EMCO Remote Shutdown - Release Announcements

Version 4.0.2 is available

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:12:00 GMT

New and improved features

Features below were firstly introduced or significantly improved in this release:

Improved integration with the System Tray to provide an access to more application management options
Improved logging to store information about problems happened on application start up

Resolved issues

This release contains a set of resolved issues, including most important ones, listed below:

Potential problems during window layout loading process
Minimize on start up feature does not work in some environments
Application cannot be minimized after a period of time
System Tray icon cannot be created in some environments

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 4.0.1 is available

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:27:00 GMT

New and improved features

Features below were firstly introduced or significantly improved in this release:

Improved error diagnostics in network scan operations

Resolved issues

This release contains a set of resolved issues, including most important ones, listed below:

Access violation during scan of Active Directory with hierarchical structure of domains

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 4.0.0 is available

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:44:00 GMT

Brand new look

The application comes with a brand new visual interface. Briefly, it was totally reorganized to simplify typical workflows and represent information using modern and elegant style. In addition to visual changes, such as Ribbon bar, skinning and new icons set, the new interface is focused on multi-tasking. This feature allows you to work with the application and review execution log or make schedule changes, for example, while scheduled tasks are executed on background.

Simplified remote task management

All steps required for task configuration and scheduling were combined into one step. Now when you create a new task you have to follow a simple wizard that helps you to select a remote action, execution date, time and recurrence options, as well as select target PCs and configure execution options. Following wizard's instructions you can configure and schedule remote task in just few moments.

Extended scheduling

Scheduling management was significantly improved to provide more flexibility and visualization. Now scheduling is similar to MS Outlook planning and scheduling control. In a scalable scheduling area you can see scheduled tasks and move them to change launch conditions. A recurrence option set was extended - in this version you can use different recurrence patterns and set termination conditions.

Operations cancellation on remote side

Most remote operations now have an option to allow operation's cancellation on the remote side. You can use this option, for example, to schedule an automatic shutdown for all desktops. If some desktops are in use, users can cancel a shutdown and continue their work.

New network engine

This version comes with a brand new network engine. It is able to extract data from the Active Directory. As the result, network scanning takes just few moments even for large networks and always provide up-to-date information about the network structure, including organization units and all computers. Other network operations were optimized as well in order to be launched in parallel and minimize execution time.

Custom PCs grouping

If you need to execute remote operations on different groups of PCs and hierarchical network structure that represents network organization in the Active Directory isn't enough for you, you can create custom groups in a special Custom Grouping tree. You can create as many groups as you need and can add computers to these groups. Adding on the same computer into different groups is allowed.

Flexible running task management

When remote operations are executed, you can see the progress on the Task Manager tab. You can not only check the current execution state and the overall progress, but also can terminate operation. Operations are represented hierarchically, so you can terminate a low-level operation, for example execution on a particular PC, or terminate a high-level operation and terminate execution on an entire domain.

Detailed task execution results

You can get the detailed information about execution state of every task on the Task Execution Results tab. The information is grouped by task's execution date and time and includes status for every PC. So you can easily check where task was executed successfully and where it was failed.

Customizable application log

This version has a brand new logging system. Now application log contains information about all executed operations. If operation is failed, the log message explains the reason and provides tips how to resolve the problem. Using settings located in Preferences dialog, you can configure log to display only messages with defined level, for example, only errors. Also you can configure time bounds for displayed messages and auto-cleaning rules.

New remote operations

A set of supported remote operations was extended and now includes Hibernate and Sleep operations. Hibernate operation writes memory content to the hard drive and turn PC off. Sleep operation switches PC to the standby mode for energy saving.

Multiple databases

You can save different power plans in different databases and quickly switch between them to change a power plan. The database stores tasks, schedules and network information. You can create as many databases, as you need to save different tasks and schedules.

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 3.0.1 is available

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:55:00 GMT

New and improved features

Features below were firstly introduced or significantly improved in this release:

Improved Live Update mechanism and proxy support
Improved Getting Started section in the integrated help

Resolved issues

This release contains a set of resolved issues, including most important ones, listed below:

Access error during the remote service's installation
Time lag between abort command execution and remote operation cancellation

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 3.0.0 is available

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:55:00 GMT

Improved performance of network operations

All network operations were optimized to work in parallel in order to serve a large number of PCs simultaneously in enterprise networks. The total performance score was improved up to 170%. Depending of the size of your network you can configure the total number of working threads to execute remote operations in parallel. Such tuning allows you to reach the maximum performance.

Better logging

Error messages in log provide detailed information about detected problem. Using this information you can troubleshoot the problem quickly.

Alternate credentials

The new alternate credentials setup allows using the application in a complex network environment that consists of domains and workgroups. Now you can set specific credentials for domains and workgroups as well as for particular PC.

Integrated help

Application includes updated help file. Now it provides a real-life examples of application usage scenarios and contains a lot of tips that can help your work.

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 2.3.2 is available

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:20:00 GMT

Minimize to System Tray

In order to execute scheduled tasks application should be up and running. To save a space on the task bar now it can be minimized to the System Tray where it stays in the active state and show notifications about schedules execution.

You can control integration with the System Tray using options on the Preferences dialog. These options allow enabling/disabling minimization to Tray, managing restore and notification behavior.

Scheduled Tasks Validation

Automatic validation was applied to all scheduled tasks. It allows detecting situations when scheduled task was not properly configured to be executed according with the schedule. For example, if Machine Queue for the task is empty, it is considered as invalid. Such schedules are marked in the schedule list and you can get detailed diagnostic information for each of them.

Resolved issues

This release contains a set of resolved issues, including most important ones, listed below:

Remote command fails to close application required user input even if Force option is set
Monthly schedule works incorrectly
Unable to execute Wake On LAN operation if Machine Queue is filled by the data from Add Machines to Queue dialog
Cancel button works incorrectly on Preferences dialog

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 2.3.1 is available

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:54:00 GMT

Simplified Wake-on-LAN packet sending

Send WOL Packet dialog, available from Tools > Send WOL Packet... menu, was reworked to simplify WOL packet sending to remote PCs. To deliver a packet to another subnet you need to specify a subnet mask. Now you can choose to enter PC name or IP on the Send WOL Packet dialog instead. In this case subnet mask will be detected automatically.

Resolved issues

This release contains a set of resolved issues, including most important ones, listed below:

Unnatural sort order in the Machines Tree
Domain enumeration failure in specific cases

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 2.3.0 is available

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:36:00 GMT

Intuitive task creation approach

Task creation process was changed in order to replace old approach by a new, intuitive one. Now you can create or configure a task at one step. A list of existing tasks is displayed on the Task tab. Information about selected task is represented below where it can be changed if required.

Run Now and Abort buttons

Run Now and Abort buttons were added to task's configuration pane. Thus you can launch the task and abort it execution directly.

Improved Add Machine dialog

New Add Machine(s) dialog provides you by flexible options for adding PCs to the Machine Tree. You can choose to add PC by name or IP, by IP range, by specifying the regular name or detect automatically by enumerating the local network.

Completed Tasks list

A list of completed tasks was added to the Schedule tab. On this list you can see a summary for all executed tasks. Execution status is displayed by icons and textual description. You can click on the row to get detailed information about subtasks execution results.

Updated options set

A set of application options represented on the Options tab was simplified. New set includes options to retrieve basic information from remote PCs and custom scan results. New option allows also checking a status of remote Agent and displaying it in the Machine Tree. Also you can configure parameters to receive notifications by e-mail.

Standalone domain/workgroup enumeration

Now you can enumerate each domain/workgroup separately. To execute domain/workgroup enumeration you need to select domain or workgroup node in the Machines Tree, open a context menu and select Enumerate Domain action.

Add Machines to Queue dialog

A new task's Machine Queue filling approach was introduced. You still can drag&drop PCs from the Machines Tree, but also you can add PCs using new Add Machines to Queue dialog. It can be activated by correspondent button on the Machine Queue toolbar.

Resolved issues

This release contains a set of resolved issues, including most important ones, listed below:

Wrong sort order in the Machine Tree when PCs are represented by IP addresses
Sending e-mail notification sometimes fail
Too long startup in case of large number of PCs in the network
Wrong log entries for schedules with empty Machine Queue
Incorrect PC fetch from some network providers

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 2.2.0 is available

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:09:00 GMT

Professional and Starter editions

Functionality of two separate tools Remote Shutdown Professional and Remote Shutdown Lite was merged in a successor product Remote Shutdown. Remote Shutdown is available in two editions: Starter and Professional with functionality correspondingly similar to their predecessors: Remote Shutdown Lite and Remote Shutdown Professional.

Starter edition offers basic functionality for scanning network, job scheduling and execution of shutdown and reboot operations remotely.

Professional edition offers ability to install and use remote Agent that provides extended features set including lock/unlock input devices, power off operation and ability to run customized commands before remote job execution.

Improved UI

Few visual improvements were applied. Scan information entries in the Machines tree got correspondent icons to improve data representation. Forms were polished, some controls were reorganized and reshuffled to improve usability.

Alternative credentials for workgroup

Alternative credentials functionality now can be used not only in domain, but in workgroup as well. It can be helpful if you account has no enough permissions to perform operations with remote PCs. In this case you can define alternative credentials that will be used for remote operations.

Credentials for remote Agent

Now when you installing remote Agent, you can choose credentials to be used for its installation:

Credentials of current user who launched Remote Shutdown
Alternative credentials defined for particular domain or workgroup
Credentials defined by entered username and password

These options were added by user's requests and targeted at simplifying remote Agent installation in many real-life situations.

Skip past tasks on startup option

This option allows you to skip execution of overdue jobs at Remote Shutdown startup. Default state for this option was changed and now it is enabled. It means that by default Remote Shutdown skips execution of overdue jobs. If you would like to change this option you can find it on Settings dialog.

Improved logging

Set of logging data was extended to include information required to detect a reason of problem. In particular, diagnostic of remote operations failures was improved.

OS name detection

Basic information extracted from remote PCs was extended and now includes OS name and version.

On-demand remote Agent installation

If you launch remote operation by clicking on Run Now button and remote operation requires remote Agent to execute it, you will be prompted to install Agent if it's absent on remote PC. Operation will be successfully completed only in case when Agent will be installed, otherwise it will be skipped.

Send WOL packet from the context menu

You can send Wakeup On Lan command for each PC in the Machine tree by selecting correspondent item in the context menu. In this case IP or MAC address will be set accordingly by default and you don't need to enter them manually.

Resolved issues

This release contains a set of resolved issues, including most important ones, listed below:

Lock/unlock input device operations don't work under Windows 2008
External network enumeration storage doesn't updated when File > Save Enum File is executed
Total Physical Memory wrongly detected under Windows XP x64, Windows Vista and Windows 2008
Information about current logged user extracted incorrectly
Unable to retrieve remote PC details under x64 platforms
In Professional version remote shutdown works only if remote Agent is used
Under some conditions settings file can be saved with wrong format

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown

Version 2.1.1 is available

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:32:00 GMT

New UI look

User interface was polished. Changes were applied to toolbar, status bar and forms. Icons set was updated.

New communication protocol

Communication protocol between server and remote Agents was changed from DCOM/RPC to sockets. This change significantly simplifies Agent installation on remote computer, because it doesn't require any additional actions for enabling communication between server and Agent.

Vista and x64 platforms support

List of supported platforms was extended and now includes Windows Vista and various x64 platforms.

User Account Control (UAC) support was added for Windows Vista. You don't need to launch Remote Shutdown using 'Run as Administrator' command under Vista now, because it is automatically executed with administrative permissions. If you are not computer administrator, you will be prompted to enter administrative credentials.

Data validation on dialogs

Dialogs were improved and now have a special area to show hints and errors. Data validation mechanism assists you with data entering by providing informative messages displayed on this area.

Remote Agent status check

Verification of remote Agent status was added before execution of remote operations. It should prevent situations when operation cannot be completed when remote Agent is absent or deactivated.

Resolved issues

This release contains a set of resolved issues, including most important ones, listed below:

In some cases power off operation makes shutdown, but doesn't switch off power
Network enumeration reports incomplete list of PCs
Wrong log information in case of schedule termination and authentication failure
Lock/unlock input devices doesn't work on Windows XP
Potential access violation during installation of remote Agent

Learn more: EMCO Remote Shutdown