Scheduled scans

In addition to manual ad hoc scans, you can also schedule scans.

From the Scan schedules tab on the Scans page you can:

  • View scheduled scans
  • Create and edit scans
  • Pause and resume scans
  • End and delete scans.

Comply gives you many options for scheduling scans. You can schedule a one-off scan or a scan that repeats periodically:

  • You can set scans to run on individual days of the week, every day, weekdays only, or weekends only.
  • You can set scans to run on any day of the month. Be aware that if you, for example, set a scan to run on Day 31, the scan does not run in months that do not have 31 days.

Scheduled scans table

The table on the Scan schedules tab provides the following information:

  • Name - The name assigned to the scan.
  • Nodes - The number of nodes to be scanned.
  • Start - The date and time scheduled for the scan to start according to the selected time zone.
  • End - The date and time scheduled for the scan to finish according to the selected time zone.
  • Frequency - How often the scan is scheduled to run.
  • Last run - Date and time when the last scan of this type started.
  • Status - Whether the scan is not currently running (Not started), has completed processing (Ended), or is currently running (Active).

View details about a scheduled scan

You can view details about a scheduled scan in the Scheduled scan detail window.

To view details about a scheduled scan:

  1. On the Scans page, click Scan schedules.
  2. Click the schedule for which you want to view details.
  3. In the Scheduled scan information window, click View detail.

    On the Scheduled scan detail page, you can view details about the scan schedule, scan history, and affected nodes.

Pause and resume a scheduled scan

You can pause or resume a scheduled scan by using the Scheduled scan detail window.

To pause and resume a scheduled scan:

  1. On the Scans page, click Scan schedules.
  2. Click the schedule that you want to pause or resume.
  3. In the Scheduled scan information window, click View detail.
  4. To pause a scheduled scan, click Pause.
  5. To resume a paused scan, click Resume.
    You can also end a scan by clicking End.
    Restriction: After you click End, the scan cannot be restarted.

Edit a scheduled scan

You can edit a scheduled scan by using the Scheduled scan detail window.

To edit a scheduled scan:

  1. On the Scans page, click Scan schedules.
  2. Click the schedule that you want to edit.
  3. In the Scheduled scan information window, click View detail.
  4. Click Edit details.
  5. In the Edit scheduled scan window, update the details of the scan. For example, you can change the schedule type, the frequency, the start date and time, and the end date.
    Restriction: You cannot add or remove nodes from the scheduled scan.
  6. To save your changes, click Submit.

Delete a scheduled scan

You can delete a scheduled scan in any state (active, paused, or ended) by using the Scheduled scan detail window.

CAUTION: After you delete a scheduled scan, the scan cannot be restarted. However, scan reports that were generated by the scan remain available.

To delete a scheduled scan:

  1. On the Scans page, click Scan schedules.
  2. Click the schedule that you want to delete.
  3. In the Scheduled scan information window, click View detail.
  4. Click Delete.
  5. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Delete scheduled scan.

Create a one-off scheduled scan

You can schedule a compliance scan to run once.

To create a one-off scheduled scan:

  1. On the Scans page, click Create a scheduled scan.
  2. Specify the nodes to scan by selecting the relevant checkboxes and click Next . Use the drop-down menus to filter nodes by operating system, desired compliance, or node group.
    Note: If desired compliance is not set on any of the nodes, you are prompted to select a suggested desired compliance profile from the existing options or exclude those nodes from the scan.
  3. Set the schedule:
    1. Select Once only.
    2. Specify the date for your scheduled scan.
    3. Specify the time and time zone for starting the scheduled scan.
    4. Click Next.
  4. Enter a name in the Scheduled scan name field and, optionally, enter information in the Description field. Click Save scheduled scan.
    The scan schedule information is listed on the Scan schedules tab on the Scans page.

Create a repeating scheduled scan

You can schedule a compliance scan to run regularly.

To create a scheduled scan that repeats:

  1. On the Scans page, click Create a scheduled scan.
  2. Specify the nodes to scan by selecting the relevant checkboxes and click Next . Use the drop-down menus to filter nodes by operating system, desired compliance, or node group.
    Note: If desired compliance is not set on any of the nodes, you are prompted to select a suggested desired compliance profile from the existing options or exclude those nodes from the scan.
  3. Set the schedule:
    1. Select Repeating.
    2. Select the desired Frequency of the scan:
      • If you select the Weekly option, you can specify a day of the week for a weekly scan, or you can specify that the scan runs daily, only on weekdays, or only on weekends.
      • If you select the Monthly option, specify a day of the month for the scan.
        Remember: Your scan does not run if the month does not include the day you selected. For example, if you choose day 31, your scan cannot run in those months that do not have 31 days.
    3. Choose the time and time zone when you want the scan to run.
    4. Optionally, add an End Date for the scan schedule.

      If you choose an end date for your scheduled scan, no more scans run on or after that date and no scan reports are produced.

    5. Click Next.
  4. Enter a name in the Scheduled scan name field and, optionally, enter information in the Description field. Click Save scheduled scan.
    The scan schedule information is listed on the Scan schedules tab on the Scans page.