Remotely Managing Devices

ZENworks Configuration Management provides Remote Management functionality that lets you remotely manage devices. Remote Management supports the following remote operations:

Remote Control: Lets you remotely 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.
Remote View: Lets you remotely 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
Remote Execute: Lets you run any executable on a managed device from the management console. You can remotely execute an application by specifying its executable name in the Remote Execute window (if the program is in the path of the managed workstation) or by entering the complete path of the application (if it is not in the path of the managed workstation). 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.
Remote Diagnostics: Lets you to remotely 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.
File Transfer: Lets you to transfer files between the management console and a managed device.

Performing Remote Control, Remote View, and Remote Execute Operations

To remotely manage a device.

In ZENworks Control Center, click the Devices tab.
Navigate the Servers or Workstations folder until you locate the device you want to manage.
Select the device by clicking the check box in front of the device.
In the task list located in the left navigation pane, click Remote Control Workstation or Remote Control Server to display the Remote Management dialog box.
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:
- 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.
- 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:
- Collaborate: Allows you to launch a Remote Control session and a Remote View session in collaboration mode. If you launch the Remote Control session on the managed device first, then you get all the privileges of a master Remote Operator, which includes:
  - Inviting other Remote Operators to join the remote session.
  - Delegating Remote Control rights to a Remote Operator.
  - Regaining control from the Remote Operator.
  - Terminating a Remote Session.
- Shared: Allows more than one Remote Operator to simultaneously control the managed device.
- 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 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 (ZCC) through Internet Explorer and in the Mozilla installed directory if you launch ZCC through Mozilla FireFox^*.

Install Remote Management Viewer Click on the Install Remote Management Viewer 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.
Click OK to launch the session

Performing a Remote Diagnostic Operation

In ZENworks Control Center, click the Devices tab.
Navigate the Servers or Workstations folder until you locate the device you want to manage.
Select the device by clicking the check box in front of the device.
In the task list located in the left navigation pane, click Remote Diagnostics to display the Remote Diagnostics dialog box.
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:
- 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.
- 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 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 (ZCC) through Internet Explorer and in the Mozilla installed directory if you launch ZCC through Mozilla FireFox^*.
Click OK to launch the session

Performing a File Transfer Operation

In ZENworks Control Center, click the Devices tab.
Navigate the Servers or Workstations folder until you locate the device you want to manage.
Select the device by clicking the check box in front of the device.
In the task list located in the left navigation pane, click Transfer Files to display the File Transfer dialog box.
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:
- 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.
- 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 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 (ZCC) through Internet Explorer and in the Mozilla installed directory if you launch ZCC through Mozilla FireFox^*.
Click OK to launch the session

Where to Find More Information

For more information about remotely managing devices, see the ZENworks 10 Configuration Management Remote Management Reference.