BCX Network Management Tools Release Notes

4.2404.03 - 4th April 2024

This update contains support for Windows 11 build 23H2 including limiting shortcuts and package types by OS. We have included the (in beta) ability to pin shortcuts to both the native Windows 10 and Windows 11 Start Menu and Taskbar, and also added a Client Policy feature option to remove the default pinned start layout from Windows when not using Classic or OpenShell. Station Information now includes automatic BitLocker recovery key backup, and also now logs the station IP address with logon events for improved auditing purposes.

The update has been compiled and released with hardware security module token based code signing of all BCX components to further improve security and reputation with security vendors.

• Manager - Added BitLocker Identifier and Recovery Key to Deployment tab of station.
• Manager - Added ability to right click copy BitLocker Recovery Key to clipboard.
• Manager - Added last rebuild into Deployment tab of station.
• Manager - Added new shortcut/package task filters for Windows 11 build 23H2.
• Manager - Added Pinned to Start Menu and Taskbar options to shortcuts.
• Manager - Added Client Policy option to remove the default pinned start layout from Windows.
• Manager - Added Filter options for shortcuts to filter pinned.
• Manager - Added Station IP Address to logon history tables in User/Station Information.
• Manager - Fixed Windows build showing as 2209 instead of 22H2 in Station Information.
• Manager - Fixed ping on Windows 11 causing manager to hang.
• Manager - Fixed bug where viewing logon history for multiple users in User Information can cause the manager to crash.
• Manager - Fixed unable to check/force update of WDS Connector from File - Settings - Connectors.
• Manager - Fixed unable to quick add user assignment to shortcut linked package task.
• Client - Added support for pinned to native start menu and taskbar.
• Client - Added support for BitLocker key recovery.
• Client - Added support for Windows 11 23H2.
• Client - Updated all client components with HSM token signed executables.
• Client - Added client MSI setup v4-2404-BaseInstaller with externally signed MSI.
• Installer - Removed Legacy Burconix CA Software Certificate.
• Server - Added DisableCPUMonitor option to settings to workaround C++ redistribute errors on an in place upgraded 2012 server.
• File Server Connector - Fixed issue where moving data between disks on Server 2019 or Server 2022 would fail after creating the new folder structure.
• Rename Computer - Added support for larger OU structures in the drop down list.
• Change Password – Added detection of user cannot change password flag set by administrator if set to change on next logon.

Beta Feature Pin Shortcuts - Known Limitations

4.2212.12 - 14th December 2022

This update contains support for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 build 22H2 including limiting shortcuts and package types by OS. We have added he ability to acknowledge known station status, added the ability to display custom attributes in users and computers, and also added sort by last updated filters on each of the task types.

• Manager - Updated license count functions to remove the requirement to restart manager on license count changes.
• Manager - Improved package log auto refresh dialogue with enable/disable drop down.
• Manager - Improved resize/unable to expand OU list in Users and Computers for deep paths.
• Manager - Added right click acknowledge station status function in Station Information to clear warnings.
• Manager - Added sort by last updated filters for Shortcuts, Packages, Printers and Wallpapers.
• Manager - Added support to shortcuts and package tasks to the filter by the latest 22H2 builds of Windows.
• Manager - Added copy email address to clipboard on right click users in Users and Computers.
• Manager - Added column display on Users and Computers setting for the 3x user custom attributes to show alongside the user.
• Manager - Fixed truncation error when adding long URL shortcuts.
• Manager - Fixed issue with unchecking "allow external senders" on a group not syncing through Azure AD connect.
• Manager - Fixed issue where BCX Manager would crash when opening some sub windows from the File menu on Windows 11.
• Manager - Fixed issue where adding this user to shortcut linked package task threw an exception.
• Manager - Updated the default sort order in Scheduled Tasks to show the most recently updated tasks at the top.
• Launcher - Added support for application configuration files required on Windows 11.
• Exchange Connector - Removed legacy basic auth functions that used Exchange Online PowerShell.
• Client - Added support for Windows 10 and Windows 11 22H2.
• Client - Added notify on BCX Rename Computer to release in use logon sessions for the previous name when changed.
• Update - Added support for Windows 11 application configuration files, and resolved issue with log file date format.
• Installer - Fixed bug where upgrade fails on the second+ instance where there are multiple BCX instances are in the same AD domain.

4.2208.31 - 31st August 2022

This minor client update contains bug fixes and improvements around client deployment and initial sync. As well as improved compatibility with OneDrive redirected desktops using products such as CloudConnect.

• Client - Resolves issue where force shutdown not consistently working when fast user switching is enabled, with multiple concurrent logons.
• Client - Resolves issue where a failed package task due to a missing dependency causes the rest of the tasks to be skipped until a restart.
• Client - Resolves issue where initial sync with server fails, and it doesn't retry/start package tasks until restarted.
• Client - Added client MSI setup v4-2208-BaseInstaller to resolve incomplete installation where system clock changes while the MSI is being deployed.
• Client - Added support for OneDrive KFM and CloudConnect delayed redirected desktops being migrated to the new location.
• Client - Added auto disable deny write to local desktop if redirected to OneDrive and treat as a network location.
• Client - Added prior validation of desktop shortcuts before deployment when redirected to OneDrive to reduce unnecessary sync triggers.
• Client - Added auto sync trigger of OneDrive Desktop shortcuts on logon to reduce no icon cloud files on demand shortcuts.
• Client - Added auto resolve of sync conflicts for duplicate shortcuts deployed by BCX client on simultaneous logons.

Please note this update adds an optional v4-2208-BaseInstaller MSI to the \\bcxmaster\ClientSetup share only. The new client MSI will not automatically replace your existing deployment method whether GPO/SCCM or other. In most cases this should not be required, unless you have a specific hardware type that switches the clock by an hour from UTC to GMT on a rebuild. For existing deployments, previous clients will update to this version automatically, this new MSI only address issues around the MSI not being deployed in the first instance.

4.2111.30 - 10th December 2021

This update contains support for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 build 21H2 including limiting shortcuts and package types by OS. We have added new hardware check functions into the client to detect hard disk types (SSD/NVMe SSD/HDD/VHD) and TPM module presence and version.

We have also enhanced the additional custom data fields that can be added under Station information, improving the data input of dates, and allowing bulk set information, such as purchase date, or supplier.

There are various bug fixes and improvements in the client to address slower PCs failing to complete the logon in time, and legacy shortcuts not cleaning up correctly.

• Client – Improvements in remote reboot/logoff and shutdown command execution.
• Client – Fixed issues with logon not completing and showing a blank screen on some older hardware.
• Client – Added detect TPM and HDD type hardware.
• Client – Fixed issues where system default folders are not getting cleaned up from start menu.
• Client – Fixed issue where certain start menu folders such as Accessories are rebranded Windows Accessories despite not choosing this in BCX.
  
• Client – Added support for Windows 11 and Windows 10 21H2.
• Client – Fixed issue where start on logon shortcuts don’t start due to a legacy read only shortcuts after a client upgrade.
• Manager – Fixed issue when renaming a user with no on-prem home directory.
• Manager – Added TPM and HDD Type to Station Information.
• Manager – Fixed issue on renaming a user with a modified user template.
• Manager – Fixed clear filters getting disabled in Shortcut Management.
• Manager – Improved search speed in User Information when clearing value/using backspace.
• Manager – Fixed issue where manager closes on import multiple stations with MAC/UUID.
• Manager – Fixed issue where manager becomes unresponsive when searching under User/Station/AV information.
• Manager – Fixed issue where exporting shortcut information missing the target path, parameter and working directory on export.
• Manager – Added options for limiting shortcuts and packages to Windows 11 and latest 21H2 builds of Windows 10.
• Manager – Fixed issue where long package name causes an exception when clicking apply.
• Manager – Fixed manager crashing when over license limit if there is an AV detected threat.
• Manager – Fixed issue where rebuilding a station from Users and Computers causes the manager to close.
• Manager – Fixed issue where viewing a package log can cause the manager to close.
• Manager – Users and Computers search now includes forename, surname and display name to improve the search function for customers who use generated usernames/CN names.
• Manager – Improved package task view logic to reflect limited OS options as well as disabled tasks.
• Manager – Improved custom Station Information dates input to allow numeric input only.
• Manager – Added ability to bulk set custom data on Station Information such as purchase date.
• Manager – Implemented multiselecting and bulk update under Schedule Tasks.
• Manager – Updated auto selection behavior allowing home key to be used when searching Users and Computers.
• BCX Change Password – Added <CustomText> function to Change Password tool to allow custom exception message to be displayed.
• BCX Installation Assistant – Fixed issue where incorrectly identifying a reboot required due to LogMeIn rescue.

4.2106.07 - 10th June 2021

A minor update to address the following:

• Fix for a constraint violation occurred on creating new users
• Fix for user principal name not populating on user creating from MIS Compare with legacy templates
• Client cache fix for shutdown not applying on some stations

4.2105 - 27th May 2021

Initial Public Release of the BCX Network Management Tools v4.

The BCX Network Management Tools have been optimized for the latest technologies in .NET 4.7.2, and our development team have revisited the management user interface design and improved the user experience throughout the tools in addition to the changes list below:

• Added responsive dynamic filter search to each object type when adding assignments
• Added support for different UPN Account Name and Pre 2000 Usernames
• Added support for Windows 10 version as non-numeric display names including 20H2 and 21H1
• Added ping option to station information
• Improved export station/user information data options to be filterable Excel format
• Improved AV Log Reader excluding non-essential informational events
• Improved Active Directory search and filter tool in Users and Computers
• Added support for No on Prem Home Directory
• Added new AD complexity options and added display password policy in BCX Change Password
• Added remote push installation of BCX connectors including the network monitoring agent and the redstor backup agent to multiple computers
• Added Powershell Script Package Type
• Added icon to shortcuts to show shared assignments and linked to package
• Added allow external senders checkbox on mail enabled security groups
• Multiple client configurations can now be managed from File Client Policies
• Offline cache fixes for usernames containing special characters
• Added Home tab with stats about your network and latest updates
• Improved checkbox selection when importing shortcuts and packages from another installation
• Added BIOS mode detection to station information for UEFI/Legacy
• Added option to client to only delete shortcuts not deployed by BCX, allowing local cloud synced desktops
• Added new optimise feature to BCX Manager under the File menu
• Added BCX Manager loader to optimize manager experience improve launch time on technician machines
• Added default assignments as configurable from File Settings
• Added responsive dynamic filter search to each shortcut/package/printer/wallpaper in filter lists
• Added drag and drop shortcuts onto shortcut management to import
• Added support for .url shortcuts to open web pages in users default browser
• Updated edit shortcut function to auto re-import dynamically on edits in file explorer
• Added new faster whole scope in one "Quick Add" assignments controls with popup and checkboxes
• Added shared assignments to shortcuts, legacy group assignments will be migrated automatically
• Added multiselect right click set shared assignments on shortcuts
• Added new responsive single click treeview to Users and Computers
• Added OU path to assignments view
• Added Feedback to File menu
• Added Web Tools to File Menu
• Added and increased quick drop-down “Choose Filters” in ribbon for all controls
• Client components are now be deployed to C:\Program Files\BCX
• Settings, configurational data and logs are now stored under C:\ProgramData\BCX

A summary of what's new

The BCX Network Management Tools v4 is written in .NET 4.7.2, and no longer require previous framework versions to be deployed to stations. This has involved a complete refresh of all components in the tool’s suite with many speed and UI improvements along the way, while retaining our familiar interface for existing customers. Built with stability in mind, some of the feature changes include:

Web Tools has been retired as an embedded tab, and now sits under File – Web, providing quick links to your most used web-based admin centres, loading in your default browser of your choice.

The new Home tab replaces Web Tools and has been added to display new stats about your installation, such as number of logons today, and how many machines are syncing, as well as to keep you up to date.

Client Policies allow all aspects of the Client features to be managed via a Client Policy from within the Manager GUI. This gives more options to enable/disable aspects of the client on different station types and replaces the need for custom settings.xml to be deployed post client deployment.

Support for .URL shortcuts has been added, so the web shortcuts no longer need to be browser specific. Dragging shortcuts straight onto the tab is available with the UAC elevation no longer needed to run the manager on your PC.

Updating shortcuts has been improved with a dynamic reading allowing you to make changes to the shortcut in real time and the changes be automatically reflected in the manager.

Shared shortcut assignments replaces grouped assignments, and can now be used to link shortcuts assignments together, meaning you only need to assign once, with assignments following for all shortcuts linked together.

The client stores which shortcuts it has deployed, so when unassigned only these shortcuts will be removed. Using Client Policies, this allows for better management of UNC redirected desktops, and local OneDrive synced Desktops with user data in place alongside BCX Client deployed shortcuts.

You can also now manage your own default assignments from within settings that’s can be used across the tools.

A PowerShell script package task type has been added as a standard package type.

Users and Computers gives a more responsive faster UI for Active Directory browsing, with single click OU expanding.

Additionally, we have made many UI changes within the manager to improve the overall management experience!

A new client MSI is used to deploy the new client, and this will upgrade over the top of existing installations, migrating settings where necessary.

The BCX Installation Assistant will guide you through the upgrade process and make the required changed to GPO MSI deployment automatically.

The new server service gives a 40% speed increase over the previous version, improving the AD sync process and lowering the overall resource overhead.

The manager can now be optimized and run locally on technician machines to significantly boost performance. Launch time is around 60% faster, with tabs dynamically loading as they are selected.

All panes within the manager have been standardized with new UI controls including new search functions and filters to find what you want quickly.

The client now detects the BIOS type, UEFI or Legacy BIOS to aid with build group settings. All components are now fully x64 and run under Program Files (not the x86 Legacy). All temporary data and logs are now stored under OS\ProgramData\BCX and not within the client directory.

We will continue to support and develop the tools and improve the end user experience for all and would like to thankyou for supporting the BCX Network Management Tools.

We hope you enjoy the many more changes not mentioned here, and please continue to give feedback via the File – Feedback option.