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Remote Control
BigFix Remote Control application helps to communicate between different components, clients, and endpoints within BigFix environment.
Remote Control On-demand Target Guide
Use Remote Control to start remote control sessions over the internet with targets that do not have the target software installed.
On-demand target installation methods
The on-demand target installation method is determined by properties in the ondemand.properties files and the browser that is used by the target user .
Downloading by using the Java Applet
The on-demand target can also be installed and started automatically by using a Java applet. This option is not browser-dependent and therefore it can be used with various browsers

Remote Control
BigFix Remote Control application helps to communicate between different components, clients, and endpoints within BigFix environment.
- Release notes
  A summary of changed or new features and enhancements included in BigFix Remote Control.
- Remote Control Installation Guide
  By using Remote Control you can remotely support and control thousands of PCs and servers, on an enterprise scale, from a central location or directly, in peer to peer mode.
- Remote Control Administrators Guide
  This guide is for users who want to administer Remote Control.
- Remote Control Console User Guide
- BigFix Remote Control Controller Users Guide
- Remote Control Target Users Guide
- Remote Control On-demand Target Guide
  Use Remote Control to start remote control sessions over the internet with targets that do not have the target software installed.
  - Configuring the landing page URL
    Remote Control provides a default web page that a target user can access to temporarily install the target software. The URL for the web page is http://trcserver/trc/ondemand/index.jsp. The variable trcserver is the host name or IP address of your Remote Control server. The default web page is provided when you have the Remote Control server installed. You can also configure server properties to provide a URL that the target user can access. The defined URL is displayed to the controller user when they start a broker remote control session.
  - Configuring custom fields
    You can add extra input fields to the default web page that is used during the process of downloading and temporarily installing the target software.
  - Creating a custom landing page
    You can customize the web page that is used to start the process to download and temporarily install the target software. The web page can be integrated into your own company website.
  - On-demand target portal access for internet users
    A reverse proxy, in a DMZ, can be configured to provide access for Internet users to the on-demand portal that is on the Remote Control server in the intranet. The reverse proxy must not allow access to other sections of the Remote Control server, but only to the on-demand portal.
  - Setting session permissions
    A target that participates in a broker session receives session policies from the server. These policies are resolved from the user and target group permission links that the user and target in the session are associated with. An on-demand target participates in broker remote control sessions. However, it is not registered with the server and does not belong to regular target groups. An unregistered target can also be a computer that you install the target software on, configure it with correct broker settings, and the target property Managed set to no. You can define session permissions for unregistered targets by using the Set Permissions for Unregistered Targets function.
  - Session policies for unregistered targets
    The set of session policies available for unregistered targets is divided into two sections. The core policies cater for remote support actions during a session. The extended policies cater for the session administration actions during a session. The core policies are always visible on the Set Permissions for Unregistered Targets screen. Click Show in the More permissions section to set values for the extended policies.
  - Defining the temporary recording directory for a broker
    You can define the directory where session recordings are temporarily stored on the broker, by configuring broker properties.
  - On-demand target installation methods
    The on-demand target installation method is determined by properties in the ondemand.properties files and the browser that is used by the target user .
    - Downloading by using the ActiveX control
      When the target user is using Internet Explorer and ActiveX is enabled, the on-demand target is installed and started automatically by using an ActiveX control.
    - Downloading by using the Firefox plug-in
      When the target user is using Firefox, if the Firefox plug-in and Java™ Script are enabled, the on-demand target is installed and started automatically.
    - Downloading by using the Java Applet
      The on-demand target can also be installed and started automatically by using a Java applet. This option is not browser-dependent and therefore it can be used with various browsers
    - Downloading by using the executable file
      When the ondemand.enable.executable property is enabled, the on-demand target can be installed and started automatically by using an executable file.
    - Downloading by using Java Web Start
      The on-demand target is installed and started automatically by using Java™ Web Start when the target user is using Internet Explorer and ActiveX is disabled. The target user can also select the Java Web Start installation method if the ActiveX, Firefox, or Java Applet installation methods fail.
  - Starting a session with an on-demand target
    You can start a remote control session through the internet with a target that does not have the target software already installed.
  - Session limitations
    Some limitations might be in effect during a remote control session with an on-demand target.
  - Saving a session recording on the on-demand target
    As the user on an on-demand target you can save a recording of a remote control session on your computer. You can select to save the recording when you accept the session or start to record and save during the session.
  - Handing over a broker collaboration session
    If you are the master controller of a collaboration session, that involves a broker, you can pass full control of the session to another participant.
  - Ending a session
    When you end a session with an Remote Control on-demand target, all related files and directories are deleted.
  - Ending a collaboration session when you disconnect
    When you end a session in which collaboration is started, you can choose to stay in the session or disconnect from the session.
  - Saving the session log file
    You can save the trace log file that is created during a session with an Remote Control on-demand target.
  - Session history for unregistered targets
    After you participate in remote control sessions with on-demand targets, you can view the session history. Sessions that involved unregistered targets are listed in the All Session History report and My Session History report together with the registered target sessions. You can also view a list of the sessions that only involved unregistered targets.
  - Database table definitions
    Description and definition of the database tables that hold data for remote control sessions with on-demand targets. The SESSIONS_DATA table hold the data that is submitted from the default web page that is used by the target user. The SESSIONS table holds session data.
  - OnDemand properties file
    Edit the ondemand.properties file to create and configure properties for remote control sessions with on-demand targets.
  - Determine the installation method for the on-demand target
    The configuration of the on-demand installation method properties determines which installation method is used for the on-demand target.
  - Lite Web Portal
    Lite Web Portal enables you to start a Remote Control session with an On Demand Target without using a VPN, even when the controller and the target are over the Internet.
  - Troubleshooting
    When the on-demand target is installed, a log file is created in the target user's home directory. This file can be used for debugging purposes to examine any errors during the installation of the target or during a remote control session.
  - Frequently asked questions
- Remote Control V10 Readme

Downloading the on-demand target by using the Java™ Applet

The on-demand target can also be installed and started automatically by using a Java applet. This option is not browser-dependent and therefore it can be used with various browsers

About this task

After the target user clicks I agree on the landing page, the Java™ applet launching page is displayed.

Note: The support for ActiveX, Java Applet, and Java Web Start plugin installation methods is deprecated in Remote Control starting from Version 10.0.0 Update 8 (Build Number 0802). Those installation methods are either lacking browser support (ActiveX) or may not be supported in more recent browsers. Relay on the executable file installation method.

The target user must follow the instructions on the page. If a prompt to run the application is displayed, they must click Run to start the installation process. If a User Account Control prompt is displayed, they must click Yes. If the Enable user acceptance for incoming connections policy is enabled for the session, the target user is asked to accept or refuse the session. If they select Refuse, or do not accept in time, the session does not start. If the target user selects Accept, the session starts. Any errors during the installation are written to a log file. For more information about the errors, see Errors when you are using the Java applet method of installation.

As the Java Applet is loaded, different icons might be displayed. The icons indicate the status of the installation of the control and the loading of the on-demand target. For more information about the icons, see On-demand target installation and loading status icons.

If the on-demand target fails to start, you can use a different installation method. Links to the available installation methods are displayed. The number of links depends on the properties that are enabled. For more information about which links are displayed, see Determine which installation method is used for the on-demand target.

Note: The Java™ Applet is built with Java™ version 1.5. Therefore, the target user must have a browser Java™ plug-in of version 1.5 or later for the Java™ applet to run correctly.