SysMan Remote Control User Guide

SysMan Utilities General User Guide

SysMan Utilities Professional Edition Installation Guide

SysMan Utilities Professional Edition Quick Start Guide

Release Notes

Important Standing Notices

Dependency on SEM Version Number

• This release of "Sysgem SysMan Utilities" needs "Sysgem Enterprise Manager" (SEM) with a minimum build number of 6622.

Importing a New Release of the SysMan Module - the Need for Tokens

• A question is asked, when importing the "Sysgem SysMan Utilities" module, whether you should overwrite the Access Control Tokens. Generally it is NOT necessary to import and over-write the tokens with every upgrade of Sysgem SysMan Utilities. However, if upgrading from a version released prior to 07-Oct-2013  then you SHOULD import the new token.

   

SysMan Release 3.1.2

Release Date: 23-Oct-2017

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6622

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• The One-Click Viewer wizard could display a spurious error regarding the Access Gateway account name in some situations - this has now been fixed

SysMan Release 3.1.1

Release Date: 25-Jan-2017

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6622

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• The Register New Access Gateway, One-Click Connector and One-Click Viewer wizards now support verifying an Access Gateway address value that consists of a comma- or semicolon-separated list of addresses
• Connecting to a Terminal Services session with SysMan Remote Control now supports interacting with privileged or elevated windows in the remote session

SysMan Release 3.1.0

Release Date: 21-Mar-2016

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6622

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• The Access Gateway One-Click Connector wizard now includes verious session password options: Preset password only, Random password only, Random or custom password, Random custom or saved password

SysMan Release 3.0.7

Release Date: 04-Mar-2016

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6363

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Introduction of the Access Gateway One-Click Viewer wizard.

SysMan Release 3.0.6

Release Date: 21-Jan-2016

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6363

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• The Access Gateway One-Click Connector wizard now supports multiple addresses in the Access Gateway address field, separated by semicolon. Verification passes if one of the addresses allows a connection.
   
• The Access Gateway data displays now shows hints on the reason for no data being returned to the display. E.g. the Access Gateway service might not be running, or not even be installed.
   
• The Access Gateway Maintenance display holds new columns 'Last Reported Version', 'Version Checked on Date' and 'Version Related Comments', showing the version of the Access Gateway server on Access Gateway registration which are enabled for management.
   
• Default reverse sorting on date fields added in the Access Gateway Session Log window and Usage History window.

Bug fixes:

• One-click Access Gateway remote connector wizard did pop up a message but allowed to continue after typing an invalid Remote Control server password. Fixed
   
• SysMan Explorer would not return focus to a manually named item (such as a manual connection or access gateway registration) on a redraw, if the item name contained brackets. Fixed
   
• The Quick Filter in the Access Gateway Session log window did not show the various instances of the Server Host field in its selection window. Fixed

SysMan Release 3.0.5

Release Date: 5-Nov-2015

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6363

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Blank the server account password input field by default in the One-Click Connector wizard and Access Gateway Registration wizard. The functional behaviour is the same as before (the password has to be retyped), but showing it as a blank field makes this more obvious.

Bug fixes:

• If the One-Click Connector wizard was started from Quick Help, then it first asks for Access Gateway selection. Then continuing through the credentials page, filling credentials and then go back to the Access Gateway selection page, select a new Access Gateway and go back forth to the credentials page still shows the applied credentials for the previously selected Access Gateway. This can be confusing. Fixed: By default, credentials fields are reset on the Access Gateway selection page.

SysMan Release 3.0.4

Release Date: 30-Oct-2015

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6363

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Support for Access Gateway Express Demo.

Bug fixes:

• Reset the Anonymous check box text back to default, every time that the credentials page opens.

SysMan Release 3.0.3

Release Date: 28-Sep-2015

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6363

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Improve performance of SysMan Explorer on machines who have been configured a public network.
   
• Promoting a node to a favourite no longer awaits confirmation, but automatically returns focus to SysMan Explorer.
   
• Text updates in Access Gateways and Access Gateway Accounts input forms.
   
• Updated format of 'Duration' field in Access Gateway Usage History display to 'd hh:mm:ss'.
   
• New menu option 'Show Totals of Selected' in Access Gateway Usage History display.
   
• Added 'Jump Page' to Quick Help - Getting Started display which helps to quickly jump to the Quick Help page which is most relevant for the desired SysMan Usage.
   
• The Access Gateway Registration wizard can now also be started straight from the Quick Help - Getting Started display.
   
• The Access Gateway - Connect with Code window can now also be started straight from the Quick Help - Getting Started display.
   
• The Access Gateway - One-Click Connector wizard can now also be started straight from the Quick Help - Getting Started display.
   
• The Access Gateway Registration wizard now supports registration via an Access Gateway registration file.
   
• The Access Gateway Registration File wizard now supports both server and viewer connections.
   
• The One-Click Connector wizard is now also available from the SysMan Explorer details pane.
   
• Revised tactics on 'Do not verify..' checkboxes in the Access Gateway One-Click Connector and Registration File wizards. 'Do not verify..' has been reversed to 'Verify..' and is ticked by default. The 'Verify..' checkbox has now also been put on the credentials pages in these wizards. In most operations, these checkboxes can be left untouched (ticked). However, if the gateway address or credentials can not be verified from the client side, then un-ticking these checkboxes allows the wizard to continue without being halted due to connection-test attempts and failures.

Bug fixes:

• 'Server/viewer' typo on the 'Server Credentials' page in the Access Gateway One Click Connector and Registration File wizards . Fixed.
   
• in the Access Gateway Registration Details input form, the Windows username/passwd fields kept being available if management for the gateway was disabled and credentials types had been set to 'Current Windows logon'. Fixed.

SysMan Release 3.0.2

Release Date: 1-Jul-2015

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6363

Remote Control:

New features and improvements:

• Remote Control attempts are now logged in the Audit log.
   
• In low-bandwidth connections, the local cursor is automatically enabled.

Bug fixes:

• Conflicting routines could lead in 'assigned nodes' lists being unintentionally emptied. Fixed.

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• The 'Connection Setup of Selected' input forms in the 'SysMan Explorer', 'Connection Status' and 'Connection Preferences' displays have been added a new 'Test Access' button on the 'Tools and Utilities' page which tests WMI access to the selected host (only available when a single host has been selected).
   
• The Access Gateway One Click Connector now supports a custom Windows title and custom banner. Added the regarding pages to the 'One Click Connector Creator' wizard.
   
• The single-node version of the Remote Command tool now supports drive and working directory changes. I.e. it captures the working-directory of the executed commands. If a command run by the user changes the working directory, then the Remote Command window intercepts that change and will run the next command in that directory.
   
• Text updates in Access Gatteway user messages and menu input forms.

Bug fixes:

• In the 'Register New Gateway', if the Access Gateway address in the wizard 'Viewer Connections' page would include custom port numbers in its field then this text as a whole would be automatically transferred to the 'Management Connections' page, which could result in an WMI error while the wizard is guiding through the pages. Fixed by removing the port number before transferring the Access Gateway address.
   
• The Access Gateway One-Click Connector Creator wizard would leave some input fields blank (not writing any defaults) in case the selected gateway was allowed for management but not reachable. Fixed.
   
• The Access Gateway display would allow some menu options to be available if no Access Gateway registrations were set up. Fixed.
   
• Script operations would stop if a WMI call would fail while invoking an object method, leaving no report in the audit log. Fixed. This applies to RC Server Mgmt - Stop/Start server, Processes - Set Priority, RC Server Settings - Set Server Options/Set Session Password, TS Client Sessions - Start/Stop RC Server/Connect To Session.

SysMan Release 3.0.1

Release Date: 26-Mar-2015

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6266

Remote Control:

• Added integration with the Sysgem Access Gateway and Remote Connector.
   
• Performance and bandwidth usage improvements.
   
• New server option: Hide Remote Wallpaper while connected.
   
• Change initial (unloaded) screen from grey to white with explanatory note telling the user what's happening overlaid.
   
• Correct handling of multiple monitors where some extend above or left of the primary monitor.
   
• Show a 'session disconnected' message when the Windows / Terminal Services session is disconnected.
   
• Add viewer support for a crosshair as the local cursor.
   
• Change the Current Connections list window to manipulate clients by name instead of address.
   
• Improve display of remote user identification in server UI.
   
• Automatically close file transfer and chat windows when disconnecting from an RC session.

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Added integration with the Sysgem Access Gateway.
   
• Updated layout for Explorer Preferences input form and added option to show/hide the 'Access Gateways' tree.
   
• Token change: 'Allow saving of specific username/password credentials' applied only to manual connections. E.g. the connection preferences windows never looked at this token. To avoid confusion with connection preferences and other registrations, renamed this token to 'Enable specific credentials for manual connections'.
   
• Added tree menu 'Info' on empty AD tree in SysMan Explorer, which advises the SysMan user to use the 'Search for Computer' window.
   
• SysMan About: If installed version is up-to-date than show that information in the about window.
   
• The 'Search for Computer' now automatically assumes selection if the 'Find' button only finds one entry.
   
• Added support for Remove Wallpaper option in RC Server settings and templates.
   
• Added 'Access Gateway' page to 'Quick Help - Getting Started' display

Discontinued:

• Disabled auto-start of the search-for-computer window. Because if SysMan is used for Access Gateway purposes, then it is not appropriate.

Bug fixes:

• Starting a remote control session from the TS Client Sessions display would NOT include the session port if there were no credentials set for the remote machine. Fixed.
   
• Script operations would stop if a WMI call would fail while invoking an object method, leaving no report in the audit log. Fixed. This applies to RC Server Mgmt - Stop/Start server, Processes - Set Priority, RC Server Settings - Set Server Options/Set Session Password, TS Client Sessions - Start/Stop RC Server/Connect To Session.
   
• Various displays such as the 'Volumes' display would not dislpay anything at all if the requested namespace or classes where not found on the target computer. Fixed by showing a no-data message in these cases.
   
• Various displays such as the 'TS Client Sessions' display would not display anything at all if there was no data returned for the requested WMI class. Fixed.
   
• AD Users, AD Computers, AD Groups, Local Users and Local Groups did have a 'read-only' token for the properties-menu. However, this token was not included in the menu startup tokens. So to enable read-only, an administrator would need to set both tokens (properties, and properties-read-only) which could be confusing. Added the read-only token to menu start-up.
   
• AD OU display - properties menu was bound to 'AD computers properties' token. There was no token for 'AD OU properties'. Added token for properties and bound to properties menu.

SysMan Release 2.1.2

Release Date: 21-Jul-2014

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6011

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• The 'Block Selected Nodes in Browser' and 'Allow Selected Nodes in Browser' menus in the 'Computer Filters and Labels' window can now be restricted by a token in SysMan professional, allowing SysMan administrators to enforce a preset list of allowed machines for any SysMan client users.
   
• The 'Block Selected OUs in Browser' and 'Allow Selected OUs in Browser' menus in the 'Active Directory Org Unit Filter' window can now be restricted by a token in SysMan professional, allowing SysMan administrators to enforce a preset list of allowed Organizational Units for any SysMan client users.
   
• New token 'Do NOT autostart SysMan Explorer at SysMan start up'. This token is unset by default. If set, then SysMan Explorer will not be initiated by Background PING. This can be handy if a SysMan shortcut is configured to start up in a session (using the '-session="session-name"' command line parameter.
   
• In the 'Search for Computer' window, revealed the 'Apply' options (browsing to the found computer in SysMan Explorer) for the FREE Edition. Please note that in regard to the FREE Edition, these options will not select the machine itself, but the tree in where the machine resides.
   
• The 'Edit List of Managed Computers' input form now ensures all Active Directory computers in the selected list of managed computers to be made visible in the Active Directory tree when the changes have been applied (i.e. add the corresponding Active Direcory containers to the personal list of expanded).

Discontinued:

• The 'Show reachable servers only' filter option has been removed from the 'SysMan Explorer View/Filtering' window. Ever since the personal workset was introduced in version 2.1.0 this filter option was no longer of use.

Bug fixes:

• The 'Block Selected Nodes in Browser' and 'Allow Selected Nodes in Browser' menus in the 'Computer Filters and Labels' window didn't have any effect. Fixed.
   
• SysMan FREE edition would suffer from a bug in TS Client Sessions, where the RC client verifies machine availability against the license and managed nodes. This would result in the FREE edition not being able to use this functionality. Fixed.
   
• Various displays such as TS Client Sessions would fail when started from a SysMan session. The Log would display an alert on an unknown variable $INPUT_SW. Fixed.
   
• Passing authentication parameters to the RC client logon window would fail on some special characters, resulting in the RC client logon report a 'Authentication rejected' message. Therafter the 'Connect To' window would appear with the correct credentials applied. Not making any changes and just pressing 'Connect' would establish the connection successfully. Fixed.
   
• Machine credentials from the RC client didn't appear to get saved from the perspective of a Terminal Server Client RC Session. Fixed.

SysMan Release 2.1.1

Release Date: 14-Jul-2014

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 6011

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Quick Help: reordered page numbers, in correspondence with chronological actions of first time users.
   
• New feature in the SysMan Explorer; Start-up check on empty managed computers list. If the managed computers list is empty, a pop-up is being displayed 'Do you want to start searching for a computer now ?'. On confirmation, the 'Search for Computer' window is opened.
   
• Appearance update on the 'Search for Computer' window to enhance intuitivity.
   
• In the 'Search for Computer' window, revealed the 'Apply' options (browsing to the found computer in SysMan Explorer) for the FREE Edition. Please note that in regard to the FREE Edition, these options will not select the machine itself, but the tree in where the machine resides.
   
• The 'Edit List of Managed Computers' input form now ensures all Active Directory computers in the selected list of managed computers to be made visible in the Active Directory tree when the changes have been applied (i.e. add the corresponding Active Direcory containers to the personal list of expanded).

Bug fixes:

• In SysMan Explorer, the 'Search for Computer' input form, the 'Select the located computer in the Active Directory tree' could not actually select the found computer if the regarding domain was not expanded. Fixed.
   
• If the last-seen filter is set in SysMan Explorer View Preferences, then newly defined manual connections are not being shown in the tree. Fixed.
   
• In SysMan Explorer, the 'Stop Managin this Computer' now returns focus to the parent folder, instead of going back to the Active Directory root.

SysMan Release 2.1.0

Release Date: 21-May-2014

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5957

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Introduced automatic check for upgrades. Updates are weekly checked for, at SysMan start-up and includes automatic notification. Available upgrades will also be shown in the 'SysMan About' window, from where; upgrades can be downloaded, or alternatively, the automatic upgrade check can be disabled.
   
• New feature in the SysMan Explorer; the 'What is this?' option menu. Right-click a selectable item and press 'What is this?' to read a description of what this item represenets and what can be done with it.
   
• Performance improvement in SysMan Explorer.
  SysMan Explorer has been revisited and enhanced. It should now be able to operate more effectively, start up faster, return focus faster, allow operations faster and refresh faster either in small or large networks (10.000+ machine entries).
   
• Introduction of the users' personal workspace in SysMan Explorer.
  When the personal workspace is started, it initially only shows the SysMan Explorer root trees (Active Directory, Windows Network, Manual Connections, Favorites Connections and Filter Labels). It automatically starts unhiding containers and machines as the user browses through, thereby efficiently building a personal tree- and details-view. While the personal workspace is as such set up automatically, the SysMan user keeps in charge of what is being shown and hidden, using effective option menu commands to manage its contents.
   
• Make-over of the 'Search for Computer' option menu.
  The 'Search for Computer' window now allows all machines to be found, whether they are hidden in SysMan Explorer or not. If a machine can be found as an entry in any of the root-trees, SysMan will find it and report on all places where it resides, and from the search results the 'Search for Computer' window can be instructed to instantly select it as an item in the SysMan Explorer tree (and extend the users' personal workspace accordingly). It will also inform about any possible reason (if there is one) why the computer cannot be shown (e.g. it might be individually blocked or reside in a blocked AD-container).
   
• Changed behaviour on exceeding the threshold of the maximum amount of machines to be managed from SysMan Explorer.
  For non-FREE editions, the threshold regarding the maximum amount of computers which can be assigned for management has been changed from an enforced maximum to a recommendation. If the recommended threshold as such is exceeded, then the SysMan Explorer will show a message about it, but allow operations to continue.
   
• Changed behaviour on exceeding the threshold of the maximum amount of machines to be printed in SysMan Explorer.
  Upon breaching the threshold, SysMan shows an informational message and doesn't show any machines at all in the details pane in any threshold breaching folder. Thereby only leaving an informational 'Threshold Exceeded' entry in the details pane and a click-option 'Threshold Info' which brings up the 'Threshold Information' display. This displays shows detailed threshold information and also holds some means to immediately take action to overcome (or override) the threshold breach. It can hide unmanaged computers in SysMan Explorer, start the 'Preference Settings' display in where restrictive filtering can be applied, or alternatively allows the SysMan user to override the threshold in the current session (which will in most cases have an effect on performance, but will allow operations to continue).
   
• Revised the way that the background process is verifying computer connections. It now only verifies connections of managed computer entries. The verify procedure now includes a WMI connection check which improves the accuracy of test results.
   
• The 'Computers' category in the SysMan Explorer details pane now shows the number of computers found (and not filtered out) in the selected container.
   
• Performance improvement in performing actions on multiple items at once in the Filters and Labels display.
   
• The 'Preference Settings' window has been divided in two sections 'Filtering' (menu options; 'Filter on AD Organizational Units', 'Computer Filters and Labels', 'SysMan Explorer View/Filtering') and 'Other' ('Connection Preferences', 'General Tool Management').
   
• Added the ability to hide certain custom utilities in SysMan Explorer.
   
• Reorganized bookmarks and added bookmarks for 'Computer Filters and Labels', 'Connection Preferences', 'Tool Manager', 'Connection Status' and 'Quick Help - Getting Started'.
   
• The SysMan Explorer options menu has been reorganised. Please read the embedded help text for details.

Discontinued:

• Discontinued managing Tool-favorites from the SysMan Explorer details pane. The functionality has been transferred to Tool Manager. Because of this, the 'Favorites' options menu in SysMan Explorer has been renamed to 'Favorite Connections'.
  
 
• SysMan Explorer is no longer distinguishing between computers it has been able and not been able to contact through ICMP (the background ping process).
  
 
• The threshold information is removed from the 'Preference Settings' window. It has been replaced by the 'Threshold Information' window.

Bug fixes:

• The machine count in SysMan Explorer for Active Directory was doubled. Fixed.
   
• The list of labels was drawn in shifting backgrounds in the details pane. Fixed.
   
• In the Tool Manager, double clicking a hidden tool didn't unhide it. And double clicking an active tool didn't hide it. Fixed.
   
• Fix on returning focus to last selection at a SysMan Explorer refresh

SysMan Release 2.0.4

Release Date: 14-March-2014

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5889

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• New Edition: This SysMan version comes with a FREE Edition.
  The Free Edition holds only a few limitations compared to the paid-for SysMan Editions, and can be used commercially and non-commercially. The Free Edition is intended to be suitable for single administrative consoles in small environments. For example; It is limited to a maximum of 5 nodes to be managed remotely, does not include Sysgem Support, nor supports Active Directory object management tools (it does support browsing the Active Directory though). For a list of limitations on the Free Edition, please consult the Feature Comparison Table on http://www.sysgem.eu
   
• New Feature: Tool Manager
  Within the Tool Manager, the user can control personal preferences in regard to visibility of what tools and utilities to show or hide in the SysMan Explorer Window. These preferences can be applied both on a general (i.e. to 'Block' a tool or utility from being shown) and a computer specific basis (i.e. to Show/Hide a tool or utility in a selection of machines).
   
• Added Rename command in AD Users and AD Groups displays
   
• Added a 'Google Search' button in the Test Connection menus, which starts google search on the last error message retrieved from the Operating System, in a new browser window or tab.
   
• In the Test Connection menu's, also reordered messaging in results window and added a suggestion line at the bottom of the text to consult the error messages and advisory texts in the lines above.
   
• New threshold definition as the maximum amount of machines for which the tools and utilities are available in SyMan Explorer. If the number of machines found in Active Directory, Windows Network, Manual Connections, Favorites and Labels exceeds this threshold, then SysMan Explorer switches to 'assigned nodes' operation. In this mode of operation, a machine need to be assigned for management, before it can be administered in SysMan Explorer. Assignment is very easy; i.e. when an unassigned machine is selected in the SysMan Explorer tree, then the right pane shows an entry 'Assign for Mgmt' which can be double-clicked to enable tools and utilities for the considering node.
   
• Cosmetic updates in Multiple Computer Select window, Remote Shutdown/Restart commands, SysMan Explorer options menu, SysMan Explorer View menu in Preferences, Search for Computer command in SysMan Explorer.
   
• Better efficiency in handling show/hide requests on multiple rows in the 'Active Directory Org Units' and 'Computer Filters and Labels' displays.
   
• The SysMan Explorer options menu has been reorganised. Please read the embedded help text for details.

Discontinued:

• All SysMan Explorer performance thresholds have been revisited and reevaluated. Due to the sensitivity of these, we decided to discontinue these options to be available for change in personal preferences. Should circumstances really demand it though, these thresholds can be altered to accommodate specific situations. In such case, please contact Sysgem support for assistance.
  
 
• The 'GUI Preferences' window is removed. All non-threshold tabs have been added to the 'SysMan Explorer View' menu.

Bug fixes:

• In the Multi Computer Select window, some favorites were not recognized as being 'tools' and they therefore failed to start. Fixed.
   
• In SysMan RC Management, applying an RC settings template did not remember the applied template on the install page. So the next time that the install page was called, it reverted back to the first template in the list. Fixed.
   
• The Timeout Period field was not shown in the RC Server Templates Properties/Create input forms. Fixed.
   
• In some occasions, the background ping operation didn't seem to ping any machines, which resulted in the SysMan Explorer permanently showing all machines as available. In these cases the background ping data cache file appeared empty. The procedure was updated.
   
• In Custom Utilities, the parameter-line wasn't filled upon start of the input form, nor did it respond to any parameter value updates. Fixed.
   
• Inconsistency between Background Ping and Ping test in Test Connection menu. Fixed.
   
• The Active Directory Organizational Unit Filter display showed a wrong total machine count on current container and subcontainers if the amount of levels for a subtree was more than 2. Fixed.
   
• In some cases, SysMan Explorer would display an objects Common Name as a folder and its PreW2KName as computer entry. Fixed.
   
• The Active Directory Org. Unit Filter display showed help text of the Categorize and Filter on Machines display. Fixed.
   
• The Active Directory Org. Unit Filter display and mechanism mixed up container entries in multiple domain environments. This could result in unexpected containers being hidden or shown in SysMan Explorer. Fixed. Pre v2.0.4 versions of stored filters will remain active until starting the Active Directory Org. Unit Filter display in v2.0.4 (or later). Starting the Active Directory Org. Unit Filter display will automatically upgrade the stored filters to be multidomain compliant.

SysMan Release 2.0.3

Release Date: 13-December-2013

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5798

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Cosmetic and Audit Log updates on tool input forms and methods, RC Server Settings (Restart RC Server / Set Server Options / Session Password), RC Server Mgmt (Start / Stop / Uninstall RC Server), Processes (Set Priority) and TS Client Sessions (RC Server install).
   
• The AD Users - Create input form now allows the 'User enabled/disabled' flag and password flags to be set upon account creation.
   
• Updated radio button behaviour on password flags in the AD Users - Properties/Create input forms.
   
• Both the 'Open in Explorer' menu in the 'Shares' display and the 'Open in Explorer' button in the 'Share Properties' input form now allow a selection on multiple shares.
   
• Token added for Multiple Computer Select feature, which allows a SysMan administrator to enable or disable Multiple Computer Select for specific SysMan user profiles.
   
• SysMan Getting Started has been promoted to 'Quick Help - Getting Started' and can now be called from the SysMan Explorer directly (click the 'Quick Help' shortcut in the upper right corner of the SysMan Explorer).. Automatic startup of Quick Help can now both be disabled and re-enabled from the Quick Help display itself.
   
• In SysMan Explorer, instead of being displayed in grey text, unreachable machines are now distinguished by a dotted server-icon. (Provided that the corresponding SysMan Explorer View 'Distinguish Unreachable Computers by a Dotted Server Icon' has not been unset).
   
• Ping (ICMP) test added in the 'Test Connection' menu's.
   
• The Installation Key generator in SysMan Professional has been enhanced with an alternative to pass installation keys to client installations by use of an Installation Key File, which can be generated after an Installation Key has been generated.

Discontinued:

• The evaluation switch to and from Remote Control and Standard Edition has been removed. To switch evaluation licenses, please perform a reinstall of the software.

Bug fixes:

• The 'User Cannot Change Passwd' flag wasn't read or set in the AD Users - Properties/Create input forms. Fixed.
   
• On refresh, SysMan Explorer lost focus on last selected node, when a tool was selected and therefore put focus automatically back on the SysMan Explorer root. Fixed.
   
• The userguide contained out-of-date information in the filters section. Updated.

SysMan Release 2.0.2

Release Date: 25-October-2013

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5734b

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Cosmetic updates on tool displays, Operating System, Install WMI Provider, TS Client Sessions, System Drivers and Services.
   
• The 'Shares - Create' tool menu now allows a share to be created on a selection of nodes.
   
• Changed default 'Auto Close' setting for the 'Multiple Computer Select' window. 'Auto Close' is now disabled by default, leaving the selection and the 'Multiple Computer Select' window in place after a tool has been initiated from it.

SysMan Release 2.0.1

Release Date: 15-October-2013

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5734

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Added friendly 'No Data' message in Active Directory tools. If a selected container does not hold any of the requested data, it now shows a related 'No Data' entry in the results.
   
• The Active Directory Organizational Unit Filter now also supports blocking and allowing non-system containers ('Users', 'Computers' and such)
   
• The SysMan Explorer now shows a 'Threshold Exceeded' grid-entry in folders which are affected by the machine-threshold being exceeded
   
• The SysMan Explorer now shows a 'No Entries' grid-entry in containers which have no computers (or subfolders) in them
   
• Reorder of SysMan Tools in SysMan Explorer. The 'Remote Desktop' group has been moved up in the list, since it has an overall high potential for usage.
   
• In TS Client Sessions display, changed default menu from 'Install RC Server' to 'Connect to Session..'
   
• Added support in the 'AD Users' and 'AD Groups' tools to extend the search query in sub-containers of the current selected AD container. For every AD container, the 'AD Users' and 'AD Groups' display maintains a mode-setting to either show or hide components in any sub-containers. The last applied mode (by the user) is remembered and defaulted by the next time that the regarding display is started against this container.
   
• In the 'AD Users' display, updated the default column layout and added a predefined set of selectable column layouts (Compact, Status, Groups, Active Directory Path, Paths, Office, Address and Contact).
   
• In the 'AD Groups' display, updated the default column layout and added a predefined set of selectable column layouts (Compact, Status, Groups, Active Directory Path, Identifiers).
   
• Make-over of the 'AD Computers' display, as upgrade on the general 'Active Directory Objects' display. Like the 'AD Users' and 'AD Groups' displays, the 'AD Computers' display can also be set to display content residing in the selected container only, or the sub-containers as well. From within this display, computer accounts can be created, deleted, disabled, enabled and shown/edited on properties.
 
• Added 'Delete' command on 'AD Groups' tool.
   
• Make-over of 'AD Organizational Units' display, as upgrade on the general 'Active Directory Objects' display. Like the 'AD Computers', 'AD Users' and 'AD Groups' displays, the 'AD Organizational Units' display can also be set to display content residing in the selected container only, or the subcontainers as well.
   
• Added support for 'Properties' menu on 'AD Organizational Units' tool.
   
• Added support for 'Move' menu on 'AD Computers', 'AD Users' and 'AD Groups' tools, which makes it possible to move the regarding AD object (or objects) to a different container.
   
• Updated the preset column layouts on 'Local Users' and 'Local Groups' tools, to show the Computer where the user or group resides on, in the first column.
   
• In the error handlers, added suggestions for '0x80041002 (WBEM_E_NOT_FOUND)' WMI error to the list of error advises (WMI Repository possibly corrupted on targeted node).

Bug fixes:

• In the SysMan Explorer, the label menus (Labels on Selected Nodes / Add Label / Remove Label) were kept enabled on non-label candidate entries in the tree and list. Fixed
   
• In the SysMan Explorer, the 'connection preferences' and 'test connection' menus were kept enabled on non-machine entries in the tree and list. Fixed
   
• In SysMan Explorer, when machine-threshold was exceeded in Active Directory, then the tree-machines always showed one machine more than the machines listed in the grid. Fixed
   
• In SysMan Explorer, when the machine-threshold was exceeded after AD was handled, the tree-machines-count restarted at 1 while AD machines have already been drawn. This resulted in the tree being stacked up with machines, even if there were no corresponding grid-entries. Fixed
   
• The number of found Active Directory Organizational Units, presented in the 'Preference Settings' display in some circumstances was incorrect. Fixed.
   
• Lessen the SysMan Explorer dependency on the Network Browser LanMan results returned by the operating system.
   
• The SysMan Explorer startup / refresh was potentially in conflict with background processing which could have a negative effect on performance. Fixed
   
• The 'TS Client Sessions' would not start from the 'Multiple Computer Select' window. Fixed
   
• In 'TS Client Sessions', instead of dying at execution when the RC server is not running in the remote session, the connect to Session..' menu now prompts and allows the user to start the RC server in the selected session, before attempting to initiate.
   
• In the 'AD Users', 'AD groups' and 'Local Groups' displays, the refresh LDAP cache button updated the display-header with the Fully Qualified Domain Name of the local domain, which is not always appropriate for the display header (because it could be targeted to another container, or a machine (local groups). Fixed.
   
• The 'AD Users' display's menu options are now bound to the 'AD Users' specific access token entries.
   
• The 'AD Users' display's menu options are now bound to the 'AD Users' specific access token entries.
   
• The 'AD Users' and 'AD Groups' displays now properly refer to the User Principal Name (for 'AD Users') and the pre-W2K Name in the display output and input forms.
   
• If the SysMan Explorer finds a blocked OU with unblocked subfolders, then it prints that blocked OU like expected (to allow browsing to the allowed OUs), but also showed the complete AD tool list for the blocked OU. Fixed.
   
• SysMan Explorer didn't remember the last node connection on AD Tools, canceled input forms and (not all) automatically started displays. In some circumstances this could lead to a refresh to the previous remembered selection from a different menu. Fixed.

SysMan Release 2.0.0

Release Date: 06-Sept-2013

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5703

Remote Control:

New features and improvements:

• Introduction of Terminal Server support. Through the SysMan Utilities 'TS Client Sessions' display, the Remote Control client can connect to an active Terminal Server / Remote Desktop session.
   
• Introduction of the Remote Control server (the machine which the Remote Control client connects to) as a multilingual component. The Remote Control server's displayed language is automatically applied in correspondence with the language of the operating system. Current supported languages are English, Dutch and French
   
• Remote Control installer allows current applied settings to be kept at re-installation (from build 522 and above)
   
• Add support for 'close on disconnect' option. Controlled by the new regarding preference setting, the main RC window will now close when the session is disconnected (either explicitly by user request, or implicitly by the user answering 'No' to any of the 'connection lost, reconnect?' prompts). However, disconnections triggered by other UI actions (e.g. by connecting to another server using the Connect To... option) will not cause the window to close
   
• New 'Refresh Display' option to View menu which allows the user to request a full-screen refresh on demand.

Bug fixes:

• Don't show "no password set" message unless Windows authentication is also disabled.
   
• Fix failure to register with Windows XP firewall during RC Server installation
   
• Fixed crash that was revealed when a memory leak was corrected in the disconnection handling
   
• Fix search for running RC processes during uninstallation.

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Introduction of 'TS Client Sessions' display, which allows the SysMan RC client to connect to an active Terminal Server / Remote Desktop session.
   
• Introduction of 'Multiple Computer Select' window. from where tools and utilities can be initiated in the context of multiple machines. This window replaces Nodes > Tools, which has been removed from this version.
   
• Upgraded Tools > Nodes window to 'SysMan Explorer' as a general central starting point of operations.
   
• Introduction of 'Favorites' group for Tools and Utilities in SysMan Explorer and Multiple Computer Select windows'
   
• Custom Utilities' now support custom parameters.
   
• Introduced default 'Custom Utilities' included in the standard kit. These defaults can be altered, removed or use as example for newly created custom utility definitions.
   
• 'Operating System' Status column now visible by default in 'Operating System' and 'Remote Command' displays.
   
• More information and guidance on reboot/shutdown displays
   
• 'Volumes' display now showing percentage freespace
   
• Embedded an example alarm in the 'Volumes display'.
   
• Remote Command split up in 2 different Run modes which are automatically started by the main 'Run Command' menu, depending of the number of machines selected.
   
• Updated SysMan RC Mgmt Install RC menu with new option: Don't touch applied settings and session passwords on existing installations.
   
• The 'Welcome to SysMan Window' has been removed, since from this version, SysMan auto-starts from a single starting point (the SysMan Explorer). Initial first-usage guidance is still provided by the Getting Started display.

Bug fixes:

• Remote Command display reports WMI error 0x80041017 at reboot/shutdown of target system. Fixed

SysMan Release 1.5.1

Release Date: 02-Aug-2013

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5664

Remote Control:

New features and improvements:

• The SysMan Remote Control license now includes the Remote Command tool.
   
• Allows saving of applied credentials. Either as credentials for this specific connection or as general default. If specific credentials for a node have been stored, then these are automatically applied when recalling such a node in the 'Connect To..' window.
   
• Session confirmation settings now ignored when there is no user logged on at the remote system.
   
• 'Remote Installation' window now holds two modes. I.e. the default mode in where the RC Server is set to be installed in standard SysMan parameters (i.e. allowing only Windows authentication, don't show a connection-list, don't apply a confirmation and do allow the user on the remote machine to change the RC Server settings) and an extended mode in where these parameters can be altered.
   
• The remote installation progress windows are now supplied with checkboxes to automatically initiate 'the next step' upon completion. Such as 'Automatically close' and 'Automatically connect'.
   
• More detail and clarification in various reporting messages regarding connection attempts and terminations.

Bug fixes:

• Multi-monitor systems, where the primary monitor is positioned on the right (or below) from the secondary, seem to confuse the SysMan Remote Control client. In such case, as a temporary workaround and until a proper fix can be supplied, the Remote Control view will be restricted to the primary monitor only.
   
• In events of restarting an RC Server service from the RC Server status window in an RC Client window which is running an active session with this same remote node, upon service-restart the RC Client suggests to open the RC Server status window again, while it is already active. Fixed.
   
• Disabled 'Connect...' button in Service Status window when service is known to be stopped, and disabled 'Close' button during Restart operation.

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• New Tool: 'SysMan RC Mgmt' to manage Remote Control Server installations and configurations from within Utilities. Also allowing some additional features to be set, like the connection port number and presence of the notification area RC Server icon. Settings can be saved as defaults for later usage and standardizing. This tool can be targeted to a single or multiple RC Server installations at once (through the 'Tools > Nodes' explorer window).
   
• New tool: 'Remote Command' offering the ability to run and review output of DOS/BATCH-commands (like 'ipconfig', 'netstat -a', 'dir c:\*.*') on the target remote system or consecutive on multiple systems. Thereby further expanding on the remote machine's manageability. As all other SysMan tools, run commands and their output are automatically archived in the Audit Log.
   
• New tool: 'Boot Configuration' showing information like boot disk, configuration path, boot directory, temporary path on the selected node or nodes.
   
• New tool: 'Motherboard' displaying attributes on motherboard information on the selected node or nodes. Please note, The tool is highly dependent of the information the manufacturer of the motherboard supplies. Also, take into account that this information could be misleading or missing for some virtual providers.
   
• Introduction of the 'Getting Started' window, which is automatically initiated when starting an explorer window (Tools > Nodes, Nodes > Tools). In case SysMan is operating on a trial-license, the 'Getting Started' window includes a shortcut to the swap license type feature in the 'SysMan About' window. The 'Getting Started' window can be disabled from within the window itself (and optionally be reinstated in 'General UI Preferences').
   
• Introduction of 'Preference Settings' window, as a central starting point of defining all preferences in the program. This version holds preference settings for connection preferences, nodes-filtering, labels, limits and thresholds.
   
• Introduction of 'General UI Preferences' window in where application limits, thresholds and other preferences can be set.
   
• Introduction of the 'Connection Preferences' window in where Utilities- and Remote Control credentials and parameters can be set on a specific node, a selection of nodes or as general default.
   
• Introduction of 'Active Directory Org Unit Filter' window, which allows nodes to be excluded from view based on the organizational unit in where they are residing.
   
• Make-over on SysMan's 'About' window. It is renamed to 'SysMan About', now also shows register information on the license, and has been restyled as a menu-window.
   
• Added columns in the 'Event Logs' window in regard to the event log file itself. E.g. informing on most recent date of access and modify, creation date, file size, maximum size and overwrite setting.
   
• Improved event-log filtering on usability and applicability, by introducing saving of filters for later usage, the ability to show/repeat the last applied filter and allowing multiple search values per field. Also introduced advanced filtering as WQL queries to be set in a WHERE statement.
   
• Display-tabs now have a close-cross on them to allow fast handling.
   
• The result-displays now show a spinning wheel while processing data.
   
• Machines found unpingable by SysMan are grayed out in the explorer window.
   
• Introduction of 'First Registered in SysMan' field in the 'Computers Filters and Labels' display, listing the date when SysMan first detected the machine either on-line in the Windows network or as registered in Active Directory.
   
• Introduction of 'New machine found' pop-up which appears when a machine has been detected on the network which hasn't been registered before. This feature is disabled by default. It can be enabled in the general UI preferences.
   
• 'Operating System' command windows 'Reboot' and 'Shutdown' are now applied with extra information being the number of selected nodes to perform the action on.
   
• Made Properties and Date/Time available in Operating System tool. Set Date/Time supports time zones other than the client's. Both operations can be targeted at multiple nodes.
   
• Apart from the 'Tool Access Errors' window (reporting on the most recent Utilities connection errors), the 'Test Connection' command is now also available in the explorer windows 'Tools > Nodes' and 'Nodes > Tools', the 'Connection Preferences' window and the 'Computer Filter and Labels' window.
   
• Nodes label-management made more intuitive.
   
• The 'Installed Products' display is now provided with standard column-layouts and filters.
   
• The 'Define Manual Connection' input form now allows multiple Manual Connections to be defined in one run. To apply, separate multiple computer definitions by a comma.
   
• Usability for the computer's comment field. The Nodes>Tools explorer window now supports searching on the computer's comment text and shows the computer's comment field added in brackets in the nodes name entry. Optionally, displaying the comment-field can be switched off in the Explorer View Preference Settings.
   
• Nodes>Tools explorer window can now search for a computer and/or comment field using the 'Search for Computer' menu command.
   
• The Nodes>Tools explorer window now includes a background availability check on node entries. If a node doesn't appear to be available, it's entry is greyed out (but still selectable) in the nodes tree. Optionally, this feature can be switched off in the Explorer View Preference Settings.
   
• The Shares display is now capable of opening Windows Explorer to the selected share.
   
• Open Files tool now allows sorting on Process ID

Bug fixes:

• Starting the Filters and Labels display from one of the root-windows (Tools>Nodes, Nodes>Tools) doesn't show any data. Fixed
   
• No records shown at all in Tool Access Errors display. Fixed
   
• Shares-display incapable of resetting the Maximum number of connections back to undefined (being the maximum number of connections that the operating system itself is allowed to handle). Fixed.
   
• Reported Event IDs in 'Show Eventlogs' window are now consistent with the Event IDs reported in the Windows standard Eventlog reporting application.
   
• Manual Connection definitions could not be assigned NO default credentials definitions, restricting credentials settings to user specific or current logon only. Fixed. Now also allowing credentials to be unset, which automatically applies the SysMan general default credentials upon connection.
   
• Filters selection pane showing filters which didn't apply on the loaded libraries or applied license causing confusion. Removed this pane from the main Window. Filters can now be applied through the filters-button in a display itself.

SysMan Release 1.2 - 1.4

Release Dates: Mar 2013 - May 2013

• Internal Test Baselevels

SysMan Release 1.1.0 HotFix 01

Release Date: 04-Mar-2013

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5490

Remote Control:

• No Change

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• The SysMan main user-interface now allows custom alarm-definitions to be defined and maintained.

Bug fixes:

• No records shown at all in Tool Access Errors display - Fixed.
   
• Starting the Filters and Labels display from one of the root-windows (Tools>Nodes, Nodes>Tools) doesn't show any data - Fixed.

SysMan Release 1.1.0 

Release Date: 08-Feb-2013

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5490

Remote Control:

New features and improvements:

• RC only license now includes support for custom utilities

Bug fixes:

• Event source reference correction on Remote Control sessions now RC Server Application eventlog. Now logged as SysgemRC events.
   
• RC Service remote-restart reports as complete while it isn't available yet. Fixed.

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Introduction of the concept of  "Labels"  for node-definitions. Nodes can now be assigned one or more labels for categorizing and optionally apply filtering. Labels have their own tree in the Nodes>Tools explorer-window. Labels can be defined in the "Filters and Labels" display, located in the bookmarks-configuration folder.
   
• A new ability to block specific nodes from ever being listed in any explorer-window. Nodes can as such be blocked (or allowed) from the "Filters and Labels" display in the bookmarks-configuration folder.
   
• Introduction of node-filters in the explorer-windows. The explorer-windows (Tools>Nodes and Nodes>Tools) can be filtered to show/hide machines found in Active Directory, Windows Network, Manual Connections, Favorites and specific Label-collections. Additionally another filter option can be applied to hide machines that have not been seen on the network for a specified period of time. To apply filtering, right-click anywhere in an explorer-window and initiate the "Filters - Apply Filters" menu.
   
• A new display window called "Tool Access Errors" is now optionally available to help resolve issues when connecting to remote machines.
   
• A new window called "About", showing installed software edition, version and applied license. Find the module About-window in the bookmarks-configuration folder.
   
• In evaluation-mode, the ability to repeatedly switch between Standard Edition and Remote Control. This switch can be made in the module About-window in the bookmarks-configuration folder.

Bug fixes:

• SysMan now showing up in Windows Application Search.
   
• Sysgem SysMan-entry in Windows installed programs-list now shows "Sysgem AG" as being the software-publisher.
   
• Fine-tuned text alignment in message-windows.

SysMan Release 1.0.1 

Release Date: 26-Nov-2012

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5413

Remote Control:

New features and improvements:

• Introduction of the 'SysMan Remote Control Server Status' window as a central point for managing RC Server installations and configurations. As a result the separated windows for install, uninstall and server settings are now superfluous and therefore removed from the RC client window.
   
• Enhanced RC Server remote installation.
   - Now showing progress window on RC Server installations and uninstallations.
   - Now supports remote upgrading and reinstall.
   - Installation is much faster and more intuitive.
   
• Enabled clipboard-transfer between remote server and local client.
   
• Password field for manual RC Server installer now masked.
   
• User guide included, available from the RC client window menu.

Bug fixes:

• RC Server remote installation failed when .NET Framework 3.5 was not installed on target node. Fixed, i.e. the .NET Framework requirement has been removed from the installer.
   
• Remote desktop window now also available when the file-transfer display is active.
   
• Default timeout response (i.e. auto-reject or auto-accept) not synced on initial installation of the remote server. Now fixed.

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Extensive information on installed software in Installed Products tool (provided that this information is made available by the installer). Apart from product name, version and publisher, Installed Products now also reports on details like the program's estimated size, installation-date, installed location, registry key name and update URL.
  Note: This tool requires an upgrade of the WMI-provider on the target system, which will be requested for and initiated automatically upon connection.
   
• Active Directory groups and users properties made available
   
• Active Directory "users create" option made available
   
• "Services - Change Start Mode" now shows original selected start mode and performs additional validation.

Bug fixes:

• Installed Products tool not reporting on 32-bits and 64-bits software in the same instance. Fixed.
  Note: The considering patch requires an upgrade of the WMI provider on the target system, which will be requested for and initiated automatically upon connection.
   
• Groups-selection list empty at first call on selected node in Local Users tool. Fixed.
   
• Reboot and Shutdown menu options (in Operating System tool) no longer refresh the display window after they have performed their action.

SysMan Release 1.0.0 

Release Date: 19-Oct-2012

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5378

Remote Control:

New features and improvements:

• Support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
   
• Automatic initiation of RC Server install-procedure if it doesn't appear to be installed during an attempt for connection.
   
• Run Remote Control session over custom port
   
• Run Remote Control session over VNC as alternative engine, thereby allowing connection with other operating systems like Linux, UNIX, and Mac
   
• Plain start from within SysMan Utilities
   
• Now supports multiple monitors on target server. Capable of showing a single selected monitor, or all monitors in one extended desktop-view.
   
• Scaling RC client window to fit remote desktop window size
   
• Scaling remote desktop window size to fit RC client window

Bug fixes:

• Authentication-types not fully readable (text longer than input-fields)
   
• About-window cleaned up

Utilities:

New features and improvements:

• Support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
   
• Improvements in local users and groups management
   
• Revision of the Connection Preferences window.
   
• Improvements on scalability and intuitiveness.
   
• Split in 2 separate menu-options for general and specific defaults.
   
• Added custom port preference for RDP
   
• Added custom port and engine preference for SysMan RC. Thereby allowing connection with other operating systems like Linux, UNIX, and Mac (over VNC).
   
• Altered default root-windows (tools>nodes and node>tools) tiling mechanism to comply with small and low-resolution displays.

Bug fixes:

• SysMan UT now properly informs the user when the tool-call didn't return any data for a requested target node.
   
• Local users-properties doesn't update on all fields. Fixed

SysMan Release 0.9.0 

Release Date: 13-Sep-2012

Minimum SEM Version 2.3 build for this release: 5342

• Baselevel Release