Policies control various aspects of how a virtual machine (VM) performs. Policies are defined in the NxTop Center, and then assigned to VMs. VMs can only be assigned one of each type of policy at a time. If you modify a policy that is in use, the updated policy goes into effect immediately. The individual laptops with a VM that uses that policy receive the update and change their behavior to conform with the policy the next time they contact NxTop Center.
Some behaviors, such as backup or applying the OS Profile, only act at start up or shut down.
There are six types of policies:
| Expiration |
Describes how long after initial use a VM expires
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This policy can include either a set number of days after initial use or start and end dates. Beyond that limit or outside of the dates, the VM is disabled. If the policy is changed or a new policy is applied, the VM can be available immediately.
The policy includes a timer for a warning about expiration. (Click to close)
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| USB Filter |
Describes which types of USB devices can be used on the VM
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The policy specifies which USB types, selected by a check list, can be used on this VM. Those types not allowed will not function on the computer. (Click to close)
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| Back-up |
Describes how often back-ups are performed and how long back-ups will be retained
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The policy specifies whether the VM will be backed up to NxTop Center automatically, and the length of the backup feature intervals:
- between backups
- to keep a backup on the server
- to send a warning to the user and the Administrator if a backup has not occurred
If backups are disabled, the NxTop Engine does not perform backup for that VM automatically.
When the VM is shut down after the first interval beyond the date of the last backup, the NxTop Engine sends its user differencing disk to NxTop Center as an incremental backup.
Backups are retained on the NxTop Center for the second interval. There is a backup deletion task on the NxTop Center. When the task is performed, backups older than the retention interval are deleted, and the contents of the incremental backup are merged into the base full backup.
If a backup is overdue by more than the third interval, a warning is sent to the user and the NxTop Administrator. (Click to close)
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| Lockout |
Describes how long the computer can be out of contact with NxTop Center before locking users out of the VM
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The policy specifies the time interval a laptop can go without contacting the NxTop Center. Beyond that interval, the user will be locked out of the VM until the NxTop Engine can contact the NxTop Center. This safety feature ensures that if a laptop that is stolen, the NxTop on it cannot be used after the lockout period.
Select the units (hours or days) and the number of those units. (Click to close)
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| OS Profile |
Describes a set of rules for the operating system for describing special handling for applications, services, or other settings
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The policy specifies a set of OS Profile definitions to be used on the VM.
The OS Profile definitions available on a NxTop Center vary depending on those defined by the NxTop Administrator. See Creating OS Profiles for more details. (Click to close)
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| Engine |
Defines aspects of the behavior of the NxTop Engine (rather than a VM)
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The Engine policy defines some aspects of NxTop Engine behavior. There is a Default Engine policy that defines basic NxTop Engine behavior. It cannot be deleted, and has configured values when NxTop Center is installed.
- Edit the Default Engine policy to change the values for all NxTop Engines registered on that NxTop Center.
- Create additional Engine policies and assign them to groups or individual users to provide non-default behaviors.
In the image above, the User policy only configures an Update Interval value, which overrides the Default policy value. The Default policy values for Quick Launch and Management Server Aliases are not overridden, and are used on the NxTop Engine.
Click in the box to close
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