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Browser extension installation guide ​

The browser extension Sirenia Web Automation Driver facilitates automation and context management in modern browsers. It is available for chrome, firefox and edge and extension compatible variations of these browsers.

This document contains instructions on how to install the extension as an end-user as well as links to resources on centralized rollout.

For larger organizations who need automation to be readily available to a large number of users, centralized rollout is generally preferable. This can be done with Microsoft Active Directory through a suitable Group Policy Object (GPO).

WARNING

The extension relies on the browser feature native host messaging, so make sure not to disallow that.

Chrome ​

The chrome extension lives in the Chrome store.

End user ​

The end user may simply point Chrome to the above location and click 'Add to Chrome'.

Centralized rollout ​

Google documents the process here. The extension id needed for the GPO is lbokehfhhclmidfioacglfeigplbccdj.

Sample GPO json:

json
{
  "lbokehfhhclmidfioacglfeigplbccdj": {
    "installation_mode": "force_installed",
      "update_url":
      "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx"
  }
}

In compact form:

json
{"lbokehfhhclmidfioacglfeigplbccdj":{"installation_mode": "force_installed","update_url":"https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx"}}

Edge ​

Due to the similarities between the chromium based Edge browser and Chrome, both the Chrome extension and the Edge extension are compatible with Edge. The native Edge extension can be found on the Microsoft store.

End user ​

The end user may simply point Edge to the above location and click Get to install it.

Centralized rollout ​

Microsoft document the procedure here. The extension id needed for the procedure is kjnjgmmokhgfibgjcidmnhkjmcnnccdm.

WARNING

Beware that 'Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit' defaults to blocking all native messaging hosts. Organizations that use this toolkit as a policy template must explicitly allow the eu.sirenia.manateediscoverer host before this extension will work.

White-listing the native messaging host ​

If there are organizational restrictions in place for the use of native messaging hosts, a simple GPO policy can whitelist the eu.sirenia.manateediscoverer host.

The relevant Microsoft Edge policy is called NativeMessagingAllowlist. A sufficient json value is ["eu.sirenia.manateediscoverer"]. If you already have other hosts whitelisted, you must simply add eu.sirenia.manateediscoverer to the list.

Verify the policy in Edge ​

From the Edge browser navigate to edge://policy and filter by NativeMessagingAllowlist.

It should look something like this:

Edge policy

You know everything is working when you have Manatee running and see the fishtail icon for the extension turning blue indicating successful connection from the extension to the Manatee client.

Blue extension icon

Firefox ​

We publish our firefox extension to this page.

End user ​

The end user may simply point Firefox to the above location and click Click here to install.

Centralized rollout ​

Mozilla resources on this subject can be found here.

The process requires the following location of the extension .xpi file: https://firefox.sirenia.io/sirenia_web_automation_driver.xpi.