Changing Client Settings

Configure Computers

In this topic:

Right-click a computer or group in
Configure Computers

There are two ways to configure how the Client Recorder records network computers:

Deployment Utility
Configure Client settings before you install the Client, when you use the Deployment Utility to build a Client install file. The settings take effect when you install or reinstall the Client. See Using the Deployment Utility.
Client Settings
Change Client settings from Configure Computers. The settings take effect when you re-initialize the Client for each computer or a group of computers.

How Client Settings Work

When the Client is installed, settings go into effect when the Client Service starts (see How the Client Works). After installation, the Control Center communicates directly with the Client Service on the recorded computer to modify the Client settings. For Windows NT/2000/XP computers, the Client service runs whenever the computer is started, and you can modify the Client Settings whether or not the user is logged in.

For Windows 98/ME computers, the Client is functional and operating after a user has logged on to the computer where it is installed.

Changing the Client Settings

In order to modify a Client's settings, the Client Recorder must be installed and running on the computer, and you should be able to see the computer in a "Recording" state in the Configure Computers view.

To modify Client Settings:

Select Configure Computers in the left navigation pane of the Control Center.
In the right pane, select a computer to modify.
Right-click on the computer and select Client Settings. The Client Settings box appears. The settings in this window apply only to the selected Client computer (or group). The following panels are available for selection (click the links for help on each):

Computer Activity

Internet Activity

Recording

Internet Blocking

Block Internet Access

Other

Alerts

Security

Server Communication

Note that Online Searches (as permitted by Internet Blocking) and User Activity are recorded automatically as long as Client recording is ON.

Change the settings for different types of recording.
When you are finished making changes, click OK on the Settings box to apply the configuration and close the box.
If you have changed the configuration, a message appears asking if you wish to re-initialize the Spector Client Recorder now. Click Yes to apply the changes now. Click No to apply the changes the next time the Client computer is started.