Introduction
This document will familiarize you with the properties and management of computers in System Frontier.
Managing Computers
When you click on a specific computer name from within a Container or from search results, it will take you to a page with these sections:
- Summary
- Hardware
- Storage
- Services
- Processes
- Scheduled Tasks
- IIS
- Tools
- Event Logs
- Users & Groups
- Notes
- History
Summary
In the Summary, you will see some basic information about the computer:
- Hostname
- Environment
- Manufacturer
- Description
- Model
- Operating System
- Status
- Serial Number
- IP Address
- Domain/Workgroup
- LOM (Lights Out Management or LAN On Motherboard)
- Custom Fields
There are two Edit buttons on this page that will allow you to provide additional information.
Edit (located under the IP Address section)
When a user adds the computer object initially, whether manually or through the Import API, the fields on this edit page are automatically populated. However, changing the data in these fields and clicking the Save button will allow modifications.
Edit (located under the Custom Fields section)
The Custom Field edit button will allow you to provide additional information not already in System Frontier that you may either want to configure manually or by using another 3rd party or in-house product. For example, keying on a unique ID in a CMDB would help facilitate synchronization of Custom Fields data in System Frontier.
Custom Fields can be assigned and used in the Computer class or unassigned and used within Custom Tools.
Hardware
The information under Hardware is compiled real-time. There is a Refresh button to use that will update data if desired. Details available:
- FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name)
- Manufacturer
- Model
- Processor(s)
- Speed
- Memory
- OS (Operating System)
Storage
The information under Storage is delivered in real-time. The Refresh button can update the data. Storage info contains:
- Name (Volume Name)
- Label
- File System
- Size
- Free Space
- % Free
Services
In the Services section you will see a list of services produced in real-time. This information is shown for each service:
- Display Name
- Name
- Status
- Startup Type
- Log On As
- Description
Because everything is role-based, a Start, Stop, and/or Delete button will be visible only if you have permissions to perform those actions on a service. You can select a service and either start, stop or delete it.
You can refresh and filter results here as well.
Starting or Stopping a Service
When you click the Start or Stop button, you will see a Manage Windows Service confirmation dialog asking you to verify your action.
After clicking OK, you’ll see the service highlighted along with the new status.
Processes
In the Processes section you will see a tree view of running processes in real-time. This tree view depicts a parent/child relationship between processes. Clicking the Refresh button will update this information for each process:
- Name
- Process ID
- CPU %
- Memory
- Owner
- Session ID
- Path
Terminating a Process
If you have adequate permission, the circled X next to a process will not be grayed out. This means you have the ability to terminate the process.
Clicking on the X brings up the Kill Process confirmation dialog. If you confirm, the process is terminated.
Scheduled Tasks
The Scheduled Tasks page shows a real-time view of scheduled tasks that can be managed if you have permission. Again, you may be limited in your actions or view based on your role. As such, visible options will be Create, Start or Stop, Enable or Disable, Delete, and Show Disabled Tasks. You can refresh the task view as well as perform a search to find a task. If you have the ability to edit a scheduled task, the task will be shown as a hyperlink.
The Scheduled Tasks tree structure in the left pane allows easy selection for specific task folders. Details for each task include:
- Name
- Status
- Enabled (enabled or disabled state)
- RunAs
- Next Run Time
- Last Run Time
- Last Task Result
Starting, Stopping, Enabling, Disabling, or Deleting a Scheduled Task
When you click on a button to Start, Stop, Enable, Disable, or Delete a selected task, you’ll be presented with a dialog box to confirm your action:
Creating or Editing a Scheduled Task
If you click on the Create button or the link for an existing task, a wizard will guide you through a series of steps necessary to create or edit the task.
IIS
If the IIS role feature has been installed on the computer, you’ll be able to manage application pools and websites on the computer. This Information is shown in real-time:
For Application Pools:
- Name
- Status
- Identity
- .NET CLR Version
- Managed Pipeline Mode
For Websites:
- Name
- ID
- Status
You can Start, Stop, or Recycle an application pool:
And, you can Start, Stop, or Restart websites:
Tools
The Tools page features built-in tools, like these:
- Reboot this computer
- Ping this computer
- Check uptime for this computer
- Remote Desktop
In addition, your Custom Tools are available. A tool can only be accessed if the user has permission via their role, with the exception of Ping this computer and Check uptime for this computer. Those two tools exist for all users since they are inert commands. The ability to filter your Custom Tools will come in handy especially as the number of tools increase.
Rebooting a Computer
Click the Reboot this computer icon and a dialog will appear, prompting you to enter the reason for the reboot. The reason is entered into the target computer’s event log as well as System Frontier’s History Log. Clicking OK will reboot the computer.
Pinging a Computer
You can check basic network connectivity by clicking on the Ping this computer icon. Results are displayed in the upper left corner.
Checking Uptime on a Computer
Display the uptime by clicking on the Check uptime for this computer icon. Results are displayed in the upper left corner.
Remoting to the Desktop on a Computer
With the Remote Desktop tool you can connect to the desktop via Hostname or by IP Address. The standard Remote Desktop utility is used (mstsc.exe) and the interface is displayed after clicking on Remote Desktop. Two linked options make it easy to directly RDP connect by hostname or IP address.
Using Custom Tools
Custom Tools are tools that help you resolve issues, perform actions, or gather information. They can be created using:
- PowerShell
- Batch (.bat, .cmd)
- VBScript
- Python
- SSH Shell
- other command line script utilities
When you run a Custom Tool in the Tools section, you are presented with a web interface that pre-populates the target computer name. Clicking Run executes the script using System Frontier’s job engine and runs remotely on the System Frontier management server.
Results are returned via the Job Detail page
Event Logs
The Event Logs section allows you to select and view real-time event logs on the target computer. Due to role-based access, users will only see those event logs for which they have permissions. Thus, you can configure permissions so that members of an application team can only view the application log, if you wish.
Opening the application logs, for example, shows this:
- Level
- Date
- Source
- Event ID
- Message
In this view, you are able to refresh, sort, filter events, and set the number of log entries that you want to view on each page.
Users & Groups
You are able to see the local groups and users on a target computer in the Users & Groups section.
If a group has an expand arrow next to it, you can click and view members of that group. If it doesn’t, then that group has no members.
Reset Password
Clicking on the icon under the Reset Password column will allow you to reset a local user password.
Unlock Account
If an account is locked out, an icon will be visible under the Locked out? column. Clicking the icon under that column will bestow upon you the excitement of unlocking a local account.
Enable Account
You will see an icon under the Disabled? column if a local account is currently disabled. Clicking the icon will bring up the dialog prompt that will let you enable that account.
Notes
For each computer in the inventory you can enter notes. These notes can help provide additional information about the computer and can be viewed publicly or privately (only you can view).
History
Every single action performed within System Frontier is logged. This helps you with auditing and tracking down who may have run an action on a target computer. You can refresh, filter events, sort, and select the number of items to show per page.
An event will show when it occurred, what action was taken, by whom, and from which computer, among other things. Additionally, the output from a custom tool is also available.
How to Add and Import Computers
Computers may be added manually or by using the Import API.
Be sure to read the User Guide for more information.