KACE Desktop Authority 11.2.1 - Administrator Guide

Data Collection

The Data Collection object is used to configure which Computer data is collected from the client computers connected to the environment to which Desktop Authority is installed. 

Data is collected by Desktop Authority's Operations service and the ETLProcessor plugin. These two plugins are available in the Server Manager > Operations Service tab for configuration.

Settings

Data to collect

Collect client hardware information

Select this box to allow Desktop Authority to keep track of hardware information for each computer in the enterprise.

Collect installed software information

Select this box to allow Desktop Authority to keep track of the installed software on each computer in the enterprise.

Collect USB/Port Security information

Select this box to allow Desktop Authority to keep track of the devices plugged in to each computer in the enterprise. Detailed USB/Port Security data collection options can be set in the User Management USB/Port Security object.

Collect startup/shutdown information

Select this box to disable the collection of startup and shutdown events. Deselect this box to collect data about these events.

Collect machine heartbeat packets every xx hours

Select this box to specify how often the client computer will notify Desktop Authority that the computer is it still powered up. The default collection time period is every 6 hours. This allows for more accurate reporting.

Timing 

Select the Timing tab to configure when this element will be executed. Computer Management objects can execute at computer Startup, Shutdown, defined Refresh intervals or based on customized Schedules.

Validation Logic

Select the Validation Logic tab to set the validation rules for this element.

Notes

Select the Notes tab to create any additional notes needed to document the profile element.

Description

When adding or modifying a profile object element, the description appears above the settings tab. Enter a description to annotate the element. The default value for new profile elements can be changed by going to the system Preferences.

Wake On LAN

Wake On LAN (WOL) is a computing standard by which computers that are asleep can be sent a message through the network to wake them up. Wake on LAN is supported on all Microsoft Windows operating systems. Machines can be awoken when in Sleep, Hibernate or Stand by modes.

The only requirement for WOL is a computer with a NIC and Bios that supports WOL. There are usually 2 settings in the BIOS to support this. In the BIOS enable the PXE setting, and/or depending on the computer hardware in the BIOS - Power Management, enable Wake On LAN.

As well as turning on WOL in the BIOS, the OS must also be configured to support WOL. On client machines, go to the LAN Connection properties and click the Configure button. On the Power Management tab, enable the "Allow this device to wake the computer" (Windows 7).

Desktop Authority's implementation of WOL consists of beacon machines that are used to send out packets to wake specified computers. A beacon is defined as any computer managed by Desktop Authority that validates for a Wake on LAN element. Once a machine validates for a WOL element, it becomes a beacon and begins sending out packets to each computer specified in the WOL settings. Since a computer can only send out packets when it is powered on and awake, ensure that computers designated as beacons will be on at the time the WOL element is scheduled to execute.

Figure 39: Wake on LAN graphical overview

Once a beacon is determined by passing validation logic for a WOL element, the machine will send out special WOL "magic" packets to all machines specified in the WOL element's settings.

Settings

Wake Target configuration

New target to wake

Add a custom entry to the WOL List by Machine name, IP address, MAC address or by Excluded MAC address.

Add existing

Select a computer from a list of machines discovered by Data Collection. Computer can be selected by Machine names, IP addresses, MAC addresses or by Excluded MAC addresses. All available items in the system inventory will be listed and will be available for selection

Remove

Select one or more elements from the WOL list and click the Remove button.

Import

Click Import to import a list of Machine names, IP addresses, MAC addresses, or Excluded MAC addresses.

When importing, the import file must be a .CSV file containing one column of one or more Machine Names, IP Addresses, MAC Addresses, or Excluded MAC Addresses exclusively.

Example:

The above example list provides the following result when imported:

Show resultant set of MAC addresses

Retrieve a complete list of all MAC addresses that this beacon will send the "magic" packet to. MAC addresses are retrieved from the Hardware inventory database. If a MAC address cannot be retrieved for a computer, it will not be woken up when the WOL element is executed.

Timing

Select the Timing tab to configure when this element will be executed. Computer Management objects can execute at computer Startup, Shutdown, defined Refresh intervals or based on customized Schedules.

Validation Logic

Select the Validation Logic tab to set the validation rules for this element.

Notes

Select the Notes tab to create any additional notes needed to document the profile element.

Description

When adding or modifying a profile object element, the description appears above the settings tab. Enter a description to annotate the element. The default value for new profile elements can be changed by going to the system Preferences.

User Experience - Client Side

Computer Management Application Launcher, MSI Packages and Service Pack Deployment have Execution Option settings which can optionally alert the user on the client, if any, that an element is about to execute.

If the Ask user's permission to execute element option is selected, a message box similar to the one below, will be displayed on the desktop. The user will be notified before the element is executed and will be given an option to postpone the action.

Figure 40: Client side permission box

If the Show Balloon message to users before element executes option is selected, a balloon will be displayed in the system notification area.

Figure 41: Client side balloon notification

User Management

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Legend

Desktop Authority Administrator Guide
Updated - January 2022
Software Version - 11.2.1