You can configure scheduled tasks in the Elastic Desktop Service (EDS) Enterprise 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 task types
The following table describes the supported scheduled task types and their application scenarios.
Task type | Application scenario |
Scheduled start, stop, or restart | If cloud computers are used at regular intervals, you can configure scheduled tasks of this type to automatically manage the cloud computers. Scheduled stop tasks can reduce the costs of pay-as-you-go cloud computers. |
Scheduled reset | You can configure scheduled tasks of this type to periodically restore the system disks of cloud computers to the initial state. Tasks of this type are commonly used in education and training scenarios. |
Scheduled task for inactivity | If no activity is detected on cloud computers for a specified duration after connection, the cloud computers are deemed idle. If you configure scheduled tasks of this type, cloud computers are automatically stopped or hibernated when no keyboard or mouse operation is detected within a specified period, reducing costs for pay-as-you-go cloud computers. |
Scheduled task on disconnection | For pay-as-you-go cloud computers, billing continues as long as the cloud computers are in the Running state, regardless of whether they are connected. If you forget to stop your pay-as-you-go cloud computer, it may incur unexpected charges. You can configure a scheduled task of this type to automatically stop or hibernate the cloud computer after a specified period of disconnection. |
Applicable scope
Scheduled tasks for 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
Limitations
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 following parameters as needed.
Parameter
Description
Basic Information
Scheduled Task Name
The name of 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
The description of the scheduled task that you want to create. The description must be 2 to 256 characters in length and can contain letters, digits, spaces, and punctuations. It cannot start with
http://orhttps://. You can 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 for the task.
Cycle
The days of the week on which you want the system to execute the task.
Start At
The point in time at which you want the system to execute the task.
Scheduled Stop
Scheduled Stop
If you turn on this switch, you must specify the execution cycle and time for the task.
Cycle
The days of the week on which you want the system to execute the task.
Stop At
The point in time at which you want the system to execute the task.
Forcibly Execute
By default, the system does not execute the scheduled stop task if the cloud computer is connected or hibernated at the scheduled time, preventing interruption of user operations. The task is deferred to the next scheduled time, when the system checks whether it should proceed. To force the system to execute the task regardless of cloud computer status, you can enable this switch.
Scheduled Restart
Scheduled Restart
If you turn on this switch, you must specify the execution cycle and time for the task.
Cycle
The days of the week on which you want the system to execute the task.
Restart At
The point in time at which you want the system to execute the task.
Forcibly Execute
By default, the system does not execute the scheduled stop task if the cloud computer is connected or hibernated at the scheduled time, preventing interruption of user operations. The task is deferred to the next scheduled time, when the system checks whether it should proceed. To force the system to execute the task regardless of cloud computer status, you can enable this switch.
Scheduled Reset
Scheduled Reset
Specifies whether to execute a scheduled reset task. Executing a scheduled reset task initializes only the system disk (C: drive by default) based on the associated image. Data on the data disk (D: drive by default) remains intact. After the reset, software and private data on the system disk are erased.
If you turn on this switch, you must specify the execution cycle and time for the task.
Cycle
The days of the week on which you want the system to execute the task.
Reset At
The point in time at which you want the system to execute the task.
Forcibly Execute
By default, the system does not execute the scheduled stop task if the cloud computer is connected or hibernated at the scheduled time, preventing interruption of user operations. The task is deferred to the next scheduled time, when the system checks whether it should proceed. To force the system to execute the task regardless of cloud computer status, you can enable this switch.
Initialize Data Disk
If you select this option, the data disk and system disk of the cloud computer for which you create the scheduled reset task 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
Specifies whether the system should execute scheduled tasks when no user input is detected on the cloud computer for a defined idle period. The system will automatically perform the task if the user is inactive for the specified duration.
Determine
The criteria for determining no user input.
Based on keyboard or mouse inputs
Scheduled tasks are triggered even when automated programs are running, videos are being played, or video conferences are in progress, as long as no keyboard or mouse operation is detected.
Smartly
Scheduled tasks are triggered when keyboard and mouse operations, audio and video conferencing, or file upload and download activities cannot be detected.
NoteIf you want to select this option, make sure that the image of the desired cloud computer is upgraded to V2.5.0 or later.
Whitelist
After turning on the Scheduled Task upon Inactivity switch, you can configure the system to automatically stop executing the scheduled task when a specific application is running by adding that application to the process whitelist. In this case, when the system detects the application is running, the scheduled task will be paused until the application stops.
NoteIf you want to select this option, make sure that the image of the desired cloud computer is upgraded to V2.6.0 or later.
For example, to temporarily stop the scheduled task while Google Chrome is running, perform the following steps to add Google Chrome to the process whitelist:
Find the application process whose name is in the <process>.exe format, such as chrome.exe.
If you do not know the name of your application process, perform the following operations: Open Task Manager on your Windows cloud computer. In the Processes tab, locate the application process. Right-click the process and select Go to details to view the process name.
Click Add Process.
In the Add Process dialog box, enter the process name without the
.exesuffix and click OK.
If end users do not perform any operations within <N minutes/hours>
Specifies the inactivity timeout period.
Then the cloud computer <N> Tasks
When the specified timeout period is reached, the system performs one of the following actions: Stop, Restart, Hibernate, or Disconnect.
ImportantTo ensure data is not lost, inform end users to save their work on their cloud computers before the system executes any of these actions, particularly for Stop or Restart.
Scheduled Task upon Disconnection
Scheduled Task upon Disconnection
Specifies whether the system should automatically execute a scheduled task when an end user disconnects from a cloud computer for a specified duration.
Effective Rule
Task Configured by End User: The scheduled task is triggered upon disconnection, based on the settings configured by end users in the Alibaba Cloud Workspace clients. For more information, see Configure a scheduled policy for a cloud computer.
Task Configured by Administrator: The scheduled task is triggered upon disconnection, based on the settings configured by administrators in the EDS Enterprise console. If you select this option, specify both the disconnection period and the scheduled action.
When a cloud computer has been disconnected for <M minutes/hours>
The disconnection period.
Then the cloud computer <N> Tasks
When the specified period is reached, the system performs one of the following actions: Stop and Hibernate.
If the cloud computer associated with the scheduled task does not support hibernation, the hibernate action will be replaced by the stop action.
ImportantEnsure that end users save their data on the cloud computers associated with the scheduled task before the system stops the cloud computers to prevent data loss.
After you configure the preceding parameters, click OK.
Associate a scheduled task with resources
Scheduled tasks become effective only after being associated with cloud computers or resource groups.
Add associated resources
Log on to the EDS Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose .
On the Scheduled Tasks page, find the desired scheduled task and click Associated Resources in the Actions column.
In the Associated Resources panel, perform the following operations to add resources such as cloud computers and resource groups:
On the View Cloud Computers tab, click Associate Cloud Computer. In the Associate Cloud Computer dialog box, select one or more cloud computers and click OK.
On the Associated Resource Groups tab, click Associate Resource Group. In the Associate Resource Group dialog box, select one or more resource groups and click OK.
NoteAfter you associate a resource group with the scheduled task, the scheduled task is applied to all cloud computers within the resource group. Any previously scheduled tasks on these cloud computers will expire.
Associate with 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, 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.
Associate with resource groups
After you associate a scheduled task with a resource group, this task applies to all cloud computers within the resource group. The scheduled task previously associated with these cloud computers will expire.
Log on to the EDS Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose
On the Resource Groups page, find the resource group with which you want to associate with a scheduled task and click the ⋮ icon in the Actions column. Then, click Associate with Scheduled Task.
In the Associate with Scheduled Task panel, select a scheduled task that you want to associate and click Confirm.
Change a scheduled task for resources
Change for 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, perform one of the following operations based on your business requirements:
Single cloud computer
Perform on the 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.
Change on the cloud computer details page
On the Cloud Computers page, click the ID of the desired 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 Change 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.
Change for resource groups
Log on to the EDS Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose
On the Resource Groups page, find the resource group with which you want to associate with a scheduled task and click the ⋮ icon in the Actions column. Then, click Associate with Scheduled Task.
In the Associate with Scheduled Task panel, select a scheduled task that you want to associate and click Confirm.
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 as needed:
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.
NoteExecution records for scheduled tasks from the past 30 days are available for viewing.
Modify the scheduled task: Click Modify in the Actions column. After the modification is complete, click OK.
Delete the scheduled task: Click Delete in the Actions column. In the message that appears, click Confirm.