Enhancements:

Smart Shield

• Microsoft SCCM compatibility
• Energy Saver – Schedule daily shutdowns
• Command line is now only available via ctsrcmd.exe
• Monthly client action log
• User lockdown controls for applications

Smart Control

• Preference to require Smart Control password to show the interface
• Preference to require Smart Control password to access preferences
• License groups created to support multiple client permissions
• Rename client extended to 15 characters
• Corrected tab order of Allowed Connectors form
• Smart Control to Smart Control connections can now be made with DNS names
• Preferences can be imported and exported
• Corrected Update Source column in grid
• Client Idle time column added
• Smart Control can now be run by non-administrators
• All suspended machines have yellow background and red text
• Ability to block printing
• Preference for enhanced communication across WAN for client machines
• Schedules limited to 12 items per schedule

Many customers have requested that Smart Shield have functionality to work with System Control Center Manager (SCCM). We have found that Smart Shield’s entire disk protection makes running updates in protected mode impossible to manage. The solution we have devised for SCCM managed machines is to stop all SCCM updates from running while protected, then allow SCCM updates when unprotected. This will allow users to schedule a maintenance window via the Smart Control so that updates can run. This eliminates the possibility of updates being run then removed on protected client machines.

888.265.6055
support@centuriontech.com

Hogan Haake
Support Manager

As we continue to add features to the Smart Shield and Smart Control Products, we have found that some customers have a requirement to limit some features on a set of machines, while allowing said feature on others. For example, an organization may only allow desktop monitoring on public access computers. Controlling licensing at this granular level previously required the client to license with a standalone key or a separate Smart Control. Standalone licensing can be restrictive and may not be suited for all environments. In order to give administrators the flexibility of Smart Control Managed Licensing and control over the clients features, we have created Advance License Discreteness.

With Advance License Discreteness, the Smart Control exposes license groups to the administrator allowing him/her to organize machines into the license group that work with the specific set of permissions required for that client. Once the client is added to a group it will be assigned a license with that group’s feature set on every license request. Advance License Discreteness does require that one of the license types be set as the default license type. The default license type is assigned to clients that are not specifically added to a license group.

Setting up Advance License Discreteness is no more complicated than a normal installation. When the Smart Control detects that the client licenses have different license types the License Group form pops up.

Using the drop down list, select the group that will be the default license type.

After selecting the default license type you will be prompted to restart the Smart Control panel. When the panel reconnects, the tree panel on the left side will include a new set of nodes called “Licensing”.

For each type of license there will be a key icon with a description of the features for that license type. These nodes are used just like groups. Add machines to a license group by dragging and dropping or cutting and pasting the machines into the group.

Once the machine is assigned to a group it will request that specific license type on all subsequent license requests. It is a good idea to reboot immediately so that the client can request a new license. The license group in bold, is the default group. To change the default group, right click the “License” node and the License Group form will appear.

888.265.6055
support@centuriontech.com

Hogan Haake
Support Manager

Previous versions of Smart Series products did not always work correctly when subnets were involved. Many network administrators were able to configure their networks to work around this issue, but not all customers have network administrators available to modify their network.
How do you know if this is a problem for you?

The simplest way to know if this issue affects you is to look at your Smart Control. If there are multiple computers reporting to the Smart Control that have the same IP address, then you would be affected by the subnet issue. This is easily reproduced by adding a home router to your existing network and connecting two machines up to it. The machines will display the same IP address and appear to be connected to the Smart Control, but they cannot be controlled by the Smart Control.

How did we fix it?
Centurion’s software engineers looked at the communication methods of our legacy products and tried to reproduce those as closely as possible for this version. Starting with this version, clients can communicate with the server using the previous proven method, or a newer method that lets us work with subnets to provide a constant reliable connection to the server. In all of our in-house and remote tests, the new communication method provides reliable cross subnet communication.

How do I get the new communication?
There is a new preference in the Smart Control that users must enable. It is located in the Smart Control preferences under the “Network” tab. The checkbox has a long description reminding users what it does. It is important to note that Smart Shield clients must be on version 2.1.9 or higher to take advantage of this new feature.

888.265.6055
support@centuriontech.com

Hogan Haake
Support Manager