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Copyright ⌐ 2003-2004 Sashazur, LLC. |
If you have a local area network, you can install Sleepy on all of your client computers, and control the settings for all clients from a single 'master' computer. Clients will read their settings from the network, and will automatically apply the new settings whenever they change. This network configuration is set up and managed using the utility \Program Files\Sleepy\netset.exe.
By default, Sleepy uses a single network settings file Sleepy.ini to store settings for all clients, which means that all clients will shut down at the same time. However, you can optionally create additional settings files that can be used by separate groups of clients. For example, you could have client computers in three separate classrooms shut down at three different times.
Once Sleepy is configured for network use, you can use Sleepy Settings and netset.exe to change, add, or remove settings. Clients will apply changed settings automatically; you won't need to touch any clients unless you need to add more of them.
Step 1: Create a network folder
Create a folder on a server (or other shared network storage) that will be used to store Sleepy's settings files. This folder and its contents must be read only for all client users, and readable/writeable by the user of the master computer. IMPORTANT: All network users must be able to access this folder using the same UNC path (e.g. in the form \\Server\folder)
Step 2: Set up the 'master' computer and the client settings
Decide which computer will be the 'master'. Install Sleepy on this computer if necessary, then run \Program Files\Sleepy\netset.exe. Set the computer to be the master, and enter the path to the network folder from step 1. Then click Open and edit the settings that will be used by client computers.
Optional: Add and edit additional settings files if different clients need different settings.
Step 3: Set up client computers
On each client: Install Sleepy if necessary, then run \Program Files\Sleepy\netset.exe. Set the computer to be a client, and enter the path to the network folder.
Optional: Choose the settings file to use (if you created any in step 2).
All done!
From now on, all client computers will read their settings from the network, which you can change as needed from the master computer. Whenever you want to add another client, repeat step 3.
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On the client, run netset.exe /enable path settings (where path is the network folder and settings is the optional settings file to use; if you omit settings then the default settings file, Sleepy.ini, is used instead). Sleepy will restart with the indicated settings and the local copy of netset.exe will be deleted (to prevent tampering).
Example: Use settings file Sleepy.ini in folder \\srv1\slpshr netset.exe /enable \\srv1\slpshr Example: Use settings file Lab1.ini in folder \\srv1\slpshr netset.exe /enable \\srv1\slpshr Lab1 Notes: Use of the .ini extension is optional. The /enable option has no effect if the folder or file is unreadable. |
| On the client, run netset.exe /disable to restart Sleepy with its local settings. |
Note: If you use these options on a client when a password is set, you will be asked to enter the password.
| • | Clients prevent access to settings, uninstall, and overinstall. |
| • | If the network settings file is changed, clients detect and apply the change within 1 minute. On NT/2K/XP clients, a user must be logged on for Sleepy to detect the change (otherwise the change will be detected after logon); on 9x clients, the change is detected whether or not a user is logged on (as long as the network folder is readable). |
| • | Each time a client detects that the network settings file has been changed, it copies the file to its local hard drive. This copy is used when the client is unable to read its settings file from the network (e.g. with NT/2K/XP clients when no user is logged on). |
| • | To see which settings file is in use, open Programs > Sleepy > Sleepy Status. The path to the settings file will appear in the status message. |
| • | If you plan to use the command line options described above, then you should avoid using passwords on clients; otherwise clients will ask for the password when the command line option is executed. Passwords are not necessary for clients because clients don't allow access to settings or uninstall. |
| • | The Power off at shut down setting (Sleepy Advanced Settings/Options) is always local. If you need to use this setting on a specific computer, turn on this setting before you make the computer a client. |
| • | The settings file Sleepy.ini is required (and can't be deleted) because older clients (build 330 and earlier) always use this file for their network settings, and because all clients use it if no other settings file is specified. You can mix older and newer builds on your network, but only if you continue to use the settings file Sleepy.ini with all clients. If you want to have more than one settings file, then you will need to install the latest build on all computers (master and clients). |
| • | Sleepy on the master computer always uses local settings. |
| • | You can run netset.exe from a floppy or network location if it isn't on a client computer. When you change a client back to something else (master or local settings), netset.exe is copied back to the Sleepy program files folder. |
| • | Make sure that network permissions for the network folder and its contents are set to prevent it from being deleted or modified (except by the user of the master computer). |
| • | If you use Internet timekeeping with network settings, then reduce network traffic by using your organization's own time server if possible. |
| • | To uninstall Sleepy from a client, first change it to local settings by running netset.exe. Uninstall does not remove settings files from the network folder. To remove these files, use netset.exe or delete them manually. |