Edit1 Summary
Hosts can work inside the network connecting to the ScreenConnect server or external and connect in via the internet to start sessions. The great things about this model is that a host can work from any computer at any location without worrying about installing software or carrying around a hardware access key.
Note: This section refers to Version 2.0 and higher. For earlier versions, see INFO-0010: ScreenConnect Host Page 1.9 and below.The information on this page is current as of 2.4.Edit2 More Information
Edit2.1 The Host Page Interface
The Host Page was designed with an intuitive interface to access and manage both remote support and remote access support sessions.
 Snapshot of the Host Page. |
Edit2.1.1 The Host Toolbar
 Enhanced view of the Host Toolbar. |
The Host Toolbar has six different buttons/functions.
- Checkbox (
or 
)- Used for quickly selecting sessions. Click the checkbox to select all the sessions or deselect all of the sessions. When the arrow next to the checkbox is clicked, a menu appears with further selection options:- Select
- All - Select all the sessions
- None - Deselect all the sessions
- Or Where
- Neither Connected - Select sessions in which neither the host nor the guest are connected.
- Both Connected - The sessions in which both the host and the guest are connected to each other will be selected.
- Only Host Connected - Select sessions that only have a host connected.
- Only Guest Connected - Sessions that only have a guest connected will be selected.
- Join (
) - Connect to a session. - End (
) - End a session. - Transfer (
) - Transfer a selected session to another host. - Add Note (
) - Add a comment to a session; helps with filtering. - Search Box - Look for a session by type, host, note, etc.
Edit2.1.2 Managing Sessions
When a session is created, it will appear below the host toolbar.
Each session will have the following icons to the left of the session's name:
- or - Designates whether the session is selected.
- - Join the session.
- - End the session.
- View the session's properties.
Beside the icons will be text describing the session.
- Session Type: Value - The Session Type will be Code, Listed, or Email. Value will be the code, the title of the session, or the email address the session invitation was sent to. In the screenshot above, the first session has a session type of Code, and a value of 1234.
- Host - The name of the host in control of the session.
- Duration - How long it has been since the session was created.
- Notes (optional) - If the host has added a note to the session, it will appear here.
Finally, a diagram to the right of the screen will display the session status. The two paths from the server to the client and technician will turn green when a connection is made. Text underneath the icons of the guest and the host will describe the status of each side of the connection.
Edit2.2 Types of Sessions
There are three ways to invite guests to a ScreenConnect session:
- Publicly Listed- Sessions will be publicly available for all guests to see and join; the least secure, but easier for guests to join. The host will need to prompt the client to visit the site and select a specific session. By default, the listed sessions will display the “host name” and the “session notes” fields on the guest's page. This method is used by hosts who want to keep a perpetual session list available.
- Code Protected- Permits the host to create a security code for each session. This code must then be relayed to the guest and used to join the session. The code can be manually created or automatically generated by the host when creating the session by using the “generate code” option. An algorithm is used to create the code which can be configured by the ScreenConnect Administrator to follow internal compliance policies and regulations. For more information, see HOWTO-0017: Generating Session Codes.
- Email Link- Creates a secure session link that is emailed to the guest and not publicly available to join for other guests. Email sessions can simplify the process for guests by not requiring them to visit your website first to join the connection. To configure email session settings, see HOWTO-011: Use an external website address in email invitations for more information.
Edit2.3 Creating Sessions
 ScreenConnect Create Session Dialog |
- To create a session, simply click the Create Session button on the Host page.
- You will be presented with a Create Session dialog with the above options available.
- You also have the option to choose the following:
- Ask which invitation type each time a session is created.
- Use this invitation type every time a session is created.
- Once you have selected the invitation type, the next dialog allows you to enter any information (such as the session name, code, or email address). Unless you created an email invited session, remember to provide the URL of the guest page to the client so he or she can connect.
Edit2.4 Joining Sessions
Once a session is available in the Active Sessions, the host must then join the session by clicking the
Join button, if for some reason you do not wish to join the session click the
End button.
Once the host has joined the session the ScreenConnect Host window will appear with a message Waiting for other party until the guest has joined the session.
For more information on ScreenConnect sessions please see
INFO-0001: Joining and Hosting ScreenConnect Sessions.
Edit2.4.1 Multiple Hosts per Session
New to ScreenConnect 2.4, multiple hosts can join a single session, and each of these hosts will be able to control the session. Multiple hosts can join a single session by simply selecting the Join button (
) beside the desired session. The host icon will display a multiplier underneath, specifying how many hosts have joined that particular session.
 Two hosts are connected to this session. |
More information can accessed by selecting the session's notes (
):
 The notes specify that two hosts are now connected to this session. |
We also have a video demonstration of this feature available on
Youtube:
Edit2.5 Ending Support Sessions
There are several ways for the host to end remote sessions. It is also important to keep in mind that the guest may end the session at any time.
- File|Exit from ScreenConnect menu.
- Selecting End from the active sessions section of the Host.aspx page.
- Clicking the Exit button on the ScreenConnect window.
Regardless of the method used to end the session, an Exit Application window will appear with the following options:
 Exit dialog for the host. |
- Yes- Selecting this option ends the session permanently for both the host and the guest.
- No- Selecting this option ends the session, but allows the host to join again from the Active Sessions section of the Host.aspx page. It is important to keep in mind that the guest machine may end the session at any time, making the session end permanently.
- Cancel- Cancels the end session action.
Edit2.5.1 Recurring Sessions
If the host disconnects without ending the session, the guest will remain connected continuously, even across reboots, until actively disconnected or the session is terminated. This sort of session is called a "recurring session," and differs from unattended sessions in that it is easier for the guest to terminate. If a host will need to access a guest's computer again later in the day, the host might leave the session open without ending it, allowing him to easily reconnect to the guest's computer. In addition, the guest will not have to take any action, such as clicking a link or reentering a code, to join the session again.
Edit2.6 Creating an Unattended Installer
You can also build an installer to deploy ScreenConnect to remote machines. This permanently installs the ScreenConnect Guest Client and is designed to connect back to your ScreenConnect server without any additional configuration.
For more information see
HOWTO-0007: Unattended remote sessions.
Edit3 References