New Features in Software Distribution for LDMS 9.5

This document applies to LDMS 9.5

New Feature List

• Scheduled Task Window Shows Computers as Objects
• Right-click Start Now Additional Options
• Scheduled Tasks and Policies Window Improvements
• Scheduled Task Machine Info Stored in Inventory
• Directory Manager Moved to Network View
• Custom Messages per Task Option
• Option to Turn On\off the Task Charts
• Package Location Pre-populated and Remembered After Save
• Package Run as Specified User
• Option to Restrict Ability to Modify Return Code Templates to Administrators
• Logged Off User Option
• Expanded Download Options for Download from Source
• Policy Sync Command Line Option
• Scheduled Task Repeat

Scheduled Tasks Window Shows Computers as Objects Summary

In previous version of LDMS the computers listed in the Scheduled Tasks did not have all the right-click functionality seen the Network View.

In LDMS 9.5 the typical right-click functions were added to the Scheduled Task computers.

Scheduled Tasks Columns are Now Configurable

Right-click on the toolbar or a machine and click Columns to adjust the available columns.  Or drag and drop a column set to the Scheduled Tasks pane.

Note in the above column set, I've set it to not show the Status and Detailed Messages.  Not very useful for the Scheduled Task window.  In order to revert the columns, right-click and select "Reset default columns".

Right-click Start Now Additional Options Summary

Previous to LDMS 9.5, when you right-clicked a tasks and clicked "Start now", the task would run with the same target option as it last ran: All, Devices that did not succeed, Devices that did not try to run the task, or Waiting or currently working.

Now in 9.5 when you right-click a task the Start Now button has a sub-menu that allows you to select a different option.

The default or last used option is denoted by a checkmark.

New KeyValue database key for disabling full control on the Start Now right click option

If enabled (i.e. set to 1), and the logged on user does not have the LANDesk administrator role, right click options are limited to what was previously used or "Devices that did not succeed" by default.

Key – ScheduleTaskManager

Value – EnableAdministratorMode(set to 1)

insert into KeyValue (ApplicationName,KeyName,KeyType,IntValue) values ('ScheduleTaskManager','EnableAdministratorMode',2,1)

Scheduled Tasks and Policies Window Improvements

From the Scheduled Tasks and Policies window (right-click a computer and select "Scheduled Tasks and Policies) you can now double-click on a task and it will take you to that task in the Scheduled Tasks window.

The Task ID is also displayed in the Windows.

Scheduled Task Machine Info Stored in Inventory

Scheduled Task info for a machine is now stored in it's inventory.

This allows queries to be run on Tasks and Statuses.

Directory Manager Moved to Network View

Directory Manager has been moved to the Network View. 

With directory manager in network view you can also have Scheduled Tasks window open; this makes dragging and dropping of LDAP objects onto the task much easier.

Custom Messages per Task Option

In earlier version of LDMS, in order to have a unique message for each task you had to create separate delivery methods.

In 9.5, you can specify a custom message in the Scheduled Task.

First you must specify that the Delivery Method allows custom messages.

Set Delivery Method to "Display progress to user"

Set "Allow the user to delay running the package"

Check "Use task based custom message"

Now you can specify the message in the Scheduled Task properties for tasks using this delivery method.

Option to Turn On\Off the Task Charts

Click the third icon from the left.

Then check or uncheck the option and desired, and click OK.

Package Location Pre-populated and Remembered After Save

When creating a new pacakge, the primary file location and additional file location defaults to http://coreserver/landesk/files

After saving the package, the location returns to the saved location.

Additionally, the default location can be changed.

Click on the Cog wheel show in the below screenshot and click "Package Settings"

Package Run as Specified User

Now in addition to Run as Current User or Run as Local System, you now have the option to specify a user to install the package as

Option to Restrict Ability to Modify Return Code Templates to Administrators

Currently there is no RBA rights restriction on who can modify the Return Code Templates.  In the futre this should be added, but until then you can restrict this ability to only LANDesk Administrators through the following database setting in the core server's database:

insert into KeyValue (ApplicationName,KeyName,KeyType,IntValue) values ('ScheduleTaskManager','EnableAdministratorMode',2,1)

If enabled (i.e. set to 1), and the logged on user is not an administrator, return code templates cannot be modified

If the value doesn’t exist (or set to 0) any user can modify return code templates

Key – ReturnCodeTemplateManager

Value – EnableAdministratorMode (set to 1)

Logged Off User Options

When a delivery method has deferal options, some LANDesk administrators want the task to fail if there is no user logged in to see the deferral.  And some LANDesk Administrators want the installation to succeed.

Now in 9.5 you can specify if you want the installation to continue if no user is currently logged on and deferral options are configured.

Expanded Download Options for Download from Source

In the delivery method, when using the Download Files option (formerly known as Download from Source) in the delivery method you can chose which sources the clients will check: Peer, Preferred Server, and\or Source.

If all sources are unchecked, peer will be re-selected as you must select at least one source.

Policy Sync Command Line Option

A new Policy.sync.exe command line option has been added.

/check - return 1 if there are currently policies running, 0 if no policies are running; useful for scripting policy.sync.exe

/check=wait – waits until all policies are finished running before returning

Scheduled Task Repeat

In previous versions, when setting a scheduled task to repeat the only option was to restart the task for all machines.

Now in 9.5 you can chose between "Devices that did not succeed, Waiting or currently waiting, All, Devices that did not try to run the task".