Customize the Windows Client

The Service Manager Client Configuration Utility enables you to customize a Windows installation for deploying to end users. This utility is included in the Windows Client installation. For its installation requirements, see the Meet the Service Manager Windows Client requirements section.

The Service Manager Client Configuration Utility changes the following Windows Client settings:

• Splash screen image that Service Manager displays when users open the Windows Client.
• Name of provider listed for Service Manager. For example, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Development Company, L.P.
• Name of the Service Manager application. For example, Service Manager.
• Location of application images and icons.
• Location of the Help Server where the Windows Client can access documentation.
• Changes that an administrator saves within the Windows Client interface prior to running the Client Configuration Utility, including default login options, connection dialog box configuration options to display, default connection configuration settings, and Help Server configuration options.

Known issues

The Client Configuration Utility has the following known issues:

• You must customize images before you run the Client Configuration Utility. The Client Configuration Utility enables you to change the location of images but not to edit them directly.
• If you deploy a repackaged Windows Client that has a predefined connection over SSL, the Windows Client may display the connection error message “No trusted certificate found.” This error indicates that you are installing the customized client in a different path than the original client used. You can restore the client connection by providing the correct path to the CA certificate file in the client Preferences dialog box.

1. Double-click <Service Manager installation path>\Client\ClientConfiguration\confutil.bat. The Windows Client Configuration Utility opens.
2. Click Next. The Specify Service Manager Directory page opens.
3. Type or select the path to an existing installation of the Service Manager Windows Client, and then click Next. The Change Startup Splash Image page opens.

4. Click Skip if you want to use the default splash screen image, or type or select the path to the splash screen image that you want to use.

   The default splash screen image, splash.bmp, is located in the following folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\HPE\Service Manager 9.50\Client\plugins\ com.hp.ov.sm.client.eclipse.user_9.50\src\resources\icons\obj16.

5. Follow these guidelines when you edit the splash screen image:
   • The image must retain its original file name.
   • The image must be in the Windows bitmap (.bmp) file format.
   • The image should be approximately 500 wide by 600 pixels high. The Client Configuration Utility crops larger images to this size.
6. Click Next. The Replace Provider and Application Strings page opens.
7. Click Skip to use the default application strings or type the text strings that you want to use for the following items:
   • Provider: Type the company name that you want to display in the Windows Client interface. The default name is Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Development Company, L.P.
   • Application: Type the application name that you want to display in the Windows Client interface. The default name is Service Manager.
8. Click Next. The Customize Where Service Manager Application Images are Located page opens.
9. Click No customization or Skip to use the default images. Or select the path to your customized images:
   • Locally: The Client Configuration Utility creates a \branded\obj16 folder where you can place customized images to override the default Windows Client images.
   • Remotely: Type the URL where the Windows Client can access customized images.
10. Click Next to continue. The Customize Default Login Options page opens.
11. Click Skip if you do not want to create a default connection. Or select whether to display the following options on Connections dialog box on your customized client:
    • Show the "Remember my password" option: Enabled by default. When disabled, the client’s Connections dialog box will not display the “Remember my password” check box option.
    • Show the server parameters: Enabled by default. When disabled, the client’s Connections dialog box will not display the "Use Login/ Password" and "Use Trusted Sign-on" radio buttons, or the "Server host name" and "Server port number". Also, the New and Delete buttons will be disabled.
    • Show the "Advanced" options page: Enabled by default. When disabled, the client’s Connections dialog box will not display the "Advanced" notebook tab. Additionally, the "Trace SOAP Traffic" feature will not be available.
12. Provide the following information about the default connection that you want to create:
    • Hostname: Type the network name or IP address of the Service Manager server that you want the Windows Client to connect to.
    • Port Number: Type the communications port on which the Service Manager server listens to client connection requests. The default communications port is 13080.
    • Compress Messages: Select true to enable message compression between the Windows Client and the Service Manager server. Select false to have messages remain uncompressed.
    • Use SSL Connection: Select true to enable an SSL connection between the Windows Client and the Service Manager server. Select false to use a standard connection.

    • CA Certificate Path: Type or select the local path to the CA certificate used by your SSL connection. Leave this entry blank if you do not use an SSL connection.

      Note: You can find a sample CA certificate file cacerts in the following path: C:\Program Files (x86)\HPE\Service Manager 9.50\Client\ plugins\com.hp.commons_9.50\.

13. Click Next. The Use and Configure Help Server page opens.
14. Click Skip if you do not want to provide online help from a Help Server. Or select the Use Central Help Server option to establish a connection to a Help Server. Type the following Help Server information:
    • Help Server Host: Type the network name of the Service Manager Help Server to which you want the Windows Client to connect.

    • Help Server Port: Type the communications port on which the Service Manager Help Server listens to client connection requests. The default communications port is 80.

15. Click Next. The Client Configuration Utility page opens.
16. Click Exit. The client is now configured with your customizations.
17. Zip the contents of the Service Manager 9.50 directories to prepare and deploy the customized configuration of the Service Manager 9.50 client to other users. The following two directories are necessary for a proper deployment:
    • C:\Program Files (x86)\HPE\Service Manager 9.50
    • %HOMEPATH%\Service Manager
18. Make sure that end users have the installation DLLs in their windows\system32 directory in order for the deployed client to work properly. Add the following path to their system environment variables: <ServiceManagerHome>\plugins\com.hp.ov.sm.client.thirdparty_9.50\lib;