How to Use Your Own Machine or VM for Testing (BYOC)

Last updated: 2026-09-21

Connect your own Windows machine or VM as a BYOC computer in Genta using a registration key and the Genta agent.

How to Use Your Own Machine or VM for Testing (BYOC)

This guide shows how to connect your own Windows machine or VM as a BYOC computer in Genta.

Where to configure BYOC

Go to Computers from the sidebar.

Step 1: Create a registration key

  1. In Computers, click New Registration Key.

  2. Enter a name (and optional description/max computers).

  3. Click Generate Key.

  4. Copy the key immediately.

Step 2: Download and extract the Genta agent

  1. In Computers, click Download Agent (.zip).

  2. Extract to a folder on the target machine (for example C:\Program Files\Cognillo\Genta Agent).

Step 3: Configure appsettings.json

In the agent folder, set:

{
  "ServerUrl": "https://your-genta-instance",
  "ComputerName": "my-vm-or-machine",
  "RegistrationKey": "paste-your-key-here"
}

Notes:

  • ComputerName is optional.

  • ServerUrl should match the Genta instance URL you use in the browser.

Step 4: Start the agent

  1. Run GentaAgent.exe.

  2. Return to Computers and confirm your machine appears as BYOC.

  3. Wait for status to become Idle.

Step 5: Use BYOC during runs

When launching a case or suite run:

  1. Open the Run modal.

  2. Select your BYOC machine from the computer list.

  3. Start execution.

Optional hardening

  • Use dedicated test VMs for stable browser/app state.

  • Keep agent host patched and monitored.

  • If needed, run agent via Windows Task Scheduler at user logon.