Reboot Now or Later

Where the device requires a reboot, for example when deploying patches or installing a new version of Managed Antivirus, this is indicated in both the Reboot column of the Dashboard and the device's Summary tab.

The Dashboard reboot option is available for Windows computers and Mac computers running the Mac Agent version 3.3.0 or later.

You can initiate a restart from the Dashboard with the command sent to the Agent during its next 24x7 upload cycle.

Where the device is offline (i.e. powered down or due to loss of network connection, etc.) or in a hibernating state, the Reboot action will be set to run once the device comes back online.

Select OK to accept or Cancel action.

You can also select to View Pending Actions.

Two reboot options are available to reflect potential use cases:

  • Now: the Agent is instructed to reboot the device after a delay of five minutes from receipt of the restart command. For both Windows and Mac the user receives a five minute warning message to save their work. Mac users receive an additional 15 second warning message.
  • Later: the Agent is instructed to reboot the device at the specified date and time

Although a System Shutdown countdown message is displayed on the device for both Reboot types, in line with best practice we would suggest making the end user aware of the restart so they can save their work before the reboot is initiated.

Once the Reboot: Now instruction is sent to the Agent, it cannot be canceled from the Dashboard or device

Reboot: Now or Later - Single Device

  1. Log into the Dashboard
  2. Go to the Servers, Workstations or Mixed pane
  3. Right-click on the device, or from the Server or Workstation drop-down
  4. Choose Reboot
    1. Enter the password of the user you have logged into the Dashboard under to confirm deletion
    2. OK to save and apply
      1. Schedule the reboot Date and Time
      2. OK
      3. Enter the password of the user you have logged into the Dashboard under to confirm the reboot action
      4. OK to save and apply

Reboot: Now or Later - Multiple Devices

  1. Log into the Dashboard
  2. Go to the Servers, Workstations or Mixed pane
  3. Multi-select the devices to reboot (Shift and left-click for a range, Control and left-click for specific devices)
  4. Right-click on one of the selection or from the Servers, Workstations or Devices drop-down
  5. Choose Reboot

    6. Now

    1. Confirm devices to restart, untick any where a reboot is not required. Those devices where a reboot is not available are highlighted in Able to create actions? For example, Already has an action of this type or Requires Agent vx.x
    2. Run
    3. Enter the password of the user you have logged into the Dashboard under to confirm the reboot action
    4. OK to save and apply

    Later

    1. Confirm devices to restart, deselect any Devices where a reboot is not required. The Able to create actions? highlights Devices the action is unavailable. For example, Already has an action of this type.
    2. Schedule
    3. Choose the reboot Date and Time
    4. OK
    5. Enter the password of the user you have logged into the Dashboard under to confirm the reboot action
    6. OK to save and apply

Where the restart action is in a pending state, the Device's Reboot menu options are grayed out.

The Reboot: Now or Later schedule is based on the local time of the computer the Agent is installed on.

When configuring the Dashboard Reboot options, they are based on the default time zone setting for your Dashboard so you can select the times in the current and future date.

However, you cannot select a previous date so you may experience problems when trying to run a reboot for a device that is in a different timezone. For example, if the Dashboard timezone is Melbourne, Australia and the device is in New York, USA.

In this case we would suggest changing your default Dashboard time configuration from Settings > General Settings > Office Hours > Time Zone to reflect the timezone of the Agents in the last timezone to change. In the above example change the timezone from Australia/Melbourne to Americas/New York.

Once complete, set the time zone for each Client to ensure their Reports etc. are generated in line with their timezone. Right-click the Client in the Client list, Edit Client > General > Timezone

Reboot Options and Reboot Later Schedule

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Multiple Device Action - Confirmation Dialog and Device - Windows System Shutdown Message

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Mac five and 15 second System Shutdown Message

Cancel Reboot: Later

Reboot: Later actions can be canceled from the Dashboard up until the selected reboot time:

Single Device

  1. Log into the Dashboard
  2. Go to the Servers, Workstations or Mixed pane
  3. Select the device
  4. Right-click on one of the selection or from the Servers, Workstations or Devices drop-down
  5. Pending Server Actions or Pending Workstation Actions
  6. Highlight the target action
  7. Click Cancel Action(s)
  8. Enter the password of the user you have logged into the Dashboard under to confirm the reboot action
  9. OK to confirm
  10. Close

Multiple Devices

  1. Log into the Dashboard
  2. Go to View > Pending Actions
  3. Select the target actions and devices
  4. Click Cancel Action(s)
  5. Enter the password of the user you have logged into the Dashboard under to confirm the reboot action
  6. OK to confirm
  7. Close

Dashboard Behavior: Reboot manually canceled on Device

Where the end user cancels the reboot on the device (for example runs the shutdown abort command shutdown.exe /a) the Dashboard continues to display the device as pending in the Reboot column for thirty minutes after issuance of the command from the Dashboard. Whilst in this Reboot pending state the Dashboard Reboot option is unavailable.

After this thirty minute timeout period the device's status in the Reboot column changes from pending to failed with the Reboot option now available for reissue to the device.