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Using Deep Freeze Cloud Console : Deep Freeze Service : Workstation Tasks Tab
Workstation Tasks Tab
Workstation Tasks allow you to schedule various tasks that run at the workstation.
Specifiy the Workstation Task Start Time/ End Time such that it does not conflict with the Start Time/End Time of the Maintenance Period. If there is a conflict between the Maintenance Period and Deep Freeze Workstation Task, you cannot save the policy without removing the conflict. Deep Freeze Cloud will display a warning message if there is a conflict.
The following Workstation Tasks are available:
•
Windows Update - schedule Windows updates. You can configure additional settings in the Windows Update tab.
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Restart - periodically restart workstations to bring them to the original configuration or erase unwanted data.
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Shutdown - shut down the workstations at a specified time every day to save power.
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Idle Time - shut down or restart the workstations if they are idle for a specified period of time.
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Batch File - run a batch file on the target workstation. You can configure additional settings in the Batch File tab.
•
Thawed Period - reboot Thawed for a specified period to perform manual software installs, automated software installs via third party tools or other permanent configuration changes.
 
For Windows Update, Thawed Period, and Batch File Tasks, all services will go into Maintenance Mode. Additional settings of the Maintenance Mode will not be applied.
 
Each task is covered in detail in the following sections.
 
Overlapping tasks cannot be created in the Workstation Tasks tab. If a newly created task overlaps with an existing task, a message is displayed.
A message can be displayed to the user for a maximum of 5 minutes. There must be a gap of a minimum of 5 minutes between any two tasks.
 
 
A Workstation Task is triggered only when Deep Freeze is in a Frozen state.
Windows Update
Windows Update tasks are scheduled for downloading Windows Updates on the workstation. Windows Updates can be downloaded even when the workstation is in a Frozen state. A Windows Update task has a Start Time and an End Time. After downloading Windows Updates, the workstation reboots in a Thawed state to apply.
 
The Windows Update task can be scheduled by completing the following steps:
 
1.
Select Windows Update from the Task Type drop-down and click Add.
2.
The following options are displayed:
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Name - Specify a name for the task.
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Day - Select the day, or specify if the task will occur on Weekdays or Weekends.
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Start - Select the Start Time.
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End - Select the End Time. The minimum interval is 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can select When Windows Update completes. If the Windows Update Task is not completed in 6 hours, Deep Freeze will end the task gracefully.
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Allow user to cancel task- Select the check box if the user is allowed to cancel the task before it starts.
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Shutdown after task - Select the check box to shutdown the computer after the task.
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Disable Keyboard and Mouse - Select the check box to disable keyboard and mouse during the task.
•
Show message - Select the check box to display a message on the computer Before and During the task. Specify the time interval in minutes and enter a brief message to be displayed before the task starts.
3.
Click OK. You will be taken to the Windows Update Tab to configure additional settings if it has not been configured earlier.
 
The message This computer will reboot in %d for Windows Update is displayed in the Message to be displayed before the task field. This message can be edited. Add the word minutes in the message after %d to include the word minutes as part of the message.
 
When scheduling the Windows Update task select the When Windows Update completes option or ensure that you allow a sufficient time frame to permit all required update activities. Review of Microsoft Security Bulletins from the Technet web site (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin) to consider the appropriate time frame based upon the Critical and Security updates being released.
 
If you are not using WSUS, Deep Freeze Windows Update process will only apply non user-intervention Critical and Security updates. If you are using WSUS, all WSUS approved updates will be applied.
Alternatively, to apply other available updates visit the Microsoft Update Catalog site (http://catalog.update.microsoft.com) to obtain KB downloads which can then be applied using a Deep Freeze Batch File Workstation Task. Batch File tasks can also be used to apply other third party software updates.
 
The Deep Freeze Windows Update tab settings override the Windows Update settings on the workstation.
 
 
Restart
The Restart task can be scheduled by completing the following steps:
 
1.
Select Restart from the Task Type drop-down and click Add.
2.
The following options are displayed:
•
Name - Specify a name for the task.
•
Day - Select the day, or specify if the task will occur on Weekdays or Weekends.
•
Start - Select the Start Time.
•
Allow user to cancel the task- Select the check box if the user is allowed to cancel the task before it starts.
•
Show message - Select the check box to display a message on the computer before the task starts. Specify the time interval in minutes and enter a brief message to be displayed before the task starts.
3.
Click OK.
 
The message This computer will reboot in %d seconds is displayed in the Message to be displayed before the task field. This message can be edited. Add the word minutes in the message after %d to include the word minutes as part of the message.
 
 
Shutdown
The Shutdown task can be scheduled by completing the following steps:
 
1.
Select Shutdown from the Task Type drop-down and click Add.
2.
The following options are displayed:
 
•
Name - Specify a name for the task.
•
Day - Select the day, or specify if the task will occur on Weekdays or Weekends.
•
Start- Select the Start Time.
•
Allow user to cancel the task - Select the check box if the user is allowed to cancel the task before it starts.
•
Show message - Select the check box to display a message on the computer before the task starts. Specify the time interval in minutes and enter a brief message to be displayed before the task occurs.
3.
Click OK.
 
The message This computer will shutdown in %d seconds is displayed in the Message to be displayed before the task field. This message can be edited. Add the word minutes in the message after %d to include the word minutes as part of the message.
 
 
Idle Time
The Idle Time task can be scheduled by completing the following steps:
 
1.
Select Idle Time from the Task Type drop-down and click Add.
2.
The following options are displayed:
•
Name - Specify a name for the task.
•
Restart or Shutdown - Select Restart or Shutdown and specify the idle time in minutes after which the task must take place.
•
Show message - Select the check box to display a message. Specify the time interval in minutes and enter a brief message.
 
After the computer is started, the Idle Time counter becomes active only after the first keyboard or mouse activity has been initiated. During a Remote Desktop session, the Idle Time of the controlling computer is used to activate the task.
 
3.
Click OK.
 
Batch File
Batch File tasks are scheduled for executing batch files on the workstation. A Batch File task has a Start Time and an End Time. During this period, the batch file is executed on the workstation. You must configure additional settings in the Batch File tab for the Batch File Task to work. You can configure to shutdown the workstation after the Batch File Task is completed. Workstations will reboot Frozen after the batch file has been executed.
The Batch File task can be scheduled by completing the following steps:
 
1.
Select Batch File from the Task Type drop-down and click Add.
2.
The following options are displayed:
 
•
Name - Specify a name for the task.
•
Day - Select the day, or specify if the task will occur on Weekdays or Weekends.
•
Start - Select the Start Time.
•
End - Select the End Time. The minimum interval is 15 minutes.
•
Allow user to cancel the task - Select the check box if the user is allowed to cancel the task before it starts.
•
Shutdown after task - Select the check box to shutdown the computer after the task.
•
Disable Keyboard and Mouse - Select the check box to disable keyboard and mouse during the task.
•
Show message - Select the check box to display a message on the computer Before and During the task. Specify the time interval in minutes and enter a brief message to be displayed before the task starts.
3.
Click OK.
4.
Go to Batch File Tab to configure additional settings.
 
 
The message This computer will reboot in %d for Batch File is displayed in the Message to be displayed before the task field. This message can be edited. Add the word minutes in the message after %d to include the word minutes as part of the message.
 
 
Thawed Period
Thawed Period tasks are scheduled to reboot the workstation is in a Thawed state. A Thawed Period is useful for some applications that update automatically at regular intervals. A Thawed Period is also useful for administrators to schedule maintenance and make permanent changes to the computers. This may include installing new software, updating software, configuration changes, and other maintenance functions. A Thawed Period has a Start Time and an End Time.
 
The Thawed Period can be scheduled by completing the following steps:
 
1.
Select Thawed Period from the Task Type drop-down and click Add.
2.
The following options are displayed:
•
Name - Specify a name for the task.
•
Day - Select the day, or specify if the task will occur on Weekdays or Weekends.
•
Start - Select the Start Time.
•
End - Select the End Time. The minimum interval is 15 minutes.
•
Allow user to cancel task - Select the check box if the user is allowed to cancel the task before it starts.
•
Shutdown after task - Select the check box to shutdown the computer after the task.
•
Disable Keyboard and Mouse - Select the check box to disable keyboard and mouse during the task.
•
Show message - Select the check box to display a message on the computer Before and During the task. Specify the time interval in minutes and enter a brief message to be displayed before the task starts.
3.
Click OK.
 
The message This computer will reboot in %d for Maintenance is displayed in the Message to be displayed before the task field. This message can be edited. Add the word minutes in the message after %d to include the word minutes as part of the message.
 
To ensure that the virus definitions are applied permanently, schedule the virus definition update for your Anti-Virus program so that it starts after Deep Freeze successfully starts the Thawed Period task and ends before Deep Freeze ends the Thawed Period task. This ensures that the virus definitions downloaded and updated by the Anti-Virus program stay permanently on the system. Hence the system is fully protected by Anti-Virus and Deep Freeze.
 
Faronics Anti-Virus: Faronics Anti-Virus works with Deep Freeze and does not require a Thawed Period task for updating virus definitions. Faronics Anti-Virus can update virus definitions even when the computers managed by Deep Freeze are in a Frozen state.
Other Anti-Virus Programs: All other Anti-Virus programs require scheduling a Thawed Period task to update virus definitions. Refer to your Anti-Virus program user guide for information on how the virus definitions are downloaded. Alternatively, virus definitions can be applied manually when the computers managed by Deep Freeze are in a Thawed state. You can also schedule a no user intervention install of your virus definitions through a Batch File Task.