Schedule Enabled

Enables the Schedule.

IMPORTANT: If this option is not selected this Schedule will not run.

Credentials

The Deploy User credentials used by all deployments in the current schedule.

This is the username and password used to connect to the target computer and copy over the necessary files and start the target service. This user must have administrative rights on the target computer, which are needed to copy files to the ADMIN$ share and create and start the remote service. It can be a user account local to the target computer or a domain user if using Active Directory.

Use PDQ Inventory Scan User credentials first, where available

Allows PDQ Inventory's Scan User credentials to be used during the deployment. If selected, the PDQ Inventory Scan Users credentials will be used first. If no Inventory Scan User credentials exist for that target computer, the selected PDQ Deploy credentials will be used.

NOTE: Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) can be used by if the target computer's selected Scan User credentials are configured properly to use LAPS.

IMPORTANT: Enterprise mode is required in both PDQ Deploy and PDQ Inventory. If running in Client or Server mode, PDQ Inventory must also be in Client or Server mode.

Run As

Determines how all deployments from the current schedule are executed on target computers.

IMPORTANT: This feature is available only in Enterprise Mode.

For a sample demonstration of the Run As options, see the following video.

VIDEO: Deployment Run As Options

Use Package Setting

Uses the Run Package As setting defined at the Package level.

If you select this option but the Run Package As setting is not defined at the Package level, then PDQ Deploy uses the global Run Package As setting defined in Preferences.

Deploy User

Silently executes deployments on target computers.

This setting is appropriate for the vast majority of deployments.

Deploy User (Interactive)

Executes deployments that include both silent and interactive steps. This setting is the same as Deploy User with one important exception—the Windows process running the deployment is run in interactive mode.

This setting is most appropriately used for individual deployments that require user input, but the overall process still requires Administrator rights that logged on users may not have.

This type of deployment requires more processing resources.

Local System

Executes deployments using the Local System account on the target computer. PDQ Deploy connects to the target computer, copies the specified files, then runs the actual deployment service using the Local System credentials.

This setting is used only for installations that require Local System. These types of deployments are very rare.

Logged On User

Attempts to run packages in Interactive mode as the Logged On User of the target machine.

This setting is used to deploy applications that are installed per user or when the logged on user needs to provide information for the deployment to succeed such as a license key. It can also be used to modify the HKEY-CURRENT-USER registry hive for the logged on user or to access user-specific settings such as %APPDATA% or the logged on user’s User directory.

Notifications

Sends an email notification when deployment(s) are finished. (Enterprise mode required.)

Choose between Post Deployment Notification (Full Details or Summary), Post Schedule Notification (Full Details or Summary), or create a custom notification by clicking Edit Notifications. The Post Deployment Notification will send an email after each completed deployment whereas the Post Schedule Notification will send one email for the completed schedule and all the included deployment(s).

For more information about post deployment emails, see Receiving a Status Email After Deployment and Mail Server Preferences.

IMPORTANT: You must configure the Mail Server settings in Preferences as well as designate at least one email recipient in the selected Post Deployment Notification or Post Schedule Notification before you can enable this option.

Stop deploying to computers once they succeed

Stops deploying to computers that have already succeeded.

NOTE: Success parameters are defined at the Package level.

Stop deploying to computers if they fail xx times

Stops deploying to computers once they fail the designated number of times. Setting to zero (0) allows unlimited attempts.

Stop deploying to remaining queued computers after xx minutes

Stops deploying and aborts all remaining target computers after the designated number of minutes.  Any computers that are running when the timeout elapses will complete their deployment.

This option is useful for overnight deployments so queued computers can be stopped before anyone arrives in the office.

Offline Status

Offline Status settings determines whether computers will receive a ping or Wake-on-LAN prior to deployment.

Use settings from package(s)

Uses the Offline Status settings defined at the Package level. For more information, see Creating a New Package, Step 1: Package Properties.

If you select this option but the Offline Status settings are not defined at the Package level, then PDQ Deploy uses the global Offline Status settings settings defined in Preferences.

When you select this option, the subsequent settings are disabled.

Ping before deployment

Performs a ping (ICMP echo) to all addresses returned by DNS before attempting the deployment on the first to respond. If the target does not respond to the ping within 2 seconds, then the deployment is not attempted on that target. 

Enabling this option can increase the overall speed of the deployment because PDQ Deploy doesn’t waste time with offline computers.

NOTE: Typically, the ping should take only a few milliseconds. However, if your DNS isn’t solid, your network is experiencing latency issues, or your computers have multiple addresses in DNS, then the ping response may take more than 2 seconds. 

When this is not selected, PDQ Deploy attempts the deployment regardless of the online or offline status of the target computer. If the target is offline or otherwise unavailable, Windows will timeout after ~60 seconds. Leaving this unchecked can decrease the overall speed of the deployment due to these attempts and extra wait time.

Send Wake-on-LAN and attempt deployment

Attempts the deployment then sends a Wake-on-LAN to offline target computers. The deployment is attempted again if it comes online. After 5 minutes if the computer is still offline, the deployment will be attempted again. 

The advantage of this feature is that offline computers can immediately be made available for deployment. However, it can increase deployment time.

IMPORTANT: This feature is available only in Enterprise mode of both PDQ Deploy and PDQ Inventory. Furthermore, PDQ Inventory must have the MAC address of the target computers’ NICs.

Retry Queue

Retry Queue settings determine how PDQ Deploy handles deployments when the target computers are offline.

Use settings from package(s)

Uses the Retry Queue settings defined at the Package level. For more information, see Creating a New Package, Step 1: Package Properties.

If you select this option but Retry Queue settings are not defined at the Package level, then PDQ Deploy uses the global Retry Queue settings defined in Preferences.

When you select this option, the subsequent Retry Queue settings are disabled.

Put Offline Targets in Retry Queue

Enables the Retry Queue.

By default, target computers that are unreachable or offline during a deployment are held in the Retry Queue and deployment is retried.

Allowed Retries

Sets the number of retry attempts for an offline computer. This applies per target per deployment.

The default setting is 72. To set unlimited retries, set this value to 0.