RemoteExec

Overview

RemoteExec® functionality

RemoteExec considerably simplifies and accelerates all install and update tasks on a Local or Wide Area Network as well as remote machines.

RemoteExec allows you to instantly and remotely execute programs (.exe, .bat, .cmd), scripts (.vbs, .js), program associated file types (.txt, .doc, .wav, .reg, .inf, .msi, ...), to copy folder(s)/file(s), ...

Using RemoteExec you can:

Add/Modify/Delete registry keys and/or values
Install patches, Service Packs and hotfixes.
Deploy Windows Installer packages in silent mode
Run applications, programs and scripts
Copy files and folders

You can also:

“Cleanly” close down any opened user sessions after a certain hour
Launch a general shutdown
Send alerts to users: display messages, run sound files
Reboot a remote computer

How does RemoteExec work?

RemoteExec is extremely simple to use and doesn’t require any prior training

Only a few minutes are necessary to get your first action launched:

Install RemoteExec on any workstation or server connected to your network
(Time estimate: less than 2 minutes)
Select the or thee action(s) to execute
(Hotfix deployment, script execution, system reboot, etc...)
Define target computer criteria
(Workstations only, systems running XP SP2, etc...)
Select the target computer zone
(The whole domain, organisation unit(s), specific list of computers, etc...)
Click to start the job
(A progress window is displayed, followed by the status report detailing the success/failure of each action)
If necessary, you can schedule subsequent automatic passes for computers unavailable during the initial pass (unconnected laptops, powered down computers, etc...)

Why buy RemoteExec?

Using RemoteExec for your environment will bring you the following advantages:

help toward your information systems compliance as to multiple international regulations and standards (HIPAA, Sarbane-Oxley, GLBA, NIST/FIPS, ITIL, COBIT, CISP, ISO 17799…)
Drastic diminution of the work load related to updating your systems
Elimination of all manual interventions and installations planned outside of working hours
Improved reactivity in face of emergency deployments (security patches, system shutdowns, application updates, etc…)

These assets, enhanced by easy installation and use, will allow you to substantially reduce your IT infrastructure’s TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).

Features

Remote execution of files/programs

RemoteExec allows to remotely execute:

Programs (.exe, .bat, .cmd)
Scripts (.vbs, .js)
Files associated to executables (.txt, .doc, .wav, .reg, .inf, .msi, …)

Service Pack deployment

RemoteExec allows simple and rapid Service Pack deployment: the administrator only needs to specify the path to the package or update.exe and the relevant OS version and number (only if RemoteExec hasn’t managed to identify these details from the file name). The filter will be automatically configured and the installation will run on relevant systems only.

Hotfix, patch and update deployment

With RemoteExec the administrator simply enters the path to the hotfix, patch and update. The installation will only run on systems needing it. Other Microsoft updates (MDAC, Windows Installer, Java virtual machine, .NET Framework, motor Jet, etc...) can also easily be deployed with this mode.

RemoteExec considerably facilitates the deployment of applications packaged in .msi format.

Here again the administrator simply needs to specify the .msi path, the action to take (install/uninstall/repair/update), and launch the deployment in a click.

Registry modification

RemoteExec allows remote modification of the registry on all systems of the network, or upon a specific selection. The administrator only has to specify the path to the .reg, select the target systems and launch with a click.

File Operations

RemoteExec allows to copy/update/delete files and folders on all systems of the network, or upon a specific selection.

The target path can be specified using variables (%SystemRoot%, %Windir%, %SystemDrive%, %ProgramFiles%, %CommonFiles%), if the target path doesn’t exist, RemoteExec will automatically create all necessary folders.

Password and local account management

RemoteExec allows to change the local administrators password of all the workstations (or a selection), and to disable all other local accounts in order to reinforce security.

Interaction with remote systems

Remotely power off systems
Remotely wake up systems equipped with Wake-On-Lan technology: the automatic scan of the MAC addresses and the subnets of all systems on the network enhances this feature.
Reboot and shutdown remote systems
Lock and close sessions

Multi action mode

RemoteExec can execute several actions in one pass. For example the administrator can configure the following in one pass:

System wake up
Deployment of one or more patches
File and folder replication
Registry modification
System power off

Conditional Action

RemoteExec is equipped with a mini scanner allowing remote system configuration information to be collected and used for conditional updating: OS version, OS level (server/workstation), Service Pack, internet explorer version, customisable registry key/value, OS language, architecture, etc… For example, it is possible to execute a deployment on XP SP2 workstations only, without having to select them manually.

Integrated Scheduler

RemoteExec is equipped with an integrated scheduler allowing action execution at a specific time and/or periodicity.

This feature will enable, for example, to plan deployment to workstations outside of working hours, or to automatically rerun previously failed actions due to system unavailability (unconnected laptops, etc…).

Reporting

Once an execution is finished, RemoteExec will automatically generate a list of systems on which the execution failed (if any). This list can be directly reinserted to rerun the execution and complete the task.

RemoteExec also collects and displays the return codes generated by the remote processes, allowing the administrator to check system status. RemoteExec logs execution history and results for future reference.

Flexibility of use

RemoteExec can be used:

With the GUI interface, allowing to select the file(s) / program(s) to deploy, the targeted systems and to launch the execution, in a few clicks.
In command line mode, enabling RemoteExec’s use in scripts or in the Task Scheduler.
With Impersonation accounts for heterogeneous networks requiring different administrator accounts.
With different execution modes:
- Administrative: process(es) executed with the current user’s rights downgraded
- Full administrative: process(es) executed with the current user’s full rights.
- Interactive: process(es) executed with the user account connected on the targeted system.
- System: process(es) executed with the targeted system’s LocalSystem account.
- Interactive system: process(es) executed with the targeted system’s LocalSystem account and access to the user’s desktop.

Usage Scenarios

Deploy MSI (Windows Installer) packs in silent mode

Install the latest version of Excel on all workstations
Set Italian Language in Microsoft Word on the desktops used by the sales team in charge of Italy.

Install Service Packs, hotfixes, upgrades and updates

Install a CRM Service Pack on all the Sales department computers
Install within minutes the latest hotfix for the latest security flaw on all your IIS servers

Modify the registry values on all your computers

Change the startup type for a service on certain servers
Change the background on all desktops

Log off all open user sessions at a given time

Install programs without local sessions running
Assure that all applications are closed on a desktop in need of repair

Shutdown workstations and servers

Power off all machines cleanly in the event of a planned power cut
Power off all the accounting department´s desktops cleanly in the event of a move.

Reboot a remote computer

Reboot all servers at the same time
Reboot a desktop while troubleshooting

Update files and folders on desktops

Synchronize a product catalog on your sales representatives laptops
Change an icon on all users desktops

Alert users of imminent events via an HTML page, Word document or an alarm

Warn all users of urgent server/network maintenance interventions
Ask all users to evacuate the building immediately

Requirements

Target computers

Windows NT4
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows 2003
no Service Pack requirement

Administration console

Windows XP
Windows 2000
Windows NT 4 Service Pack 4 with Internet Explorer 5 or more