I've got this RMM tool that manages patching for my computers, but I'm running into a problem where most of the PCs aren't online when it's time to patch. I doubt the users are shutting them down because I know they can go for over 20 days without a reboot. Any suggestions on how I can keep these PCs online so the patching can successfully happen?
5 Answers
Another option is to check if you can implement a Wake-on-LAN feature. It allows you to wake up computers remotely if they’re not responding. Just be sure that it’s enabled in the BIOS/UEFI first!
Make sure you look into Fast Startup settings. If it’s enabled, users could be shutting down their computers at night but they're still technically in hibernate mode, which could mess with the uptime clock you're seeing. I find disabling it reduces a lot of random issues.
Consider extending your patching window. For example, I use ManageEngine for patching and set my windows for Thursday and Friday during the day. Sometimes it helps to give users a bit of control over when their machines reboot!
It sounds like there might be an issue with your agent. You might want to check if it’s configured properly and if it’s actually monitoring the PCs correctly. Sometimes the agent can just stop reporting, so a little troubleshooting there could go a long way.
Are the computers showing as offline in your RMM console but actually online? I've had similar issues, and if that's the case, I'd suggest automating a reboot of those endpoints every weekend. Just give users a heads up!
I think you're right! I should definitely look into that setting for the clients.