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BigFix 10 Lifecycle Documentation
Welcome to the BigFix Lifecycle documentation, where you can find information about how to install, maintain, and use BigFix Lifecycle.
BigFix Platform
BigFix Query
Lifecycle overview
BigFix Lifecycle is single-agent, single-console technology that provides near real-time visibility into the state of endpoints.
Lifecycle guides in PDF format
Following is a list of links to the BigFix Lifecycle guides in PDF format:
Software Distribution
Use the BigFix Software Distribution applications to deploy software to endpoints across your network from a single location. Maintain control and visibility into software delivery and installation. Device owners can use the Self Service Application to manage software and other BigFix actions that are deployed to them as offers.
OS Deployment
BigFix OS Deployment, which is part of the BigFix Lifecycle Management suite, provides a consolidated, comprehensive solution to quickly deploy new workstations and servers throughout a network from a single, centralized location. This solution saves time and money, enforces a standardized and approved image, and reduces risks associated with non-compliant or insecure configurations.
Remote Control
BigFix Remote Control application helps to communicate between different components, clients, and endpoints within BigFix environment.
- Release notes
  A summary of changed or new features and enhancements included in BigFix Remote Control.
- Remote Control Installation Guide
  By using Remote Control you can remotely support and control thousands of PCs and servers, on an enterprise scale, from a central location or directly, in peer to peer mode.
- Remote Control Administrators Guide
  This guide is for users who want to administer Remote Control.
- Remote Control Console User Guide
- BigFix Remote Control Controller Users Guide
  - The BigFix Remote Control server interface
  - Remote control sessions
    Use remote control sessions to establish a connection to a computer in your environment to observe or actively control the computer remotely. In the session the controller user's keyboard and mouse become the primary keyboard and mouse for the remote system. Functions such as chat, guidance, reboot, and file transfer are some of the options available for use in a remote control session.
  - Using the controller interface as a controller user
    - Overview of the controller interface
    - Changing the session type during a remote control session
    - Enabling and Disabling Local Input
    - Setting the state of the target numlock led during a remote control session in Remote Control
    - Actions that you can perform on the target.
    - Retrieving Target System Information
    - Chatting to the target user during a remote control session
    - Inviting multiple participants into a remote control session.
      - Collaboration sessions using the server UI
      - Peer to Peer collaboration sessions
        Starting a peer to peer collaboration session
        Joining a peer to peer collaboration session by connecting to the master controller
        When a remote control session is started by connecting directly to the target in peer to peer mode you can attempt to join this session if collaboration has been started. Your acceptance into this session is determined by the master controller and the target user, depending on policy values that have been set. You can join a peer to peer remote control session by connecting to the master controller of the session.
        Join by connecting to the target
        When a target is already in a peer to peer remote control session you can attempt to join this session if collaboration has been started and the target properties Managed = No and CheckUserLogin=Yes. Your acceptance into this session is determined by the master controller and the target user, depending on the user acceptance property values that have been set.
        Handing over a peer to peer collaboration session
      - Collaboration during sessions connected through a broker
        During remote control sessions that are started by using a broker to make the connection, use the collaboration function to allow other participants to join the session.
      - Controlling collaboration session activity
      - Ending a collaboration session
      - Ending a collaboration session when you disconnect
        When you end a session in which collaboration is started, you can choose to stay in the session or disconnect from the session.
      - Collaboration and handover audit events
    - Controller tools
    - Recording a remote control session
    - Transfer of files during an active session
      During an Remote Control remote control session, you can transfer files in two ways.
    - Copying clipboard information between the controller and target
    - Connecting to a smart card reader during a session
      To provide smart card support on the target during an Active mode session, select a local card reader to create and attach to a virtual card reader on the target. Your local card reader connects to the virtual card reader. During the session, you can use your local card, and reader as though they were on the remote target.
    - Network response indication
      The network response indicator provides an indication of the network round-trip time during a session. That is, the time it takes for network data to be sent from the controller to the target and the response returned to the controller.
    - Viewing multiple target screens
      During a session, with a target that is configured with multiple displays, you can toggle between each screen or view all screens at the same time.
    - Scrolling the target screen during a session
    - Viewing the full target screen in a session window
    - Change the color quality of the session window to improve session performance
    - Creating a local configuration for the controller
      When you install the controller component, you can configure properties and the properties are saved to the trc_controller.cfg file in the controller installation directory. The properties in this file are used each time the controller starts and are the same for all users. However, you can also create a user-specific configuration after installation by using the Configure controller option in the controller UI.
    - Obtaining help
    - Ending a Session
  - Use remote control commands from the command line
    You can install tools that you can use to start a remote control session from the command line. You can also use the tools to run a command on a target and see the output of the command on your computer.
  - Configuring global controller properties
    Edit the trc_controller.cfg file to create and configure global controller properties. The properties are used by the Remote Control controller component during a peer to peer remote control session. The property values are the same for every user who runs the controller.
  - Auditing
    Remote control session events are saved for auditing purposes if the AuditToSystem policy is enabled for the session.
  - Ensuring that current data is reported
  - Error messages
    In most of cases, connectivity problems that are experienced in Remote Control are related to the surrounding network infrastructure. Error messages in Remote Control help to pin point these problems.
  - Session resilience for sessions that are connected by using a broker
    During a remote control session that is connected by using a broker, when connection failure is detected, reconnection to the session is attempted automatically. The controller user and target user are informed of what is happening with the session connection through various message windows.
  - Smart card status messages
    The following status messages can be displayed on the controller during a remote control session in which smart card authentication is enabled. A Hide button is displayed on some of the message windows. Click Hide to minimize the message window and continue in the session.
  - Keyboard shortcuts for the BigFix® Remote Control Target for macOS
    During a remote control session with a BigFix® Remote Control Target for macOS, you can inject the following keyboard shortcuts. The shortcuts are displayed in the Perform Action in Target menu in the controller UI.
  - Override proxy
    The controller uses the proxy defined at system level by default. In some conditions, this may not be desirable. Creating a file named “override.proxy” in the controller install folder changes the default behavior and the system proxy is ignored
- Remote Control Target Users Guide
- Remote Control On-demand Target Guide
  Use Remote Control to start remote control sessions over the internet with targets that do not have the target software installed.
- Remote Control V10 Readme
Power Management
Use Power Management to control, monitor, and manage conservation policies in your deployment.
Server Automation
Server Automation provides powerful automation. You can use it to sequence automation actions in steps across multiple endpoints.
Profile Management
Profile Management is a WebUI-based feature of BigFix Lifecycle. It provides Security Administrators the capability to define and deploy security policies to Windows 10 and macOS devices.
BigFix Remediate
BigFix MCM

Starting a peer to peer collaboration session

About this task

To start a collaboration session and allow others to join the session, start a peer to peer session with the required target and become the master controller by completing the following steps:

Procedure

Start a peer to peer session with a target.
For details on how to start a peer to peer session, see Starting a peer to peer session.
Click Open the collaboration panel for multiple controllers in the controller window toolbar
when the session starts.
The Collaboration Control Panel opens and you are now the master controller for the session.

Figure 1. Collaboration Control Panel
Click Start.

Results

You can allow other participants to join this remote control session. When other participants join the session, use the functions within the Collaboration Control Panel to control the activity within the session. For more details, seeControlling session activity as the master controller.

Click Handover to pass full control of the session over to another controller user. For more details of this feature, see Handing over a peer to peer collaboration session.

Note: When each new controller requests to join the session you are asked to accept the request. You can configure the controller so that you are not asked to accept these requests. For more details see, Hiding the master controller acceptance window.