If the Web Console user is running Windows, this will cause a small, streamlined version of the Host to be delivered and run (but not installed) on the end user’s desktop. A progress window will appear to show status of the download process. Host on Demand will run as a process in the end user’s Windows session, so it does not require local or system administrative rights or reboot. Once running, the Host on Demand will automatically attempt to establish a RAS Server connection (Host on Demand is hardwired to report only to the RAS Server associated with the Web Console landing page) and a mini-control panel will appear at the top of the end user’s desktop indicating the status of the RAS connection.
The Host on Demand will launch via ClickOnce if the plugin is installed. Otherwise it will download the Host on Demand in the form of an .exe that must be run by the user.
New for v13.3, a PIN will be presented to the user which can be read off to the technician. Techncians can use the PIN to connect directly to the Host from the landing page.
Below is a table of connection states and commands available in the Host on Demand for Windows mini-control panel:
Status
Description
Connection Status
Indicates the status of the RAS connection between the Host on Demand and its associated RAS Server
Indicates that Host has a good RAS connection with the RAS Server and is available for remote access
Indicates that Host has a good RAS connection with the RAS Server and one or more Account Users have established a Master connection for screen sharing and other services
Indicates that Host was unable to establish or maintain a RAS server connection with the Gateway Server; check the Alert command for more details
Commands
Actions that can be taken by the end user with respect to the Host on Demand process
Open a chat session with all Account Users that have an active Master connection to this Host on Demand instance; enabled in Sharing state
View a list of Account Users with active Master connections to this Host on Demand instance; enabled in Sharing state
View more detail about failed RAS server connections between Host on Demand and its associated RAS Server; enabled in Error state
Terminate any active Master connections immediately (but keep RAS server connection active); enabled in Sharing state
Terminate any active Master connections immediately and/or terminate the RAS server connection; Host entry in RAS server is removed; enabled in Ready, Sharing and Error states.
Additional commands are available by right clicking on the mini-control panel to bring up the following context menu:
Following are commands available right-clicking the Host on Demand for Windows control panel context menu:
Commands
Description
Always on top
Keep the HOD mini-control panel on the top screen at all times; ensures that mini-control panel doesn’t get lost behind another screen (Default = selected)
PC-Duo Host Settings
Go to PC-Duo control panel to see current configuration settings for the Host on the remote desktop. Hold SHIFT while launching the settings to enable editing.
Show Personal Identification Number
A 6-digit PIN code representing this Host will appear and can be read off to the technician and they can use that PIN to identify & connect to this Host. When clicked, a box will apear indicating that 6-digit pin along with a message that instructs the user to provide the number to the person who will be remote controlling your computer if asked.
Pin Host on Demand...
If the remote user logged into the local HOD machine does not have local or system administrator rights, the Account User with Input Control may not be able to execute certain commands if User Access Control (UAC) is turned on in Windows; this command will allow Account User to submit alternative set of credentials to get past UAC on the remote desktop.
When selected, the following informational dialog will appear on the remote desktop:
If the Elevate button is clicked, a UAC prompt will appear on the remote desktop and give the Account User the opportunity to enter valid administrative credentials for the Host machine.
If successful, the HOD session will automatically terminate and a new session will be started. In this case, however, the HOD will run with elevated permissions on the remote desktop. It will also be persistent, making it capable of withstanding a reboot and accessible when machine is unattended.
Unlike the non-elevated HOD, which runs as a transient process and will terminate when the local user logs out of Windows, the elevated HOD will come back as a persistent process and will withstand local user logging out of Windows or even a reboot of the HOD machine. It can only be dismissed by clicking on the Terminate button in the HOD mini-control panel, or by clicking on “Close Window” in the context menu of the task bar icon for HOD:
If administrators would like the elevated HOD process to remain, and minimize any incidental action that might cause the Terminate button to be pressed, the “Show Host mini-control panel…” option can be unselected in the Confirm Elevation dialog box shown above.
