Home » Features >> Creating and Scheduling Tasks
srch-icn
 

Creating and Scheduling Tasks

To create and schedule a task to run the Windows system tools in multiple computers, follow the steps below:

  1. Select the Tools tab from the Endpoint Central MSP client. This opens the list of tools that can be run on the network machines.

  2. Click on any of the tools under the System Tools category to open the Task Details page. This lists all the tasks that are already created and scheduled. Click the Add Task button to create a new task. This opens the Add Task Wizard and follow the instructions as explained below:

Step 1: Define Task

  1. Provide a name and description for the task.

  2. Select the tools that you wish to run and click Next.

  3. Based on the tool selection, specify the options for executing the task as below:

    1. Check Disk: Select the drive that has to be checked and the required options and click Next. You can select from any of the following options:

      • Verbose - Displays the name of each file in every directory as the disk is checked.

      • Quick Check - This option is only available for NTFS file system. This skips the checking of cycles within the folder structure and performs a less vigorous check of index entries to reduce the time.

    2. Disk Cleanup: Select the files and folders to be cleaned and click Next. The following actions can be performed **

      • Compress old files - Windows can compress files that you have not used in a while. Compressing the files saves disk space while still enabling you to use them. No files are deleted. Because files are compressed at different rates, the displayed amount of disk space you will gain is approximate.

      • Remove content indexer - The Indexing service speeds up and improves file searches by maintaining an index of the files on the disk. These files are left over from a previous indexing operation and can be deleted safely.

      • Remove downloaded Program Files - Downloaded program files are ActiveX controls and Java programs that are downloaded automatically from the Internet when you view certain pages. They are temporarily stored in the Downloaded Program Files folder on your hard disk.

      • Remove internet cache files - The Temporary Internet Files folder contains Web pages that are stored on your hard disk for quick viewing. Your personalized settings for Web pages are left intact.

      • Remove Office setup files - Installation files used by office. If these files are removed from your computer, you may be prompted for original installation media or source during Reinstall, Repair, or Patch operation. It is recommended that you not remove these files unless you always have ready access to your installation media

      • Remove offline files - Temporary files are local copies of network files that you specifically made available offline so that you can use them when you are disconnected from the network.

      • Remove old check disk files - When Chkdsk checks your disk for errors, it might save lost file fragments as files in your disk's root folder. These files are unnecessary and can be removed.

      • Empty recycle bin - The Recycle Bin contains files you have deleted from your computer. These files are not permanently removed until you empty the Recycle Bin.

      • Remove Temporary files - Programs sometimes store temporary information in a Temp folder. Before a program quits, it usually deletes this information. You can safely delete temporary files that have not been modified in over a week.

      • Remove temporary offline files - Temporary offline files are local copies of recently used network files that are automatically cached for you so that you can use them when you are disconnected from the network.

      • Remove Active Setup Temp Folders

      • Remove memory dump files

      • Remove remote desktop cache files

      • Remove setup log files

      • Remove old system restore positions.

      • Remove web pages

      • Remove uninstall backup images

      • Remove webclient and web publisher cache files

    3. Storage Sense - To clear disk space in computers running on Windows OS Version 1703 or above, you will have to enable Storage Sense and configure the scheduler. This will help you clear the temporary files, entries in recyle bin and the common downloads folder. Storage Sense will remove the following types of files,

      • Temporary setup files

      • Old indexed content

      • System cache files

      • Internet cache files

      • Device Driver packages

      • System downloaded program files

      • Dated system log files

      • System error memory dump files

      • System error minidump files

      • Temporary system files

      • Dated Windows update temporary files and for more related information, refer here

    4. Disk Defragmenter: Select the drive that has to be defragmented and the required options and click Next. Seelct from the following options:

      • Verbose: Displays the complete analysis and defragmentation reports

      • Analyze: Analyzes the volume and displays a summary of the analysis report.

      • Force Defragmentation: Forces defragmentation of the drive regardless of whether it needs to be defragmented.

Step 2: Define Target

Using  the Defining Targets procedure, define the targets for deploying the tasks.

Step 3: Define Scheduler

Specify the following scheduling options:

 

Parameter Description

Run As*

The name of the user as whom the task will be run.  Click the icon to select and assign a dynamic variable to this parameter, for example, $DomainName\$DomainUserName or $ComputerName\$DomainUserName.

Password

The password of the user.

Confirm Password

Confirm the password again.

Perform this task*

Specify the time to perform the task. You can select from the following options:

  • Daily: To run the task daily. Specify the time and duration to run the task.

  • Weekly: To run the task on specific day(s) in a week. Specify the time, start date, and days on which the task has to be run.

  • Monthly: To run the task specific day every month(s). You need to specify starting time, select a day and select a month/months.

  • Once: To run the task only once. You need to specify the date and time.

  • At System Startup: To run the task when the system is started.

  • At Logon: To run the task during the user logon.

  •  When Idle: To run the task when the system is idle for the specified time.

Advanced Settings

General

  • Enabled: Select this option to run the task at the specified time.

  • Run only when logged on: Select this option to run the task only when the user has logged on.

Scheduled Task Completed

  • Delete the task if it is not scheduled to run again: Select this option to delete the task when it is no longer scheduled.

  • Stop Task: Select this option and specify the duration after which the task will be stopped.

Idle Time

Select the required options:

  • Specify the duration,the system has to be idle before starting a task.

  • Stop the task if the computer ceases to be idle

Power Management

Select the required options:

  • Don't start the task if the computer is running on batteries

  • Stop the task if battery mode begins

  • Wake the computer to run this task

Step 4: Deploy the Task

Click the Deploy button to deploy the task in the defined targets. The tasks will be run at the scheduled time and interval. The status of the tasks and its execution history can be verified from the Task Details page. Refer to the Viewing the Task History topic for details.