You can configure scheduled tasks in the Elastic Desktop Service (EDS) console to streamline the management of cloud computers, improve user experience in specific scenarios, and effectively reduce costs. This topic describes how to configure scheduled tasks for cloud computers.
Background information
Scheduled tasks
The following table describes the supported scheduled task types and scenarios.
Task type | Description |
Scheduled start, stop, or restart | If your cloud computers are used at regular intervals, you can configure a scheduled task of this type to automatically manage cloud computers. Scheduled stop tasks can reduce the costs of pay-as-you-go cloud computers. |
Scheduled reset | You can configure a scheduled task of this type to periodically restore the system disk of a cloud computer to the initial state. This task type is commonly used in education and training scenarios. |
Scheduled task upon inactivity | If no operation is detected on cloud computers for a specific period of time after the cloud computers are connected, the cloud computers are considered idle. After you configure a task of this type, cloud computers are automatically stopped or hibernated when no keyboard or mouse inputs are detected on the cloud computers within a specific period of time. This effectively reduces the costs of pay-as-you-go cloud computers. |
Scheduled task upon disconnection | For pay-as-you-go cloud computers, you are charged for the cloud computers in the Running state regardless of whether the cloud computers are connected. In this case, billing continues even if end users disconnect from the cloud computers. You can configure scheduled tasks upon disconnection to prevent unexpected fees caused by the continuous running of cloud computers after the computers are disconnected. This way, the cloud computers are automatically stopped or hibernated after a specific period of disconnection. |
Applicable scope
Scheduled tasks upon inactivity applies only to the following cloud computers:
Adaptive Streaming Protocol (ASP)-based Windows cloud computers whose image versions are 1.0.4 or later
ASP-based Linux cloud computers whose image versions are 2.0.0 or later
Usage notes
You can create up to 20 scheduled tasks.
Create a scheduled task
Log on to the EDS Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose .
On the Scheduled Tasks page, click Create Scheduled Task.
On the Create Scheduled Task page, configure the parameters. The following table describes the parameters.
Parameter
Description
Basic Information
Scheduled Task Name
Specify a name for the scheduled task that you want to create. The name must be 2 to 128 characters in length and can contain letters, digits, colons (;), underscores (_), and hyphens (-). The name must start with a letter but cannot start with
http://orhttps://.Description
Optional. Specify a description for the scheduled task. The description must be 2 to 256 characters in length and can contain letters, digits, and punctuations. The description cannot start with
http://orhttps://. Press the Enter key to break lines.Scheduled Start
Scheduled Start
If you turn on this switch, you must specify the execution cycle and time.
Cycle
Select the days of the week on which you want the system to perform the task.
Start At
Specify the point in time at which you want the system to perform the task.
Scheduled Stop
Scheduled Stop
If you turn on this switch, you must specify the execution cycle and time.
Cycle
Select the days of the week on which you want the system to perform the task.
Stop At
Specify the point in time at which you want the system to perform the task.
Forcibly Execute
By default, the system does not perform the scheduled stop task if the cloud computer is connected or hibernated when the specified point in time arrives. This way, user operations are not interrupted. The scheduled task is deferred to the next point in time, and a check is performed by the system to determine whether to continue the task. If you want the system to forcibly perform the task regardless of the status of the cloud computer, turn on this switch.
Scheduled Restart
Scheduled Restart
If you turn on this switch, you must specify the execution cycle and time.
Cycle
Select the days of the week on which you want the system to perform the task.
Restart At
Specify the point in time at which you want the system to perform the task.
Forcibly Execute
By default, the system does not perform the scheduled stop task if the cloud computer is connected or hibernated when the specified point in time arrives. This way, user operations are not interrupted. The scheduled task is deferred to the next point in time, and a check is performed by the system to determine whether to continue the task. If you want the system to forcibly perform the task regardless of the status of the cloud computer, turn on this switch.
Scheduled Reset
Scheduled Reset
Turn on or turn off this switch to perform a scheduled reset task. Resetting the task involves initializing only the system disk (C: drive by default) of a cloud computer by using the image. Data in the data disk (D: drive by default) remains unchanged. After a reset task is complete, software and private data in the system disk are cleared.
If you turn on this switch, you must specify the execution cycle and time.
Cycle
Select the days of the week on which you want the system to perform the task.
Reset At
Specify the point in time at which you want the system to perform the task.
Forcibly Execute
By default, the system does not perform the scheduled stop task if the cloud computer is connected or hibernated when the specified point in time arrives. This way, user operations are not interrupted. The scheduled task is deferred to the next point in time, and a check is performed by the system to determine whether to continue the task. If you want the system to forcibly perform the task regardless of the status of the cloud computer, turn on this switch.
Initialize Data Disk
If you select this option, the data disk and system disk of a cloud computer are initialized at the same time.
ImportantBefore the system performs scheduled reset tasks, back up the files on the cloud computers.
Scheduled Task upon Inactivity
Scheduled Task upon Inactivity
Allow the system to perform a scheduled task when an end user no longer performs input operations on a cloud computer within a specific period of time. A cloud computer is considered inactive when end users no longer perform input operations on the cloud computer by using the keyboard or mouse. If videos or automated programs are running on cloud computers but no input operations are detected, the cloud computers are also considered inactive.
If you turn on this switch, you must specify a period of inactivity time and the task that you want the system to perform when the specified time is reached.
If end users do not perform any operations within <N minutes/hours>
Specify the period of inactivity time.
The system performs scheduled <Action>
When the specified period of time is reached, the system performs the Stop, Restart, Hibernate, or Disconnect action.
ImportantIf you want the system to stop or restart cloud computers, make sure that the end users save the data on the cloud computers before the system performs the tasks.
Scheduled Task upon Disconnection
Scheduled Task upon Disconnection
Allow the system to perform a scheduled task when an end user disconnects from a cloud computer for a specific period of time.
Effective Rule
Task Configured by End User: The scheduled task upon disconnection takes effect based on the settings that are configured by end users on the Alibaba Cloud Workspace clients. For more information, see Configure a scheduled stop policy for a cloud computer.
Task Configured by Administrator: The scheduled task upon disconnection takes effect based on the settings that are configured by administrators in the EDS console. If you select this option, you must specify the disconnection period and scheduled action.
When a cloud computer has been disconnected for <M minutes/hours>
Specify the period of time after an end user disconnects from a cloud computer.
The system performs scheduled <Action>
When the specified period of time is reached, the system performs the Stop or Hibernate action.
If cloud computers do not support hibernation, the system performs the Stop action.
ImportantIf you want the system to stop the cloud computer, make sure that the end users save the data on the cloud computer to avoid data loss.
After you configure the preceding parameters, click OK.
Associate a scheduled task with cloud computers
Scheduled tasks can take effect only after the tasks are associated with cloud computers.
Scheduled Tasks page
Log on to the EDS Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose .
On the Scheduled Tasks page, find the task that you want to manage and click View Cloud Computers in the Actions column.
In the Associated Cloud Computers panel, click Associate Cloud Computer. In the Associate Cloud Computer dialog box, select one or more cloud computers and click OK.
Scheduled Tasks tab of the cloud computer details page
Log on to the EDS Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose .
In the upper-left corner of the top navigation bar, select a region.
On the Cloud Computers page, find the cloud computer with which you want to associate a scheduled task and click the cloud computer ID.
On the cloud computer details page, click the Scheduled Tasks tab and then click Associate with Scheduled Task.
In the Associate with Scheduled Task panel, select a scheduled task that you want to associate with the cloud computer and click OK.
Change scheduled tasks of cloud computers
Log on to the EDS Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose .
In the upper-left corner of the top navigation bar, select a region.
On the Cloud Computers page, select one of the following methods to change the scheduled tasks of cloud computers based on your business requirements:
Single cloud computer
Cloud Computers page
Find the cloud computer whose scheduled task you want to change and click Change Scheduled Task in the Actions column. In the Tips message, click View.
In the View Scheduled Task panel, you can view the configuration details of the scheduled task.
If you no longer require the scheduled task, click Disassociate in the lower part of the panel.
If you want to replace the current scheduled task with another task, choose to proceed.
Cloud computer details page
On the Cloud Computers page, click the ID of the cloud computer.
On the cloud computer details page, click the Scheduled Tasks tab.
Click Change Scheduled Task to the right of the Task ID parameter.
In the Change Scheduled Task panel, select another scheduled task and click OK.
Multiple cloud computers
Select multiple cloud computers and choose in the lower part of the page.
In the Modify Scheduled Task panel, perform the following operations based on your business requirements:
Change to another scheduled task: In the Configure Scheduled Task section, select Associate. In the scheduled task list, select the scheduled task that you want to use and click OK.
Disassociate the current scheduled task: In the Configure Scheduled Task section, select Disassociate and click OK.
What to do next
Log on to the EDS Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose .
On the Scheduled Tasks page, find the scheduled task that you want to manage and perform the following operations:
View the execution records of the scheduled task: Click View Execution Records in the Actions column. On the Execution Records tab, you can view the execution details.
NoteYou can view the execution records of scheduled tasks in the previous 30 days.
To modify the configurations of the task, click Modify in the Actions column. After the modification is complete, click OK.
To delete the task, click Delete in the Actions column. In the message that appears, click Confirm.