The Hardware Munger

The Hardware Munger runs when Remote Control is installed on the client, and if a Repair or Installation option is chosen from the Systems Management icon in Control Panel. The Hardware Munger is responsible for setting the Default Protocol (and LANA number if NetBIOS), Compression Type, and Video Acceleration.

Although the Hardware Munger has nothing to do with actual hardware, it reconciles settings that are based, at least partially, on pieces of hardware within the client. For example, the Default Protocol setting depends on the protocol running on the available network adapters. The Compression Type setting depends on either the administrator settings or the CPU speed of the client (if this value is set to Automatically Select, less than 150 MHz CPU = RLE; if this value is set to greater than 150 MHz CPU = LZ). The Video Acceleration setting depends on the driver name of the video adapter installed on the client. The Hardware Munger works to set the correct values on the client for these hardware-based settings.

In its simplest state, the Hardware Munger forces the settings specified in the client properties Advanced tab (in the SMS Administrator console) onto the client. It also sets the Compression Type for the client, if set to Automatically Select.

In its more complex state, the Hardware Munger reconciles site-based administrator settings from multiple sites. For example, if a client is a member of three sites, two of which have the default protocol set to IPX and the third set to TCP/IP, the Hardware Munger will support the clear majority and set the default protocol for the client to IPX. In the absence of a clear majority, the priority order favors TCP/IP first, then NetBIOS, then finally IPX. For example, in a tie between one TCP/IP, one IPX, and one NetBIOS site, TCP/IP wins. In a tie between one NetBIOS site and one IPX site, NetBIOS wins.

If NetBIOS is chosen, the LANA number is determined by the highest administrator-dictated number of all participating sites.

Aside from the default protocol, the rules for other possible Hardware Munger- reconciliations are:

Clients favor RLE(0) compression type. Even if a majority of multiple sites indicate LZ(1) compression, the client will be set to RLE(0). The exception is when all sites have the Compression Type set to LZ (1) . In that case, the client is set to LZ (1).
If Video Acceleration is disabled for any site, it is disabled for the client.
Supported Video Adapters (for Windows NT Acceleration) is a union of all video drivers for all sites of which that a client is a member.

As mentioned earlier, the Hardware Munger runs at installation time and reconciles the settings for the Default Protocol, Compression Type, and Video Acceleration (including the list of video drivers that can be accelerated). Because hardware reconciliation can change low-level functions (such as video acceleration), it is restricted to running only when client installation occurs. This is the reason why the settings in the Advanced tab only take effect for new clients and not for already-installed clients. The settings in this tab are different than the other settings for Remote Tools in that they are all hardware-based settings.

What if you inadvertently enable Remote Tools, and then later realize that some of the settings in the Advanced tab are not what you want? The simple answer is to disable Remote Tools for the entire site and wait 23 hours for a complete de-installation of Remote Control to occur. Doing so removes Remote Tools from all clients. Then, change the Advanced tab settings as needed and re-enable Remote Tools for the site.

Tip There are two quicker methods for resetting incorrect hardware-based settings. You can run the Hardware Munger manually from the client by using a command-line option that forces the Hardware Munger to behave as if the client had just been installed. You must run the following client-side command-line option from the client’s %Windir%\MS\SMS\Clicomp\Remctrl directory:

Rchwcfg.exe install

This executable file can be run as an SMS software distribution package for the clients that need to be updated.

The second method is to use the Systems Management icon in Control Panel and choose to repair the Remote Control installation. Doing so reinstalls the Remote Tools client.

To repair the Remote Control installation

In Control Panel, double-click the Systems Management icon.
Click the Components tab.
Select the Remote Control component.
Click Repair Installation.

After a brief pause, the entire Remote Control package will be reinstalled on the client anew. The Hardware Munger will be rerun as a function of the client-side installation.