4.4 Remotely Managing Devices
ZENworks Configuration Management provides Remote Management functionality that lets you remotely manage devices. Remote Management supports the following operations:
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Remote Control: Lets you control a managed device from the management console so you can provide user assistance and help resolve problems. You can perform all the operations that a user can perform on the device.
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Remote View: Lets you connect with a managed device so that you can view the managed device instead of controlling it. This helps you troubleshoot problems that the user encountered. For example, you can observe how the user at a managed device performs certain tasks to make sure that the user performs a task correctly
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Remote Execute: Lets you run any executable on a managed device from the management console.To remotely execute an application, specify the executable name in the Remote Execute dialog box. If the application is not in the system path on the managed device, then provide the complete path of the application. For example, you can execute the regedit command to open the Registry Editor on the managed device. The Remote Execute dialog box displays the status of the command execution.
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Remote Diagnostics: Lets you diagnose and analyze the problems on a managed device. This helps you to shorten problem resolution times and assist users without requiring a technician to physically visit the problem device. This increases user productivity by keeping desktops up and running.
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File Transfer: Lets you to transfer files between the management console and a managed device.
The following sections explain how to set up Remote Management and perform each of the operations:
4.4.1 Creating a Remote Management Policy
By default, a secure Remote Management policy is created on the managed device when the ZENworks Adaptive Agent is deployed with the Remote Management component on the device. You can use the default policy to remotely manage a device. The default policy allows you to perform all the Remote Management operations on a device To override the default policy, you can explicitly create a Remote Management policy for the device.
You can assign a Remote Management policy to devices or users.
To create a Remote Management policy:
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In ZENworks Control Center, click the tab.
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In the Policies panel, click > to launch the Create New Policy Wizard.
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Follow the prompts to create, assign, and schedule the Remote Management policy.
Click the button on each wizard page for detailed information about the page. When you complete the wizard, the policy is added to the Policies panel. You can click the policy to view the policy’s details and modify assignments, schedules, and so forth.
4.4.2 Configuring Remote Management Settings
The Remote Management configuration settings, located on the Configuration page, let you specify settings such as the Remote Management port, session performance, and available diagnostic applications.
The settings are predefined to provide the most common configuration. If you want to change the settings:
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In ZENworks Control Center, click the tab.
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In the Management Zone Settings panel, click > .
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Modify the settings as desired.
Click the button on the page for detailed information about the page.
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When you are finished modifying the settings, click or to save your changes.
4.4.3 Performing Remote Control, Remote View, and Remote Execute Operations
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In ZENworks Control Center, click the tab.
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Navigate the Servers or Workstations folder until you locate the device you want to manage.
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Select the device by clicking the check box in front of the device.
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In the task list located in the left navigation pane, click or to display the Remote Management dialog box.
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In the Remote Management dialog box, fill in the following fields:
Device: Specify the name or the IP address of the device you want to remotely manage.
Operation: Select the type of the remote operation (Remote Control, Remote View, or Remote Execute) you want to perform on the managed device:
Authentication: Select the mode you want to use to authenticate to the managed device. The two options are:
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Password: Provides password-based authentication to perform a Remote Control operation. You must enter the correct password as set by the user on the managed device or as configured by the administrator in the security settings of the Remote Management policy. The password set by the user takes precedence over the password configured by the administrator.
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Rights: This option is available only when you select the managed device on which you want to perform the remote operation. If an administrator has already assigned Remote Management rights to you to perform the desired remote operation on the selected managed device, you automatically gain access when the session initiates.
Port: Specify the port number on which the Remote Management Agent is listening. By default, the port number is 5950.
Session Mode: Select one of the following modes for the session:
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Collaborate: Allows you to launch a Remote Control session and a Remote View session in collaboration mode. However, you cannot first launch a Remote View session on the managed device. If you launch the Remote Control session on the managed device, then you get all the privileges of a master Remote Operator, which include:
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Inviting other Remote Operators to join the remote session.
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Delegating Remote Control rights to a Remote Operator.
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Regaining control from the Remote Operator.
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Terminating a Remote Session.
After the Remote Control session has been established for the managed device in the Collaborate mode, the other remote sessions on the managed device are Remote View sessions.
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Shared: Allows more than one Remote Operator to simultaneously control the managed device.
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Exclusive: Allows you to have an exclusive remote session on the managed device. No other remote session can be initiated on the managed device after a session has been launched in Exclusive mode.
Session Encryption: Ensures that the remote session is secured by using SSL encryption (TLSv1 protocol).
Enable Caching: Enables caching of the remote management session data to enhance performance. This option is available only for Remote Control operation. This option is currently supported only on Windows.
Enable Dynamic Bandwidth Optimization: Enables detection of the available network bandwidth and accordingly adjusts the session settings to enhance performance. This option is available only for Remote Control operation.
Enable Logging: Logs session and debug information in the novell-zenworks-vncviewer.txt file. The file is saved by default on the desktop if you launch ZENworks Control Center through Internet Explorer and in the Mozilla installed directory if you launch ZENworks Control Center through Mozilla FireFox.
Install Remote Management Viewer: Click on the link to install the Remote Management Viewer. This link is displayed only if you are performing the Remote Management session on the managed device for the first time or if the Remote Management Viewer is not installed on the managed device.
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Click to launch the session.
4.4.4 Performing a Remote Diagnostic Operation
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In ZENworks Control Center, click the tab.
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Navigate the Servers or Workstations folder until you locate the device you want to manage.
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Select the device by clicking the check box in front of the device.
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In the task list located in the left navigation pane, click to display the Remote Diagnostics dialog box.
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In the Remote Diagnostics dialog box, fill in the following fields:
Device: Specify the name or the IP address of the device you want to remotely diagnose.
Application: Select the application you want to launch on the device to remotely diagnose.
Authentication: Select the mode you want to use to authenticate to the managed device. The two options are:
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Password: Provides password-based authentication to perform a Remote Diagnostic operation. You must enter the correct password as set by the user on the managed device or as configured by the administrator in the security settings of the Remote Management policy. The password set by the user takes precedence over the password configured by the administrator.
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Rights: This option is available only when you select the managed device on which you want to perform the remote operation. If an administrator has already assigned Remote Management rights to you to perform the desired remote operation on the selected managed device, you automatically gain access when the session initiates.
Port: Specify the port number on which the Remote Management Agent is listening. By default, the port number is 5950.
Session Mode: Does not apply to the Remote Diagnostics operation.
Session Encryption: Ensures that the remote session is secured by using SSL encryption (TLSv1 protocol).
Enable Caching: Enables caching of the remote management session data to enhance performance. This option is currently supported only on Windows.
Enable Dynamic Bandwidth Optimization: Enables detection of the available network bandwidth and accordingly adjusts the session settings to enhance performance.
Enable Logging: Logs session and debug information in the novell-zenworks-vncviewer.txt file. The file is saved by default on the desktop if you launch ZENworks Control Center through Internet Explorer and in the Mozilla installed directory if you launch ZENworks Control Center through Mozilla FireFox.
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Click to launch the session.
4.4.5 Performing a File Transfer Operation
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In ZENworks Control Center, click the tab.
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Navigate the Servers or Workstations folder until you locate the device you want to manage.
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Select the device by clicking the check box in front of the device.
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In the task list located in the left navigation pane, click to display the File Transfer dialog box.
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In the File Transfer dialog box, fill in the following fields:
Device: Specify the name or the IP address of the device you want to access.
Authentication: Select the mode you want to use to authenticate to the managed device. The two options are:
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Password: Provides password-based authentication to perform an operation. You must enter the correct password as set by the user on the managed device or as configured by the administrator in the security settings of the Remote Management policy. The password set by the user takes precedence over the password configured by the administrator.
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Rights: This option is available only when you select the managed device on which you want to perform the remote operation. If an administrator has already assigned Remote Management rights to you to perform the desired remote operation on the selected managed device, you automatically gain access when the session initiates.
Port: Specify the port number on which the Remote Management Agent is listening. By default, the port number is 5950.
Session Mode: Does not apply to the File Transfer operation.
Session Encryption: Ensures that the remote session is secured by using SSL encryption (TLSv1 protocol).
Enable Logging: Logs session and debug information in the novell-zenworks-vncviewer.txt file. The file is saved by default on the desktop if you launch ZENworks Control Center through Internet Explorer and in the Mozilla installed directory if you launch ZENworks Control Center through Mozilla FireFox.
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Click to launch the session
4.4.6 Where to Find More Information
For more information about remotely managing devices, see the ZENworks 10 Configuration Management Remote Management Reference.