Project Report: Automated Reboot Manager for Group-Based Reboots
Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 2:36 pm
Overview
This Automated Reboot Manager is designed for managing scheduled system reboots in IT environments while respecting **policy-based execution, group dependencies, last-contact validation, and incremental delays**. The goal is to ensure efficient and orderly reboots across multiple systems without disrupting critical operations.
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Objectives
Identify and process computers **pending a reboot** (`Flags & 1024 = 1`).
Verify **assigned reboot policies** at the **computer, location, or client level**.
Validate a machine’s **LastContact timestamp** to exclude offline computers.
Handle **reboot group dependencies**, ensuring an orderly execution process.
Apply **incremental reboot delays** for group-based dependencies.
Determine each machine’s **OS type** to send the correct reboot command.
Log all reboot activity for **tracking, troubleshooting, and audits**.
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Implementation Details
Policy-Based Scheduling
Computers follow defined scheduling rules:
Daily Reboots: Execute within **6 minutes** of the scheduled time.
Weekly Reboots: Execute only if today matches the assigned weekday.
Monthly Reboots: Executes on the correct day of the month. If the scheduled date exceeds the number of days in a given month, the last day of the month is used.
Group Dependencies & Execution Order
Computers within reboot groups follow a structured process:
Dependency Check → If `dependency = 1`, all group members are retrieved.
Reboot Order Sorting → Members are sorted by **reboot_order** to ensure sequential execution.
Incremental Delay Application → Each computer gets an increasing delay (`0s`, `60s`, `120s`, etc.).
OS-Specific Reboot Commands
Each system type uses the appropriate command:
Windows → `shutdown /r /t X` _(Seconds-based delay)_
Linux/macOS → `shutdown -r +X` _(Minutes-based delay)_
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Logging & Failure Handling
Each reboot action is logged with timestamp, policy details, and execution status.
Skipped machines due to inactivity are separately logged for troubleshooting.
Future enhancement: A retry mechanism for offline machines will allow missed reboots to be rescheduled automatically.
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Achievements
Fully automated reboot scheduling with policy enforcement
Group reboot execution with ordered dependencies
Dynamic OS-based reboot command selection
Incremental delay system for dependent machines
Comprehensive logging for tracking execution status
Future Enhancements
Retry Logic for Offline Machines → Attempt reboots once they check in again.
Centralized Reporting → Generate structured reports on reboot history.
Enhanced Failure Handling → Detect failures and trigger corrective actions.
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The Automated Reboot Managerprovides an efficient, structured, and scalable solution for scheduling reboots without disrupting system operations. By integrating policy enforcement, dependency tracking, and OS-based execution, this tool enhances IT workflow efficiency and reliability.
This Automated Reboot Manager is designed for managing scheduled system reboots in IT environments while respecting **policy-based execution, group dependencies, last-contact validation, and incremental delays**. The goal is to ensure efficient and orderly reboots across multiple systems without disrupting critical operations.
---
Objectives
Identify and process computers **pending a reboot** (`Flags & 1024 = 1`). Verify **assigned reboot policies** at the **computer, location, or client level**. Validate a machine’s **LastContact timestamp** to exclude offline computers. Handle **reboot group dependencies**, ensuring an orderly execution process. Apply **incremental reboot delays** for group-based dependencies. Determine each machine’s **OS type** to send the correct reboot command. Log all reboot activity for **tracking, troubleshooting, and audits**. ---
Implementation Details
Policy-Based SchedulingComputers follow defined scheduling rules:
Daily Reboots: Execute within **6 minutes** of the scheduled time. Weekly Reboots: Execute only if today matches the assigned weekday. Monthly Reboots: Executes on the correct day of the month. If the scheduled date exceeds the number of days in a given month, the last day of the month is used. Group Dependencies & Execution OrderComputers within reboot groups follow a structured process:
Dependency Check → If `dependency = 1`, all group members are retrieved. Reboot Order Sorting → Members are sorted by **reboot_order** to ensure sequential execution. Incremental Delay Application → Each computer gets an increasing delay (`0s`, `60s`, `120s`, etc.). OS-Specific Reboot CommandsEach system type uses the appropriate command:
Windows → `shutdown /r /t X` _(Seconds-based delay)_ Linux/macOS → `shutdown -r +X` _(Minutes-based delay)_ ---
Logging & Failure Handling
Each reboot action is logged with timestamp, policy details, and execution status. Skipped machines due to inactivity are separately logged for troubleshooting. Future enhancement: A retry mechanism for offline machines will allow missed reboots to be rescheduled automatically. ---
Achievements
Fully automated reboot scheduling with policy enforcement Group reboot execution with ordered dependencies Dynamic OS-based reboot command selection Incremental delay system for dependent machines Comprehensive logging for tracking execution statusFuture Enhancements
Retry Logic for Offline Machines → Attempt reboots once they check in again. Centralized Reporting → Generate structured reports on reboot history. Enhanced Failure Handling → Detect failures and trigger corrective actions.---
The Automated Reboot Managerprovides an efficient, structured, and scalable solution for scheduling reboots without disrupting system operations. By integrating policy enforcement, dependency tracking, and OS-based execution, this tool enhances IT workflow efficiency and reliability.