The power option parameters of AeXAgentUtil.exe command line utility do not work as expected

Products

• Management Platform (Formerly known as Notification Server)

Issue/Introduction

When following the current help instructions for the "Computer power" section of the AeXAgentUtil.exe command line utility, listed below, the tool seems not to work correctly. Either there is no action taken, or the command executes in an unexpected way.

/shutdown	Shuts down the computer
/reboot | /restartpc	Restarts the computer
/logoff[:]	Logs off all the users or the specified session
/force	Forces running applications to close
/notify[: | nolimit]	Notifies user about the power action for the  specified number of minutes and then performs the action automatically. There is no limit set by default, use option 'nolimit' to explicitly set no limit
/defer[: | nolimit]	Allows user to defer the power action up to the specified number of minutes. There is no limit set by default, use option 'nolimit' to explicitly set no limit
/msg:text	Allows user to specify the custom text to display to the user in the power action reminder window
/msg1	Displays the predefined text in the power action reminder window indicating that some finished software setup has requested the power action. This is the message that is displayed by default
/msg2	Displays the predefined text in the power action reminder window indicating that the administrator has requested the power action
/maintenancewindow	Power actions will be performed during maintenance windows only

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cause

The lack of detailed help documentation related to "Computer power" section of the AeXAgentUtil.exe command line utility, makes the outcomes unpredictable. 

Environment

ITMS 7.6

ITMS 8.0

ITMS 8.1

Resolution

Symantec is working on the related improvements to the documenation. This will be complete in the next major version (8.5), currently scheduled for a Q2/Q3 of 2018 release window.  

Until then be aware that the AexAgentUtil.exe command line utility requires some additional parameters to run and in a specific order, for it to function properly. 

It requires /notify switch as a pre-requisite for /defer /msg /msg1 and /msg2 commands and a quotation marks for /msg switch in case of message with multiple words.

 

Examples:

1.       AexAgentUtil.exe /logoff /notify:5 - one of main power switches (/shutdown or /reboot or /logoff) first

          

2.       AexAgentUtil.exe /logoff /notify:5 /defer:5 - alternative order no/logoff /defer:5 /notify:5

          

3.       AexAgentUtil.exe /logoff /notify /msg:"IT Department notification about the software update" - multiple words in the message, therefore quotation marks are used

          

4.       AexAgentUtil.exe /logoff /notify /maintenancewindow - to get the prompt the /notify switch is required