Visual

The Visual tab is used to set the default graphical startup mode of Desktop Authority as it executes on the client during the logon and logoff process. One of three display types can be selected.

During the logon sequence

Splash screen style

Select an option from the drop list to define how the Desktop Authority splash screen will be displayed on the client computer at logon.

Default graphic

Select this option to enable the default splash screen. This is a window that displays the logo along with a progress bar indicating the progress of the logon.

Displaying the default graphic during the logon process is the default option.

Custom graphic

Select this option to enable a custom graphic splash screen as the client logon request is processed.

This option requires clients to have Internet Explorer 4.0 or above. However, if Internet Explorer 4.0 has the Desktop Component Update (i.e. Active Desktop), only a progress bar will be displayed (no custom logo). 

Logo filename

Enter the location of the custom graphic to be displayed on the client at logon. Click Browse to locate the image file. The following graphic formats are supported: bmp, rle, gif, png and jpg. Once an image is selected, it will be copied to the SLSCRIPTS$ share. Click View to preview the image that will be displayed.

Specifying $weekday.ext in the entry (where ext is the graphic file extension), will display the image associated to the current day of week. For example, if $weekeday.bmp is entered in the Logo filename entry, on Monday, Monday.bmp will be displayed. On Tuesday, Tuesday.bmp will be displayed, and so on for the rest of the days of the week. If no associated weekday image is found, the default Desktop Authority image will be used. $Weekday is the only variable that may be used in this field.

Progress dialog location

Select the location of the progress bar dialog box from the list. Valid choices are Lower Right, Lower Left, Upper Right, Upper Left and Center.

The following three options are available when either choosing to display the default or a custom graphic:

Allow any client to override this setting and always display the text screen

Select this check box to override the selected option and allow a client to use the text logon screen for troubleshooting purposes.

On each specific client that will use a text logon screen, create a file called SLNOGUI. (no file extension). The presence of this file notifies Desktop Authority to display a text logon screen during the logon process.

Display only the progress dialog when logging on from a Terminal Server session

Select this check box to display a small progress dialog for Desktop Authority execution on Terminal Server sessions. This minimizes the amount of data to be sent from the Terminal Server to the client.

Display only the progress dialog when logging on over a dial-up connection

Select this check box to display a small progress dialog for Desktop Authority execution on clients that connect to the network via a dial-up connection. This minimizes the amount of data to be passed over the line and will speed up the logon process.

Informational text screen

Select this option to enable a text splash screen as the client logon request is processed.

This display is a great tool for troubleshooting. It provides information regarding the user, the computer and functions that are being processed as the logon script runs.

End of script completion message

Enter static text to be used as a message in the text splash screen when the logon process is complete. Dynamic variables may be used in conjunction with any text entered. Desktop Authority’s dynamic variable selection is available for this field by pressing the F2 key.

None

Select this option to disable all splash screens that would normally be displayed during the client logon process.

During the logoff sequence

Display progress graphic

Select this box to display a progress bar on the client during the logoff process. Clear this box to display no information on the client during the logoff process.

Desktop Agent

The Desktop Agent is an application that launches specified programs when the client logs off or shuts down the computer. There are several default options for the Desktop Agent.

Desktop options

Do not show Desktop Agent in system tray

Select this check box to hide the Desktop Agent icon in the system tray. Although the icon is hidden, the agent will still be active.

Always restart computer, even if shut down is selected (desktops only, excludes 64 bit platforms)

Select this check box to force the computer to Restart even if a Shutdown was selected. This option comes in handy when installing service packs or other applications that may need to complete after the system restarts.

Using this option sets the Agent to automatically launch regardless of any logoff/shut down events.

If logoff/shut down application does not complete

Wait before executing the next synchronous application

Specify the maximum number of seconds the computer will wait before running each successive synchronous logoff/shut down application. The timer default is 900 seconds (15 minutes); zero (0) will disable this timer. Disabling this timer will cause Desktop Authority to wait for the natural completion of each individual application. Each application must complete on its own before the next synchronous application will begin.

Wait after executing the last application before ending the Windows session

Specify the maximum number of seconds the computer will wait for all logoff/shut down applications to complete before performing the logoff or shut down of the computer. For asynchronous applications this timer starts after the last application is launched. 

When synchronous applications are invoked, this timer begins after the completion of the final synchronous application. The timer default is 1,800 seconds (30 minutes); zero (0) will disable this timer. Disabling this timer will cause the Desktop Agent to wait for the natural completion of all applications (synchronous/asynchronous).

Troubleshooting

User Troubleshooting

The Troubleshooting tab is used to define several settings that are used to aid with tracing problems with objects/elements that are being applied on one or more client machines. These Troubleshooting settings will be in effect for both Logon and Logoff timing events.

The most common setting on this object is the ability to create a detailed trace file for one or more specified users and/or computers.

Do not hide windows during logon sequence

Select this check box to show all initialization windows during Desktop Authority startup. This option is useful when troubleshooting logon problems.

Force KiXtart to refresh its group token-cache during each logon attempt

Enumerated groups are cached to the local machine. To flush the local cache and rebuild it on the local machine select this check box. The cache will refresh during each logon attempt.

Create a detailed trace file on these specific computers and/or users:

Select this check box to enable a User trace file to be created for specific computers and/or users.

The sltrace.htm file is a color coded event log of actions taken during the logon process. Red text within the file indicates that some action may not have completed properly or may be taking longer than expected.

Specify a list of computer names and/or user names that a comprehensive trace file will be created for. This trace file describes the actions taken during the logon process. It is created in the client's %temp%\Desktop Authority folder and is called sltrace.htm.

Names must be delimited by a semicolon (;). The computer/user name supports the question mark (?) and asterisk (*) wildcards.

Example:

mjones;jsmith;PC221;PC3??;PC4*

Upload a copy of each client's trace file to this network path

Specify a network path to which all User trace files will be copied to, after each logon. The trace files are uploaded to the central repository using the DA Administrative User account. This account must have appropriate permissions to the central repository location so the files can be copied. The User based log files are uploaded right after the event (Logon, Refresh, Logoff, or Shutdown) is complete.

Click View files to view the trace file repository as specified by the entry.

Enable debug mode for these specific computers and/or users:

Select this check box to allow Desktop Authority User Management to run in debug mode for the specified computers and/or users.

Specify multiple names by delimiting each by a semicolon (;). The computer/user name supports the question mark (?) and asterisk (*) wildcards.

To activate the debug session on the client, press any key upon Desktop Authority initialization. Debug mode runs the logon script, pausing after each entry is executed on the client machine. Press [Enter] to continue processing the next script entry. Press the letter [D] on the keyboard to continue processing the script to the end, without pausing. Press the letter [Q] on the keyboard to abort the script.

When the script if finished processing, you are prompted to apply the contents of the configuration profiles to the debug log. This will append the debug information generated from the client logon process to the sltrace.htm file. You are then prompted to view the sltrace.htm file. This text file may be viewed at any time to further debug problems that may occur during logon for a client

Deployment Settings

The Deployment Settings object provides the ability to configure settings for objects that will deploy options to the client.

Server Manager 

The Server Manager object provides an interface to manage the DA Administrative service, the Update Service and the replication process.

Client Deployment

The Client Deployment object provides access to the Assign Script object and the GPO Deployment object, both of which arm the domain user and computer with configurations that allow Desktop Authority to execute for the User and on the Computer.

Software Distribution

The Software Distribution object is used to import software packages into Desktop Authority for deployment.

System Configuration

The System Configuration object is used to retrieve resources from the network before they are actually needed so processing is faster.

Off-Network Support

The Off-Network Support object is used to configure devices to use Desktop Authority configurations when it is off-network.

RM Gateway Configuration

The RM Gateway Configuration object is used to configure Off-Network Remote Management.