controller.properties

Edit the controller.properties file to create and configure global properties for the BigFix® Remote Control controller component to use during a remote control session with a target. The property values apply to the controller component that is used in sessions that are started from the server. The values are the same for every user who runs the controller.

For more information about configuring global controller properties for peer-to-peer remote control sessions, see Configuring global controller properties.

Users can also configure a set of properties locally by using the Configure Controller feature in the controller UI. The local property values override the global property values. For more information about configuring local properties, see Creating a local configuration for the controller.

To enforce the global property value, you can set a property to mandatory so that a user cannot edit the property in the Configuration Window in the controller UI. The mandatory global property overrides the local property. To set a mandatory property, you must manually edit the controller.propreties file. For more information about how to edit the file, see Editing the properties files.

To set a mandatory property, complete the following steps:

Open the controller.propreties file.
For the property that you want to make mandatory, copy the property name and add .mandatory = true to the end.
For example, to make the Enable Address History property mandatory so that it cannot be edited in the Configuration Window, set the following values:

enable.address.history=false
enable.address.history.mandatory=true
Save the file.
Click Admin > Reset Application.

The following options can be configured when you edit the controller.propreties file in the server UI.

Running tools on the target during a remote control session

Configuration settings to add custom menu items to the controller UI. The menu items are added to the Perform Action in Target menu and can be used to run commands on the target during a remote control session.

Note: If too many items are added to the Perform Action in Target menu, the last items in the menu might extend beyond the bottom of the screen. In particular on a smaller screen size, with no support for scrolling menus.

By default, you can configure seven preconfigured tools in the server UI. Three blank tools are also available by default. To add more tools, manually edit the controller.propreties file.

Note: After you manually edit the file, restart the server service or click Admin > Reset Application in the server UI.

Configure the properties by using the following definition formats.

prefix.ToolName =


Modifiable field	prefix.ToolName
Field Description	Display name that is used in the Perform Action in target menu. Each defined tool name must have a different prefix.
Possible Values	User Defined. For example, `tool01.ToolName=Command Prompt` The text, Command Prompt, is displayed in the Perform Action in target menu.
Value Definition

prefix.ToolName.$lang$=


Modifiable field	prefix.ToolName.$lang$
Field Description	Display name that is used in the Perform Action in target menu. Translation of display name. $lang$ is the ISO language code.
Possible Values	User Defined.
Value Definition

prefix.ToolCommand=


Modifiable Field	prefix.ToolCommand
Field Description	Command to run the tool, without parameters.
Possible Values	User Defined. For example, tool01.ToolCommand=[SystemFolder]\\control.exe The tool command can be a fully qualified path or just the file name. The file must be on the PATH environment variable of the logged in user. You can specify executable files but also files that are associated with an executable file. Do not use quotation marks, even with a path or file name that contain spaces. For example, tool01.ToolCommand=cmd.exe and tool01.ToolCommand=[SystemFolder]\\cmd.exe are equivalent. Note: When you use a backslash in the path, you must enter two backslashes. You can use the following folder properties when you define Windows™ tools parameters. The target substitutes the values with the actual path on the target system. [WindowsFolder] The target uses the following path to run the tool. `[WindowsVolume]\Windows` [SystemFolder] The target uses the following path to run the tool. `[WindowsFolder]\System32` Folder properties are not relevant for Linux™ targets. `lnxcontrol.ToolCommand = /usr/bin/gnome-control-center`
Value Definition

prefix.ToolParameters =


Modifiable field	prefix.ToolParameters
Field Description	Optional parameters for the command to run.
Possible Values	User defined
Value Definition

prefix.ToolUser =


Modifiable Field	prefix.ToolUser
Field Description	Determines which privileges or credentials the command is run with.
Possible Values	<blank> or admin
Value Definition	<blank> Run the tool as the logged on user. Note: Might trigger UAC prompts depending on the version of Windows™. This value is the default value. admin Run the tool with UAC prompt to elevate privileges.

Preconfigured tools

The following list of tools are preconfigured and can be edited by using the Edit properties files option.

Note: Although the tools are preconfigured, they are displayed in the Perform action in target menu only if the command to run the tool is installed on the target. Therefore, some sessions can display all of the preconfigured tools and other sessions might display a few preconfigured tools. Windows™ tools are displayed only when you are connected to a Windows™ target. Linux™ tools are displayed only when you are connected to a Linux™ target.

tool01.ToolName = Control Panel
tool01.ToolCommand = [SystemFolder]\\control.exe
tool01.ToolParameters =
tool01.ToolUser =

tool02.ToolName = Command Prompt
tool02.ToolCommand = [SystemFolder]\\cmd.exe
tool02.ToolParameters =
tool02.ToolUser =

tool03.ToolName = Administrator Command Prompt
tool03.ToolCommand = [SystemFolder]\\cmd.exe
tool03.ToolParameters =
tool03.ToolUser = admin

tool04.ToolName = Task Manager
tool04.ToolCommand = [SystemFolder]\\taskmgr.exe
tool04.ToolParameters =
tool04.ToolUser =

tool05.ToolName = Windows™ Explorer
tool05.ToolCommand = [WindowsFolder]\\explorer.exe
tool05.ToolParameters =
tool05.ToolUser =

tool06.ToolName=Terminal
tool06.ToolCommand=/usr/bin/gnome-terminal
tool06.ToolParameters =
tool06.ToolUser =

tool07.ToolName=Control Panel
tool07.ToolCommand=/usr/bin/gnome-control-center
tool07.ToolParameters =
tool07.ToolUser =

Sending key sequences to the target during a session

Configuration settings to add custom key sequence shortcuts to the controller to inject on the target system during a remote control session. For more information about of the supported key codes, see Send key sequences to the target during a remote control session.

keyX.KeySequenceName=


Modifiable field	keyX.KeySequenceName
Field Description	Display name that is used in the Perform Action in target menu. Each defined key sequence name must have a different prefix. For more information, see Send key sequences to the target during a remote control session. X = 01 to n.
Possible Values	User Defined. For example, `key01.KeySequenceName = Inject F1` The text, Inject F1, is displayed in the Perform Action in target menu.
Value Definition

keyX.KeySequenceName.language=


Modifiable field	keyX.KeySequenceName.language
Field Description	Translations for the display name. This property is optional. X = 1 to n
Possible Values	User Defined. For example, `key01.KeySequenceName.es = Inyectar F1`
Value Definition

keyX.KeySequenceValue=


Modifiable Field	keyX.KeySequenceValue
Field Description	Macro sequence. The sequences of keys that are defined here are sent to the target system. X = 1 to n
Possible Values	User Defined. For example, `key01.KeySequenceValue = [F1]`
Value Definition

End the session if audit messages cannot be uploaded to the server

Configuration setting to automatically end the session if audit messages cannot be uploaded to the server.

abort.on.audit.fail=


Modifiable field	abort.on.audit.fail
Field Description	During a managed remote control session, when Force session audit is enabled, if the controller fails to send an audit message to the server, the session ends.
Possible Values	true or false
Value Definition	true The session ends automatically when an audit message cannot be sent to the server. false The session does not end when an audit message cannot be sent to the server.