Intel Core vpro Processors Common-Use Guide

Transcription

1 Intel Core vpro Processors Common-Use Guide For LabTech Software* (Revision 1.1 December 6, 2011)

2 Table of Contents Introduction... 3 Setup and Assumptions... 3 Common Use Cases Covered in this Guide... 3 Preparing the LabTech Control Center... 4 Step 1: Acquire vpro Scripts from the LabTech Marketplace... 4 Step 2: Establish Intel vpro Credentials... 4 Step 3: Establish a Master Computer... 5 Use Case 1: Discover Intel vpro Technology-Enabled Assets... 6 Step 1: Determine Machine is vpro Enabled... 6 Step 2: Run the Intel vpro Finder Script... 7 Use Case 2: Provision vpro Assets... 8 Step 1: Intel vpro machine with AMT version 7.0 or above (Client Control Mode)... 8 Step 2: Intel vpro machine with AMT version 4.0 and above (Admin Control Mode)... 9 Use Case 3: Inventory Remote Assets... 9 Step 1: Create a Group Step 2: Assign Assets to the Group Based on Attributes Use Case 4: Schedule Shutdown and Power On of Remote Assets Step 1: Create a Safe Shutdown Script Step 2: Assign a Power-Efficiency Schedule to Your Assets Use Case 5: Schedule Backup of Remote Assets Step 1: Install LabTech Backup Desktop Step 2: Create a Power Schedule for Your Assets Step 3: Schedule Routine Asset Backup Step 4: Implementing a KVM System Restore Conclusion Related links... 14

3 Introduction Common Uses for LabTech Software* with Intel Core vpro Processors IT professionals are often required to make costly on-site visits to diagnose and repair problems with PCs. LabTech Software* allows IT professionals to remotely access a problem PC, which removes the need for most on-site visits. Intel Core vpro processors extend the management capabilities of LabTech Software to enable enhanced management and discovery of IT devices, even in powered-off states. Even when problems prevent access to the operating system (OS), IT can use LabTech software to assist with diagnosis and repair. These capabilities can drive lower overhead for IT professionals and help allow IT professionals to more effectively meet higher service level agreements (SLAs). This paper illustrates how to use LabTech Software in conjunction with PCs equipped with Intel Core vpro processors in several scenarios you face every day. When you manage these scenarios with the Intel and LabTech solution, you can reduce administrative overhead, increase IT efficiency, and improve your ability to deliver IT services. Setup and Assumptions Software Hardware Basic assumptions LabTech Software*: LabTech Control Center on the server and LabTech Agent on your PCs. Note: LabTech Agent requires you have installed the Microsoft.NET Framework version 2.0 or above. At least one PC built with an Intel Core i5 vpro or Intel Core i7 vpro processor (must have Intel Active Management Technology 1 [Intel AMT] version 6.0 or greater) You have installed and configured LabTech agents and the LabTech Control Center for your environment. 2 Common Use Cases Covered in this Guide Discover and provision Intel vpro technology-enabled assets Inventory remote assets Schedule shutdown and power on of remote assets Schedule backup of remote assets

4 Preparing the LabTech Control Center The use cases outlined in this document assume a few preparatory steps. Before pursuing any of the following use cases, you should follow these first steps: Acquire relevant vpro scripts from the LabTech Marketplace Establish your Intel vpro credentials Establish a master computer The following describe how to complete these steps: Step 1: Acquire vpro Scripts from the LabTech Marketplace The use cases included in this document assume you have the following vpro scripts, available on the LabTech Marketplace: vpro Finder, Provisioning (Zero Touch Provisioning vpro with User Consent), Power On, Power Off, and Unconfigure. If you do not have the vpro scripts, the following are steps for downloading and importing the vpro scripts into LabTech. 1. On the LabTech server, create a vpro folder on your desktop. 2. Click on the following links to download and save the vpro scripts to the vpro folder: Note: You can use Intel vpro technology to shut down PCs, but this is not recommended because this is a hardware shutdown (similar to pushing the power button), rather than a software shutdown. vpro Finder ( vpro Provisioning ( vpro Power On ( vpro Power Off ( vpro Unconfigure ( 3. From the Control Center, select Tools > Import > LT XML Expansion. 4. Navigate to the vpro folder with the five XML files. Select the first one and click Open. 5. You may be prompted to create new items. Select Yes. 6. You may be prompted to package the imported scripts. Select Yes. 7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each remaining XML file. 8. Expand Scripts on the navigation tree. You should see a Vpro folder. Expand Vpro and verify that you have the five individual scripts: vpro Finder, vpro Power Off, vpro Power On, vpro Provisioning and vpro Unconfigure. Step 2: Establish Intel vpro Credentials To use the Intel vpro Provisioning, Power On, Power Off or Unconfigure scripts you must first enter your Intel vpro username and password. To set your username and password for a location: 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Clients. 2. Navigate to, and double-click, the desired location.

5 3. Click Info. 4. Click vpro tab. 5. Enter your username in the vprouser field. 6. Enter your password in the vpropass field. 7. Click Save Additional Information (located in the upper left-hand corner), and then close the screen. Figure 1: Intel vpro Credentials Note: Be sure to use the same Intel vpro credentials for provisioning systems in the Provision vpro Assets Use Case section of this document. Step 3: Establish a Master Computer Some scripts in the LabTech Control Center require a device within the desired client or group be assigned as a master computer (e.g. vpro Power On). The following steps outline how to set a device as a master computer. 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Clients. 2. Select your desired client, and expand their tree. 3. Expand the desired location. 4. Double-click the PC you wish to establish as a Master Computer. 5. Select Master in the Agent Flags area of the screen, at the top-right.

6 Figure 2: Establish Master Computer 6. Close out of the PC screen by clicking the Close button at the top-right. Use Case 1: Discover Intel vpro Technology-Enabled Assets The process of discovering assets on your network, and then determining which are Intel vpro technology-enabled, can be time consuming and costly for IT personnel. LabTech Software simplifies the process through the LabTech Agent software. In addition, the LabTech Marketplace is a repository of useful scripts you can download and install into your LabTech Control Center to simplify management of your network. With the LabTech Agent software that will automatically discover assets and set a data field for each asset on your network marking the asset as either Intel vpro technology-enabled or not. This field can then help you write your own scripts that will run only on assets with Intel vpro technology. This use case demonstrates the steps to discover assets on your network as either Intel vpro technologyenabled or not and also determine the AMT version of the Intel vpro PC. This use case assumes you have followed the preparatory first steps discussed in this paper's introduction. Step 1: Determine Machine is vpro Enabled 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Clients.

7 2. Double-click on the desired client and validate the Agent Flags section within the Welcome screen to determine if the Intel VPro option is checked or not. Figure 3: Agent Flags Intel VPro Step 2: Run the Intel vpro Finder Script 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Clients. 2. Right-click on the desired client, select Scripts, vpro, and then click vpro Finder. 3. In the Schedule a Script window, set a date and time to run the script. Alternately, select Run Right Now. Click Create. Figure 4: Schedule a Script 4. The script will determine the AMT version of the Intel vpro machine.

8 Figure 5: Agent Flags Intel Vpro Note: Only machines with Intel vpro and AMT version 7.0 or above can use the following LabTech vpro scripts: vpro Provisioning and vpro Unconfigure. End of Use Case 1 Use Case 2: Provision vpro Assets Intel AMT must be configured before you can take full advantage of the remote management capabilities offered with Intel vpro Technology. LabTech provides a Zero Touch configuration option using the vpro Provisioning script. This script will only work with Intel AMT version 7.0 or above. In addition, once provisioned, it will put the machine in what is called a Client Control Mode. vpro machines that are in this mode have some security considerations; notably something called User Consent. User consent is required for all redirection operations and changes to the boot process. For example, if user consent is enabled, when a remote connection to a computer starts a message shows on the computer of the user. The message contains a randomized code that the user must give to the person who wants to connect to his/her computer. The remote user cannot continue the operation until he/she supplies this code. If you do not wish to enable user consent under Client Control Mode, you can use other provisioning methods to provision the vpro machine as Admin Control Mode. Admin Control Mode does not require user consent. Step 1: Intel vpro machine with AMT version 7.0 or above (Client Control Mode) Note: This step is optional as it assumes you have an Intel vpro machine with AMT version 7.0+ and you want to leverage Client Control Mode; otherwise go to Step 2.

9 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Clients 2. Right-click on the desired client, select Scripts, vpro, and then click vpro Provisioning 3. In the Schedule a Script window, set a date and time to run the script. Alternately, select Run Right Now. Click Create 4. Validate the vpro machine was provisioned successfully by reviewing the Scripts log. Figure 5: Client Scripts Log Step 2: Intel vpro machine with AMT version 4.0 and above (Admin Control Mode) This step outlines the Improved Manual Configuration of Intel vpro Technology Systems (Basic Mode). This method uses an Intel AMT configuration wizard utility that will prepare a setup.bin file to a USB key device. Upon reboot of the system, the computer with Intel AMT 4.0 or above can be completely configured in a few simple steps. For more information about other provisioning methods, visit 1. In order to provision your Intel vpro machine using the Improved Manual Configuration of Intel vpro Technology Systems (Basic Mode), visit for step by step instructions. End of Use Case 2 Use Case 3: Inventory Remote Assets IT personnel are often required to monitor and support a wide variety of disparate assets. Keeping track of these assets can complicate the IT professional's job and increase the time needed to determine a solution for an asset's problems. With the LabTech Control Center you can group monitored assets into distinct groups based on any attributes you deem important, to help you keep track of your assets and quickly determine the correct solution for any given problem.

10 One common grouping is a separation of Intel vpro technology-enabled assets from those without Intel vpro technology, because your range of manageability options will be substantially greater with Intel vpro technology. This use case demonstrates the steps required to create a group within your assets and to assign all Intel vpro technology-enabled devices to that group. Note: this use case assumes you have followed the preparatory first steps discussed in this paper's introduction. Step 1: Create a Group 1. In the LabTech Control Center, right-click Groups, and then click Add Group. 2. Right-click the newly-created New Group, and then click Rename Group. 3. Enter your desired group name. Step 2: Assign Assets to the Group Based on Attributes You can assign assets to a group through a variety of means, including a drag-and-drop interface, assignment based on client, and assignment based on attributes. Drag-and-Drop Method 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Groups and Clients. 2. Within the Clients menu, navigate to the desired clients, locations, or machines. 3. Drag and drop each desired client, location, or machine into the desired group. Assignment by Client Method 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Groups. 2. Right-click the desired group, and then click Add Clients. 3. Select the desired clients, and then click OK. Assignment by Attribute Method 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Groups. 2. Right-click the desired groups, and then click Edit Group. 3. Expand the Auto Join Search drop-down list, and then select the desired attribute (for example, Intel Computers will add all PCs with Intel vpro technology activated). This method will automatically load the group every hour, adding newly discovered PCs with the desired attributes. 4. Click Run Now to populate the group, and then click Save. End of Use Case 3

11 Use Case 4: Schedule Shutdown and Power On of Remote Assets As green computing gains momentum, IT professionals are forced to accomplish the same array of tasks in a smaller time frame, as they have decreased access to their client PCs. LabTech Software uses Intel vpro technology to help IT professionals schedule automated maintenance and power schedules for their entire fleet of PCs, increasing efficiency and helping you cut costs and save energy with script to power down your devices at the end of the work day and turn them back on in the morning, before your employees show up for work. You can save money and increase power efficiency without negatively impacting user productivity. With the LabTech Control Center you can combine existing scripts, such as the Intel vpro Power On script, available on the LabTech Marketplace, to create complex scripts that increase automation and manageability throughout your fleet. This use case demonstrates the steps required to set a power schedule for your Intel vpro technology-enabled PCs, so you can realize greater energy efficiency without negatively impacting your users. Note: this use case assumes you have followed the preparatory first steps discussed in this paper's introduction. Step 1: Create a Safe Shutdown Script 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Clients. 2. Select your desired client, and expand their tree. 3. Navigate to your Master Computer. 4. Double-click the Master Computer. 5. While holding Shift, click Begin, Commands, Shutdown, Shutdown. This will auto-create a script to shut down the machine. Note: This initiates an immediate graceful shutdown. We will edit the script to notify users. Note: You can use Intel vpro technology to shut down PCs, but this is not recommended because this is a hardware shutdown (similar to pushing the power button), rather than a software shutdown. 6. In the Name field enter a name for your new script. For this use case, we will call it "Power Off." 7. Enter any notes about the script in the Notes field. 8. To create a more complex script, double-click the Then clause. 9. Expand the Function drop-down list, and then select Shell. 10. In the Command field, enter shutdown /s /t 30. Note: This notifies the user that the machine will be shutting down, and delays the shutdown by 30 seconds to allow them to save any work. 11. Click Save Step. 12. Click Save.

12 Step 2: Assign a Power-Efficiency Schedule to Your Assets 1. In the LabTech Control Center, expand Groups, and then navigate to and double-click the desired group. 2. Click Scripts. 3. In the Script drop-down menu, select the script created in the previous step. Note: Your script will, by default, appear under Actions. You may need to refresh the LabTech Control Center before the script shows up. 4. In the Run on fields, select the time and regularity for the script to run, for example Everyday at 6:00:00 Every Week. 5. If you want to limit the script to a subgroup within the group, select the desired deciding factor from the Limit to menu. 6. Click Add. 7. To create a more complex schedule, simply repeat steps 1-6 and assign further tasks to your group. 8. For example, to turn the devices back on each morning, in the Scripts drop-down menu, select vpro\vpro Power On. Enter your desired setting, such as Everyday at 7:30:00 Every Week, and then click Add. Note: The settings as described here will include waking your devices on the weekend. To circumvent this, you can add further steps, to limit the devices to waking on work days. 9. Once you are finished, click the Close button at the top-right of the screen. End of Use Case 4 Use Case 5: Schedule Backup of Remote Assets You can create schedules to fulfill a variety of IT needs with the LabTech Control Center. For example, if you want to install patches or perform virus scans without hindering user productivity, it can be useful to set a schedule to turn your devices on at night, after your employees have left for the day, and automatically perform those functions then. You can set your schedule to turn your devices off again after the scheduled maintenance is finished, helping you cut costs and realize greater power efficiency. Another such maintenance task is to create a system image. Without a system backup, a hard drive crash could be disastrous. Regularly backing up your systems can save you endless future hassles, in addition to potential financial savings. However, manually backing up every PC in your fleet can be timeconsuming and an inefficient use of IT resources. With LabTech Backup Desktop, powered by StorageCraft ShadowProtect*, you can quickly and reliably backup your systems to a variety of destinations, ensuring data protection. In combination with the LabTech Control Center, you can set a schedule of backups for your PC fleet to ensure all data is backed up on a regular basis for maximum data protection.

13 This use case demonstrates the steps required to set up a schedule of system backups. Note: this use case assumes you have followed the preparatory first steps discussed in this paper's introduction, in addition to creating the clean shutdown script in Use Case 3. Step 1: Install LabTech Backup Desktop 1. In the LabTech Control Center, navigate to the group or location you wish to install LabTech Backup Desktop on. 2. Right-click the group or location, click Scripts, Backup and Recovery, Setup LTBackup, and then Install LTBackup Desktop. Step 2: Create a Power Schedule for Your Assets Follow the steps outlined in Use Case 3 to create a power schedule for your assets. Note that for this use case you will be performing maintenance at night, and will need to add in extra steps to power on your devices at night, rather than simply turning them on in the morning. Make sure you allow enough time between the Intel vpro Power On script and the scheduled asset backup (described in Step 3 of this use case). Likewise, make sure you allow enough time for the scheduled asset backup before the scheduled power off script. Step 3: Schedule Routine Asset Backup 1. In the LabTech Control Center, navigate to and double-click the PC you wish to schedule routine backups for. 2. Click the LTBackup tab. 3. Click New. 4. In the Backup Wizard, click Next, select the drive(s) you wish to backup, and then click Next. 5. Enter the desired file name for the backup in the File Name field, and then select a Location. Note: It is recommended that you store your backup on a network location, so that it will be accessible in the case of a critical system failure. 6. If necessary, fill in the Username and Password fields. 7. Click Next. 8. Select either a Full backup or a Differential backup. (A differential backup saves only that information which has changed from the previous backup, substantially saving on space.) 9. Select a time to run the backup Now, Later, or Weekly. For this Use Case, we will select Weekly. 10. Select the days of the week you want to schedule full or incremental backups. Note: You can schedule both full and incremental backups in the same schedule. For example, you can set a schedule that implements a full backup every Sunday, with incremental backups every other day of the week. 11. Set a Start time for any scheduled full backups. Set this time to fall after the time you chose to wake your devices up in Step 2 of this use case.

14 12. Enter the desired times into the Start taking backups at this time and Stop taking backups at this time fields for any scheduled incremental backups. 13. Enter the desired Minutes between backups for your incremental backups. The wizard will automatically fill in the Backups per day field based on this information. 14. Once you are satisfied with your schedule, click Next. 15. Select an option from the Select Compression Method drop-down menu. 16. If desired, select the Enter Password field and then enter a password. If desired, select the Split image file field, and then select a size. 17. Enter any notes or comments in the Backup Comment field, and then click Next. 18. Review your backup schedule and information. If you are satisfied, click Finish. You can also select Execute Now to have the backup run immediately. Step 4: Implementing a KVM System Restore In the event of a critical system failure, you will need to access the backup created in the previous step from a remote device and load it onto the failed system. The simplest way to do this is to make use of a KVM technology that will allow you to access the remote device and boot it to a stored image on the network. The hardware-based KVM remote control implemented in Intel vpro technology provide additional benefits over software-based KVM remote control. For example, you are able to connect even if the computer is powered off or has no functioning operating system. For more information on this, see the other Intel vpro technology Common Use Guides. End of Use Case 5 Conclusion Intel Core vpro processors allow greater remote access and interactivity with remote PCs than has previously been possible. LabTech Software takes advantage of this technology to allow IT professionals greater access to Intel vpro technology-enabled remote PCs, including access to powered-off PCs, and the ability to schedule remote shutdowns and backups. This extended capability means lower operating costs, greater efficiency, and faster diagnosis and repair of problem PCs. As the use cases in this document demonstrate, IT can use this technology to remotely diagnose and repair a variety of computer problems that would previously have required on-site visits. And, in the case that an on-site visit remains necessary, Intel Core vpro processors and LabTech Software provide IT enough access to determine the problem and be prepared to deal with it ahead of time, substantially reducing the time needed for the on-site visit. Related links For more information about Intel Core vpro processors, visit:

15 For more information about Intel vpro technology, visit: For more information about LabTech software, visit: INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH INTEL PRODUCTS. NO LICENSE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, BY ESTOPPEL OR OTHERWISE, TO ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IS GRANTED BY THIS DOCUMENT. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN INTEL S TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE FOR SUCH PRODUCTS, INTEL ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, AND INTEL DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, RELATING TO SALE AND/OR USE OF INTEL PRODUCTS INCLUDING LIABILITY OR WARRANTIES RELATING TO FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR INFRINGEMENT OF ANY PATENT, COPYRIGHT OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT. UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED IN WRITING BY INTEL, THE INTEL PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED NOR INTENDED FOR ANY APPLICATION IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE INTEL PRODUCT COULD CREATE A SITUATION WHERE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH MAY OCCUR. Intel may make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time, without notice. Designers must not rely on the absence or characteristics of any features or instructions marked reserved or undefined. Intel reserves these for future definition and shall have no responsibility whatsoever for conflicts or incompatibilities arising from future changes to them. The information here is subject to change without notice. Do not finalize a design with this information. The products described in this document may contain design defects or errors known as errata which may cause the product to deviate from published specifications. Current characterized errata are available on request. Contact your local Intel sales office or your distributor to obtain the latest specifications and before placing your product order. Copies of documents which have an order number and are referenced in this document, or other Intel literature, may be obtained by calling , or by visiting Intel s Web site at Intel vpro Technology is sophisticated and requires setup and activation. Availability of features and results will depend upon the setup and configuration of your hardware, software, and IT environment. To learn more visit: KVM Remote Control (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) is only available with Intel Core i5 vpro and Core i7 vpro processors with Intel Active Management technology activated and configured and with integrated graphics active. Discrete graphics are not supported. Copyright 2011 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Core, Intel vpro, and Intel Active Management Technology are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Printed in USA 0611/KH/PRW/PDF Please Recycle US 1 Requires activation and a system with a corporate network connection, an Intel AMT-enabled chipset, network hardware, and software. For notebooks, Intel AMT may be unavailable or limited over a host OS-based VPN, when connecting wirelessly, on battery power, sleeping, hibernating, or powered off. Results dependent upon hardware, setup, and configuration. For more information, visit 2 For more information on how to install and configure LabTech agents and the LabTech Control Center, visit