Setting up Self-Service
You set up OS Self-Service by creating a new user-defined property for computer objects and by assigning values to this property. Next, you create dynamic groups which filter with the values of the new computer properties. Then, you assign OS Installation Sets to the dynamic groups which match their filters. Finally, you run the Self-Service Wizard on the computers where you want to show the Self-Service boot menu.
How to set up Self-Service
1.Make sure to use a property group, the values of which can be changed on the client side. The property to use must have the option list type.
2.Create an entry in the option list for each operating system you want to make available with OS Self-Service.
3.Create a dynamic computer group for each operating system that will filter by the option values of the newly created computer property.
4.Assign the corresponding OS Installation Set to the respective dynamic group (according to its filter definition).
5.In the OS Self-Service Wizard you can select the computers for which you want to activate this functionality.
6.After booting the computer with the 's' key, the end-user can call the Self-Service menu.
Self-Service Troubleshooting
Check the following items if the Self-Service menu is not displayed:
•Are the boot environment variables set?
•Are the Self-Service variables set?
•Are all packages distributed? If necessary, please restart the Distribution Service.
•Is the computer object activated in the DSMC?
•Is the OSD Proxy updated for the computer object? If necessary, please run the task OSD Support Tasks › Update on OSD Proxy in the context of the individual computer.
This is always required when the boot environment, that is needed for the Self-Service, changes.
•Is the computer object visible for its dynamic group? If necessary, please move the computer to another container object.
Customizing The Self-Service Menu
You can design the Self-Service menu as you like. Open the SelfService.ini file to do so. By default, the file resides in \\<Management Point> \dsm$ \Work \<Repository> \Projects \<Project ID of the Self-Service package> \Extern$ \SelfService.ini. To open the file, click View Package Directory from the Self-Service package's context menu.
The SelfService.ini contains the sections [SelfService] and [OsSelection].
Section [SelfService]
•PropName - Property of the computer object that is changed when the end-user selects an option from the option list.
•DefaultOsSelection - Defines the list value that is selected by default. Alternatively, you may also specify a user-defined variable. Then you can use different default settings for each computer.
•ReinstallOsSelection - Sets the value specified here for the user-defined property of the computer object, in case the operating system is reinstalled. By default, this value is empty. By setting this value you can achieve that Windows XP is automatically migrated to Windows 7, for example, when the user calls the Self-Service menu.
•ComputerName - Current name of the computer object in the DSM environment.
•AllowNameChange (Yes | No | Auto) - Defines whether the end-user is allowed to change the name of the computer object. For more information on the Auto setting, see below in CurrentOSName.
•Password - The password you specify here prevents unauthorized access to the Self-Service menu. Enter a value, if required. Alternatively, you can create a schema extension or refer to a user-defined variable. This allows you to use other passwords for each computer. Examples: Password=%CurrentComputer.CustomPropertyGroup.SelfServicePassword% (schema extension) or %CurrentComputer.Var.CustomVariableGroup.SelfServicePassword% (User-defined variable).
•CurrentOsName - This is the currently installed operating system, according to the basic inventory. If you do not specify a value here, Self-Service will regard the computer as new and allows renaming the computer object with the setting AllowNameChange=Auto. In case of reinstallation, the currently installed operating system will be displayed in the Self-Service menu.
•Language - Current language of the computer object according to the basic inventory (default). This setting is required for specifying the language of the Self-Service menu. You can also create a user-defined variable, if required. You may use different languages for each computer, depending on its location.
•DefaultLanguage - The language of the menu if the Language value is not available (see above). You can also create a user-defined variable, if required. You may use different default languages for each computer, depending on its location.
Section [OsSelection]
This section contains a list of the available operating systems. This list corresponds to the option list you created at the beginning for the schema extension. If this section is empty, only the Reinstall dialog is available.
In addition you can configure the name you want to use to display the entries on the option list of the schema extension.TAG=DisplayName
Results File_Result.txt
The user entries in the Self-Service menu are written to the _result.txt file on the computer in the file system of the boot environment. The client sends the file to the Client Proxy when requested next. The Client Proxy evaluates the _result.txt file and informs the Business Logic Proxy (BLS) of the changes during the next sync. The BLS writes the changes to the computer object (e.g. when the computer name changes). The ClientProxy.Report line is written to the Client Proxy log file.
Example:
1 CurrentComputer.BasicInventory.FullQualifiedName=w7-client001
2 CurrentComputer.CustomSelfService.SelfServiceOption=Windows 7
3 ClientProxy.ReinstallComputer=true
4 ClientProxy.Report=Hello World