroundControl will delete the file from the temporary folder as it is no longer needed.

If registration fails due to an invalid file or expired token, the Launchpad will show the standard interactive registration screens.