EV Reach - IT Process Automation Tutorial - Incorporating Third Party Agents in the Scope Actions
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Objectives
In this tutorial, you will learn to use EV Reach's Process Automation framework to incorporate two commonly used agents in your scope actions.
EV Reach Scope Actions has the ability to start processes or run scripts on your remote machine. This provides the ability to add other management software actions to your scope actions.
For example: If you have a virus outbreak and you need to make sure you AV agents are up to date immediately, use a scope action to run the AV agents EXE and force them to take their latest definitions.
Prerequisites
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- You will need access to the full version of EV Reach and its Process Automation framework. If you don’t currently own a valid license, you can download a free version of our remote access software on our website. The 15-day trial is free and no credit card is required.
Best Practice
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- If you have never created a Scope Action before, please refer to the below video and the Scope Action Creation Basics article for more information.
Step by Step Tutorial
McAfee Agent Example
One example of this is the McAfee ePo agent. Here is an excerpt from the McAfee KBAs.
See McAfee site
You can use the following switches with CmdAgent.exe on Windows clients.
- McAfee Agent 5.x
| /p | Collect and send properties to the ePO server |
| /e | Enforce policies locally |
| /c | Check for new polices. The agent contacts the ePO server for new or updated policies, then enforces them immediately upon receipt. |
| /s | Display the Agent Monitor |
| /i | Display McAfee Agent information |
| /h | List all the switches with their description |
| /l | Set the location of the log file |
- McAfee Agent 4.x
| /P | Collect and send properties to the ePO server |
| /E | Enforce policies locally |
| /C | Check for new polices. The agent contacts the ePO server for new or updated policies, then enforces them immediately upon receipt. |
| /S | Display the Agent Monitor |
1. Use a EV Reach Scope Action to kick off the /C switch.
In your scope action, select Add \ Remove --> Execute Computer Action --> Processes --> Run a new process.
2. In the argument window, specify the process name as C:\Program Files\McAfee\Common Framework\CmdAgent.exe.
- Specify the appropriate switch in the Process Argument String argument. In this case it is /C.
- Specify a run as account if necessary.
- Set the "Hide Execution Window" value to True. This will make sure there is no CMD window shown during execution.
SCCM Client Example
1. Use EV Reach to force the Config Manager machine policy retrieval cycle.
For this you will need to export a PowerShell or VB script with WMIXv3.
2. Once the script has been generated, import it using the EV Reach Objects manager.
- Use the newly created script package as an action in your scope action. Add \ New --> Execute Computer Action --> Processes --> Run a batch or script package.
- Select the package that was created.
Notes:
- These are just two examples of how you can integrate other management solutions into your EV Reach Scope Action automation. Research the vendors website to find out of your systems agent has command line arguments.
- Also create these action modules under Custom Actions as well for ad-hoc execution of your third party agents.