Troubleshoting Scheduled Tasks - Run a Script or Push Third Party Software

Last Modified

Fri Mar 10 15:45 GMT 2023

Description

  • Troubleshoting Scheduled Tasks - Run a Script or Push Third Party Software.
  • These are important items to verify when running a script on a device through N-able N-central, or using the Push 3rd Party Software feature.

Environment

  • N-able N-central 10.0 and later

Solution

  1. Does the Installer, script or application run silently? The task runs under the Local System in the background, so prompts will not be seen by the user. So, If the script or application requires user input, there will be no way to provide it, and the task will timeout.
  2. Is the Scheduled Tasks option enabled on the device?
    • This option can be enabled on a specific device from the All Devices view. Click your device, Settings > Properties tab.
    • This option can be enabled on a number of devices simultaneously by:
      1. Go to the All Devices view
      2. Select the devices you wish to enable this option for,
      3. Click Edit.
      4. Under Configuration Options, select both boxes associated with Enable Scheduled Tasks to turn on this feature for the indicated devices (contingent on appropriate licensing available for those devices).
  3. Is File Sharing enabled on the device?
    • When N-able N-central pushes software or runs a script, the ADMIN$ share is used as a location to place the installer or script before execution. If Windows File Sharing is not enabled, this can prevent the task from sending the file.
  4. Does the account being used have permission to the ADMIN$ share?
    • Similar to item 2, the account being used by the Agent/Probe must have access to the ADMIN$ share on the system to transfer the required script or installer. Domain Admin account typically has the required access.
  5. Do we have correct Command Line Parameters?
    • Typically /qn /norestart are used
    • N-able N-central by default includes the msiexec.exe/i parameter, so you do not need to include it in field, only the additional parameters.