Altiris provides the ability to create Dynamic Right-Click Actions. The actions can be configured to launch support tools such as RDP, iLO, TraceRT, Ping, Computer Management, etc.

Creating Dynamic Right-Click Actions

I stumbled upon a fantastic feature recently and figured I should create this post in case anyone else is unaware of the feature. Altiris CMDB Solution provides the ability to create dynamic Right Click Actions. The actions are accessible anywhere within the console. The screenshots below illustrate sample Right Click Actions.

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Define Criteria That Must be Met in Order for the Action to Appear

When you create a Right Click Action, you have the ability define criteria (expression) that must be met in order for the action to appear. For example, you would only want an iLO action to appear if the resource is HP server or an RDP action to appear if a resource is a Windows server. Altiris allows you to create dynamic Right Click Actions based on inventory data stored in the Altiris DB.

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Substitution Parameters

You can also use substitution parameters when creating a new Right Click Action. The substitution parameter allows you to use variables in the command line or URL that the action performs. For example, you can use variables such as %Resource Name% or %IPAddress%.

Conclusion

In my opinion, Right Click Actions have the potential to help reduce the amount of time it takes to troubleshoot problems. They allow you to quickly perform common tasks without having to scramble to find the tool or command line necessary.