6.0 Creating the Application Object to Collect the Personality

The Application object you create in the following steps collects the DNA personality from associated workstations and stores the DNA personality files on the network. You can use the DNA personality files to restore users’ personality settings after upgrading to a new OS or replacing hardware, or you can store the DNA personality files in a network location as part of your disaster-recovery process.

To create the Application object:

  1. In ConsoleOne®, right-click the container that you want to create the Application object in, click New, then click Object.

  2. Click Application, then click OK.

  3. In the New Application Object dialog box, select the Simple Application > (No .AOT/.AXT/.MSI File) option, then click Next.

  4. In the Object Name field, type a name for the Application object, for example CollectDNA, then click Next.

  5. In the Path to File field, browse to or type the path to the location on the network from which the application’s executable file ( desktopdna.exe) will be run. Include the executable file in the path.

    You need to enter a UNC path (with a server name or IP address).

  6. Click Next, then define the system requirements that a workstation must meet before the application runs:

    1. Click Add, then select the type of requirement you want to define.

    2. Fill in the information for the requirement, then click OK to add the requirement to the list.

  7. Click Next, then associate the Application object with the users or workstations on which you want the application to run:

    1. Click Add, then browse for and select User or Workstation objects.

      You can also select Group objects, Workstation Group objects, and container objects (Organizational Unit, Organization, or Country). If you select a container object, you are given the choice of associating all the container’s User and/or Workstation objects with the application.

    2. After you add the user or workstation to the list, select the Force Run check box.

      Selecting the Force Run check box runs Desktop DNA as soon as Novell® Application Launcher™ or Workstation Helper starts and the CollectDNA Application object is run and the personality is taken.

  8. Click Next, review the Application object settings, click the Display Details After Creation check box, then click Finish.

  9. Click the Run Options tab, then click Application.

  10. In the Parameters field, type the following: 

    %DDNA_ACTION% %DDNA_DATA%\%DDNA_USER%\%DDNA_WS% /T %DDNA_SOURCE%\Templates\%DDNA_TEMPLATE% /X %DDNA_SILENT%

    For example, using the sample directories explained above:

    /D \\server1\vol\ddna\data\%DDNA_User%\%DDNA_WS% /T \\server1\vol\ddna\templates\mydnatemplate.dtf /X %DDNA_SILENT%

    The following example runs a migration dump while the user interface is active:

    /M /D \\server1\vol\ddna\data\%DDNA_User%\%DDNA_WS% /T \\server1\vol\ddna\templates\mydnatemplate.dtf /X %DDNA_SILENT%

    The following table contains information about each switch not defined using an application macro:

    Switch

    Description

    Parameters

    /T

    Uses a template to specify migration settings.

    Template file to use for this migration. Use a UNC path to specify the location.

    /M

    Starts the migration in user interface mode.

    (Optional switch.) /M cannot be used with the /Q switch (silent mode). This switch should be used only in conjunction with the /D switch (to create a DNA file) or with the /A switch (to apply a specified DNA file).

    /X

    Exits Desktop DNA ZENworks Edition when migration is completed (unless an error occurs).

     

    The following table contains information about each macro you can define for the CollectDNA application parameter.

    Macro

    Value

    Description

    DDNA_ACTION

    /D

    Dumps or takes the personality of the workstation. Make sure that this value immediately precedes the argument defining the DNA file you want to create of the source system.

    DDNA_DATA

    UNC path to ddnadata share or directory

    Specifies the directory where the personality file will be copied to or retrieved from.

    DDNA_SILENT

    /Q or Empty

    /Q: Silently performs the action.

    Empty: Provides a progress dialog box as the action is performed.

    NOTE:This macro must be empty if the   /M switch is specified.

    DDNA_SOURCE

    UNC path to ddnarun share or directory

    Directory where the Desktop DNA executable is located.

    DDNA_TEMPLATE

    Template file

    Filename of the template file to use

    DDNA_USER

    %CN%

    Username of the current user

    DDNA_WS

    %DNA_MACHINE_NAME%

    Workstation machine name

  11. Click OK to save the Application object information.