ICT-Hotlist Topic

Back to the ICT-Hotlist...

Remotely monitor and start Windows scheduled tasks

By Johan van Soest.

Published : 2016-04-19.

Last updated : 2017-05-02.

Windows has the option to connect the Task Scheduler GUI to another computer, however a lesser known command line interface command "SCHTASKS" is also available to manage scheduled tasks on a remote server.

View scheduled tasks, Next Run Time, Folder and the Status on a remote machine

For example to view the scheduled tasks on the server nlaaldc1 use this command line interface command:

SCHTASKS /query /s nlaaldc1 /u van_Soest.local\administrator

Warning: A Windows domain name can not contain an underscore "_" according to these standards. The underscore is used in these examples as a spam counter measure.
You will get this password prompt: "Please enter the run as password for administrator:". If you want to script this, there is also a "/P password" option

Run a scheduled task on a remote machine

To run the scheduled task <Job> on the server nlaaldc1 use this command line interface command:

SCHTASKS /run /S nlaaldc1 /u van_Soest.local\administrator /tn "<folder>\<job>"

The <folder> is the folder name as shown in the query.

Configure a new scheduled task

The command SCHTASKS even has an option to create a new scheduled task on a machine. The many parameters are:

SCHTASKS /Create [/S system [/U username [/P [password]]]]
    [/RU username [/RP password]] /SC schedule [/MO modifier] [/D day]
    [/M months] [/I idletime] /TN taskname /TR taskrun [/ST starttime]
    [/RI interval] [ {/ET endtime | /DU duration} [/K] [/XML xmlfile] [/V1]]
    [/SD startdate] [/ED enddate] [/IT | /NP] [/Z] [/F] [/HRESULT]

To read the full parameterlist description just use:

SCHTASKS /Create /?

You may vote your opinion about this article:

Scripts and programming examples disclaimer

Unless stated otherwise, the script sources and programming examples provided are copyrighted freeware. You may modify them, as long as a reference to the original code and hyperlink to the source page is included in the modified code and documentation. However, it is not allowed to publish (copies of) scripts and programming examples on your own site, blog, vlog, or distribute them on paper or any other medium, without prior written consent.
Many of the techniques used in these scripts, including but not limited to modifying the registry or system files and settings, impose a risk of rendering the Operating System inoperable and loss of data. Make sure you have verified full backups and the associated restore software available before running any script or programming example. Use these scripts and programming examples entirely at your own risk. All liability claims against the author in relation to material or non-material losses caused by the use, misuse or non-use of the information provided, or the use of incorrect or incomplete information, are excluded. All content is subject to change and provided without obligation.