Desktops

In many unattended automation scenarios it is necessary to have a remote desktop available to run Manatee in. The functionality to ensure that a desktop is available needs configuration in Cuesta as described here also relies on the pistia software component which is the service that reads the configured desktops and logins and maintains the actual connections. Pistia (aka the agent) can be run in two modes:

1. GLOBAL where it will try to connect using all logins across all desktops except those configured for a local agent
2. LOCAL will only connect using the logins for a single desktop, the desktop that has the same “machine” name as where the local pistia agent runs

Each desktop represents machine/desktop that you can log into. A desktop may have multiple logins (multiple users) connected at the same time.

For a local agent you need to provide the machine on which the agent runs. This will make it possible for the agent to pick up the logins and maintain connections using these. You can also specify a default host address and port or configure these for logins individually.

Each login needs a username and a password and optionally domain, host address and port. For the credentials you must use unexpired secrets otherwise you will get errors.

Once created an agent (pistia) will use the logins to connect to the desktop and report any errors or successes back.