Refresh Client
Applies To: System Center 2012 - Orchestrator, System Center 2012 R2 Orchestrator, System Center 2012 SP1 - Orchestrator
The Refresh Client activity is used in a runbook that initiates Configuration Manager client actions on the client so that advertisements and policies will be retrieved by the target computer as soon as possible. This enables more rapid processing of Configuration Manager actions in a runbook.
This activity connects to the client computer using a remote WMI connection and does not connect to the Configuration Manager Site server. Specific firewall settings are a prerequisite for this activity to function correctly. For more information about remote WMI see Connecting to WMI on a Remote Computer in the Microsoft MSDN Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkID=184817).
Connecting remotely using WMI also requires appropriate credentials. If the account used for the Opalis Management Service does not have rights to access WMI on the target computer you will need to specify an account that does by using the optional properties. For more information about WMI security and connection settings, see Securing a Remote WMI Connection in the Microsoft MSDN Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkID=144681).
Important
Avoid using this activity to refresh a large number of clients simultaneously.
Because this activity targets individual computers and bypasses the normal communication processes of Configuration Manager, including client polling intervals that might be configured for optimal site performance, use of this activity should be limited to individual computers or small groups of computers in a runbook.For the procedure to configure this object, see: Configuring the Refresh Client Activity
Properties and Published Data
The following tables list the properties and published data for this activity.
Refresh Client Properties
| Element | Description | Valid Values | Look up |
|---|---|---|---|
Action |
The Configuration Manager client action to perform |
Software Updates Scan and Deployment Re-evaluation Machine Policy Retrieval & Evaluation Cycle |
Yes |
Computer |
The computer with the Configuration Manager client to remotely refresh |
String |
No |
Connection Required Properties
| Element | Description | Valid Values | Look up |
|---|---|---|---|
Authentication Level |
The authentication level used to connect to WMI. For more information, see Authentication Level Enumeration in the Microsoft MSDN Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=203420). |
Packet Call Connect Default None Packet Integrity Packet Privacy Unchanged |
Yes |
Enable Privileges |
Sets a value indicating that user privileges need to be enabled for the connection operation. This property should only be used when the operation performed requires a certain user privilege to be enabled, for example, a computer restart. |
True or False |
Yes |
Impersonation Level |
Defines the security impersonation level for the WMI connection. For more information, see Impersonation Level Enumeration in the Microsoft MSDN Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=203421). |
Impersonate Anonymous Default Identify Delegate |
Yes |
Locale |
The client can request data from the WMI server in a client-preferred locale. This string is specified as MS_xxx format. For more information, see Locale IDs in the Microsoft MSDN Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=165561). |
String (Default: MS_409) |
No |
Timeout (Seconds) |
The user-specified timeout value. If the step does not finish in the specified time period, the client engine explicitly stops the action with a status of Failed. |
Integer |
No |
Connection Optional Properties
| Element | Description | Valid Values | Look up |
|---|---|---|---|
Authority |
Sets the authority used to authenticate the specified user. For more information, see Connection Options Authority in the Microsoft MSDN Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=203424). |
Kerberos: <Principal name> NTLMDOMAIN: <domain name> |
No |
Password |
The password for the account credentials specified in the Username property |
String |
No |
Username |
The account credentials with WMI access to the remote client, in the format domain\username |
String |
No |
Refresh Client Published Data
| Element | Description | Value Type |
|---|---|---|
Action |
The Configuration Manager client action performed |
String |
Authentication Level |
The authentication level used to connect to WMI |
String |
Authority |
The authority used to authenticate the specified user |
String |
Computer |
The name of the computer on which the action was performed |
String |
Enable Privileges |
Sets a value indicating that user privileges need to be enabled for the connection operation |
True or False |
Impersonation Level |
Defines the security impersonation level for the WMI connection |
String |
Locale |
The specified client locale |
String |
Timeout (Seconds) |
The user-specified timeout value |
Integer |
Username |
The account credentials in the format domain\username with WMI access to the remote client |
String |
Password |
The password for the account credentials specified in the Username property |
String |
Configuring the Refresh Client Activity
To configure the Refresh Client activity
From the Activities window, drag a Refresh Client activity to the active runbook.
Double-click the Refresh Client activity icon. The Properties dialog box opens.
Configuring the Details tab:
In the Fields section, enter a value for each of the required properties. If the property is Lookup-enabled, you can click the ellipsis (…) button next to the text box to browse for a value.
You can also use published data to automatically populate the value of the property from the data output by a previous activity in the runbook.
To use published data
Right-click the property value box, click Subscribe, and then click Published Data.
Click the Activity drop-down box and select the activity from which you want to obtain the data.
To view additional data elements common across the runbook, select Show Common Published Data.
Click the published data element you want to use, and then click OK.
For a list of the data elements published by each activity, see the Published Data tables in the activity topic. For information about the Common Published Data items, see see Published Data in the System Center Orchestrator 2012 Runbook Guide.
Click the Connection tab. Enter a value for each of the required properties. If the property is Lookup-enabled, you can click the ellipsis (…) button next to the text box to browse for a value. You can also use published data to automatically populate the value of the property from the data output by a previous activity in the runbook.
To use additional properties, click Optional Fields.
In the Select Properties dialog, select the properties you want to apply to this activity from the Available Properties list, and then click the right arrow button (>>). The properties appear in the Selected Properties list.
To remove a property from the Selected Properties list, click the property, and then click the left arrow button (<<).
Click OK to save the changes.
Assign values to the properties or Subscribe to Published data from the previous activity in the runbook.
For information about the settings on the General and Run Behavior tabs, see Common Configuration Instructions for all Activities.
Click Finish.
Other Activities
The Integration Pack for System Center Configuration Manager contains the following additional activities: