Working with Dynamic Search Folders
Dynamic Search Folder Property Sheet
Registering Computers Discovered by a Network Scan

Working with Dynamic Search Folders

Dynamic Search Folders, also known as Network scan, allow you to keep track of all computers on your network in real-time. Dynamic Search Folders, DSF, keep track of what computers are online by scanning your network for VNC, RDP, SSH servers and for any computers replying to a "ping" request.

When scanning for computers, is possible to scan for active directory, workgroup computers or simply scan an IP address range.

The following descriptions explain the numbered item in the screenshot above:

1. Dynamic search folders.
2. The list of computers discovered by a network scan.
3. VNC/RDP/SSH/Ping statuses.
4. A DSF scan can detect the version of VNC software installed on a remote computer.
5. A DSF scan can detect the version of SSH software installed on a remote computer.

When you run the VNC Manager for the first time it creates two DSF folders:

• Default Ping Scan – scans for computers replying to a Ping request.
• Default VNC/RDP/SSH Scan – scans for computers that have a VNC, RDP, or SSH server software installed.

By default these two scans are configured to scan the local subnet. For example, if your local computer has a 10.10.0.45 IP address, then the local subnet would be: 10.10.0.1 – 10.10.0.254.

Dynamic Search Folder Property Sheet

To create a new DSF folder in the left Navigation Tree, right click on the Dynamic Search Folders node and select the "New Dynamic Search Folder" command. Alternatively you can use Ctrl+Shift+D as a shortcut to create the new folder. The picture below shows the Search Folder Property Sheet.

General Tab

The numbered items apply to the numbers shown in the picture at right:

1. Allows you to select the type of network scan to run. You can select more than one type.
2. Selecting this option specifies that the scan will be performed using the global settings. A global setting is a standard and simple set of search options defining the settings once and then letting any number of scan folders use those settings. If you find that a specific folder needs to have different settings, even if by only one value, use must use customized settings for that scan folder.
3. Checking this option performs the scan automatically after the indicated number of minutes.
4. Checking this option clears the computers list before each scan. We recommended that you have this option turned off.
5. Resolves an IP address to the computer DSN name.
6. Sets the discovered computer’s IP address record to the computer’s DSN name. This is useful when you scan computers that use DHCP to assign IP addresses.
7. Resolves the computer’s MAC address.
8. If this option is enabled, the computers discovered during previous scans will be not be scanned during subsequent network scans.
9. Entering a value specifies the timeout period (in milliseconds; 1000 milliseconds equal 1 second) to use when performing a sever scan.

Network Tab

The numbered items apply to the numbers shown in the picture at left: Allows you to scan an IP address range. Click the Edit button to configure the IP address ranges to scan. You can configure a scan group that consists of several IP address ranges or individual IP addresses. This option is similar to the first option but it allows you to specify a single IP address range. The VNC Manager can scan both B and C class address ranges. Allows you to scan a Windows Workgroup . Click the Select button to choose a workgroup to scan. Allows you to scan an Active Directory domain. It is possible to scan an entire domain or just individual organizational units.

Ports Tab

This page allows you to specify which ports should be used during a VNC, RDP, or SSH server scan. The numbered items apply to the numbers shown in the picture at left: Allows you to use a predefined set of ports or to specify a custom ports list. Click on the “Edit Global Settings” button to edit the predefined ports list. Port range list editor. It is possible to add a port range or a single port number. Each port range or single number has an attribute that specifyies the type of scan (VNC/RDP/SSH) that can be used on this port. This option is used when you are scanning using a port range. In the case where a scan discovers a server, the remaining port range listed will not be scanned.

Inheritance Tab

This tab provides support for the Registered Computer settings feature. Please look at the "Registered Computer Settings inheritance explained" article for more information.

Registering Computers Discovered by a Network Scan

The VNC Manager stores content of DSF folders. So unless if the "Clear computers list before scan" is turned on, once a computer is discovered and added to a DSF folder it will stay there. But in many cases it's more convenient to store computers entries under "My Registered Computers" group folders.

There are two ways to register a discovered computer:

1. Drag and drop a computer from its DSF folder to one of group folders under the "My Registered Computers" tree node.
2. Use "Register Scanned Computers Wizard". The Wizard can be launched by opening a context menu on a DSF folder view and selecting "Register Scanned Computers" menu item.

APPLIES TO: SmartCode VNC Manager v4.5 or newer