Getting started with RSHUT Pro
You can use the following installations RSHUT with a computer:
- Personal - use this type of installation with stand alone PC or with the computer that should not be controlled over network.
- Network server - this type of installation should be installed on the PC that must have control over other computers in your network.
- Network client - this type of installation should be installed on network workstations that must be responsible for listening and executing remote commands from RSHUT server(s) over network.
Note: In order to receive remote commands from RSHUT server the network clients should be installed and running. Use 'Start with Windows' option with RSHUT clients to ensure this.
Basic usage of RSHUT Pro is clear - enter computer name in the top edit box (skip this step for personal installation because local computer is supposed), select an action from the list of actions (e.g. 'power off') and press 'START' button. RSHUT will send the command to the computer specified and the action will be performed by network RSHUT client (in case of personal installation action will be done on local computer).
So it is really simple. Let's learn what we can do any more.
Selecting computers
In case of RSHUT network server installation you have ability to communicate many computers (trial version limits it to 5). You can enter their names comma separated at the top 'Computers' edit box of main RSHUT window. You do not need enter them in UNC format like '\\ANN_PC' (however you can! RSHUT process it properly) - just a name like 'ANN_PC' will be enough. RSHUT stores the last 15 computer name strings you enter here so you can quickly call these from the drop-down list when click on the right edge of the edit box. Click on the button on the right of the edit box will display dialog box where you can browse your network and select a computer to add to the computers list.
The special name 'My computer' can be used to indicate the local PC. Also you can use IP-addresses (or Internet DNS names like 'my.host.com') of the computers.
Actions
Next step is to select an action you would like to be executed. It may be selected from drop-down 'Actions' list and includes the following actions:
- 'Shut down', 'Reboot', 'Power Off' - the actions are used for computer shutdowns.
- 'Suspend', 'Hibernate' - the actions are used for computer state saving to be restored further. All these actions should be supported by your hardware and Windows. Note, that hibernation action is supported in Windows 2000/XP only.
- 'Log Off', 'Lock' - log off the current user or lock the workstation (the last command is not available in Windows 9x/ME, in case you specify this it will run screen saver).
- 'Wake-On-LAN' - send specially designed WOL packets to remote computers to wake them up.
- 'Eject CD-ROM', 'Close CD-ROM', 'Start Screen saver', 'On/Off monitor', 'Low monitor power' - actions for CD-ROM(s) and monitor management.
- 'Execute' - execute a command (same as one you execute from 'Run..' dialog in Windows). The command should be entered in 'Message/command' edit box in the main RSHUT window.
All of the actions can be provided with optional message string (except the action 'Execute' that provides command instead) that will be displayed to the user on the computers you send this action to.
Processes termination
Any shutdown action can specify one of the following processes termination options:
- 'Close applications' - the default command. It sends each application request message for current session end. An application can deny it request or pop-up with a dialog like "Save as..". For these cases see RSHUT's preferences 'Emulate ENTER key press' and 'Emulate RIGHT key press' in a loop that can help you either confirm these dialogs with ENTER or switching to the neighbors command (such as in the system dialog Wait-End-Cancel).
- 'Forces processes to terminate' - When this flag is set, the system does not send 'end session' messages. This can cause the applications to lose data. Therefore, you should only use this flag in an emergency.
- 'Force (if don't respond)' - forces processes to terminate if they do not respond to the 'end session' message. Works in Windows 2000/XP only.
- 'Terminate processes' - terminate processes using internal system calls from RSHUT. It is dangerous to terminate all processes in the system since it can hung the computer, because of it you should specify (in the dialog entitled 'Terminate list' that will appears on this option selection) what processes should be terminated or what processes should not be terminated. By default RSHUT already contain the list of processes that should not be terminated (the list is different for Windows 95/98/ME and Windows NT/2000/XP) but you can extent this list or modify it depend on your system and running applications.
Execution timeout
To delay action execution you may use timeout. You can enter the value in 'Action timeout' field on the main window. For your convenience you can switch it value to display it in 'seconds' format or in 'minute:seconds' format. To start action without any timeout set the timeout value to zero.
Schedule action
You can quickly schedule the action selected on the main RSHUT window for specified time of day. To do it just enter time in form "hour:minute" and enable 'Do the action in:' checkbox (herewith look at the icon of RSHUT in system tray (red circle with black cross) - it will have blinking dot). Also you can enable checkbox 'Onetime action' that will tell RSHUT that the action should be executed once, then the check box 'Do the action in:' will be cleared. (Note, that the actual begin of the scheduled action will be started in specified time minus timeout, so the actual moment of action execution will be the time specified).
Start and Stop commands
To start action execution you should press 'START' button. This will send the action to remote computers or execute it on the local computer (depend on what computer names you've specified on the computers list). While sending the command RSHUT's icon in the system tray will indicate this process.
The computer you have sent the action to will popup message with countdown timeout timer that displays the action, remaining time, computer and username of the PC that have sent this command (see 'Action execution').
Note: if the list of computers (you sending the action to) includes local computer name then the action with the local computer will be started last.
To cancel all the actions previously started (note, that the only actions with non-zero timeout can be cancelled) you should press 'CANCEL' button.
Quick start command
Sometimes we wish execute an action a little faster than current timeout specifies but it is inconveniently to change timeout value, start an action and then change timeout value back. In this case you can use 'Quick start' option. When you select it you can specify desired timeout (e.g. zero) to delay before the execution. After the execution the option 'quick start' clears. Note, if you select 'quick start' option and choose an action then after the action execution the currently selected action will be turned back to the value it was before quick start was selected.
Silent execution
Each time RSHUT finishes execution of an action it prompts you with the message box of the result of execution (note that in case you're running Windows 2000/XP it displayed as balloon tip near of RSHUT icon in system tray -
To deny these messages check 'Don't display report messages' box.
Auto-start
The option 'Start with Windows' enables RSHUT to run automatically when Windows starts. When running Windows NT/2000/XP this option installs RSHUT as a service so you have to have rights to install it.
You need to enable this option with RSHUT clients in order to work with them over network.
Messages history
The button 'Log' displays dialog that keep actions execution history, log messages. It can be turned off with the option 'Enable log messages'.
Menu
Minimizing the main RSHUT window hides it to system tray (see red icon with black cross at the bottom of screen). Right mouse click it to popup menu with the commands or left click to restore RSHUT window.
Also you can get fast access to the menu by pressing 'Menu' button on the main RSHUT window.
Other options
Usage of scheduler (the button 'Advanced') and options description you can learn from the topics below. Note that advanced scheduler is available in corporate or business version only.