Znuny Hosting & Maintenance
Worry-free Znuny operations: Softoft manages hosting, staging setups, regular patching, automated backups, and proactive monitoring.
Znuny – Planning and managing system maintenance
System maintenance is a central component of any IT administration. Some maintenance tasks require a temporary suspension of live operations. In these cases, it is particularly important to inform users in good time and to keep the system accessible only to administrators. With the System maintenance module in the Admin interface, Znuny provides a clear interface for creating and adjusting maintenance windows and warning users via login notices or in-app notifications.
Adding new system maintenance
Section titled “Adding new system maintenance”- Click on Add new system maintenance.
- Fill in Start date, End date, and Comment (description).
- Optionally activate the Login message and/or Notification message.
- Save with Save.
Editing existing system maintenance
Section titled “Editing existing system maintenance”- Select the entry in the maintenance overview.
- Adjust the start/end date, message, or validity status.
- Click on Save.
Deleting system maintenance
Section titled “Deleting system maintenance”- Click on the trash icon next to the desired entry.
- Confirm with Confirm.
Note: Use the filter field to quickly find maintenance tasks by name.
Important settings
Section titled “Important settings”- Start date / End date
- Comment * (displayed in the list)
- Show login message (login screen)
- Notification message (in-app notice before maintenance)
- Validity * (active / inactive)
Session management
Section titled “Session management”In addition to scheduled maintenance, it is often necessary to monitor active user sessions and terminate them if required. In the Session management module, you can see all currently logged-in users:
- Terminate individual sessions: Click on Terminate this session
- Terminate all except your own session: Click on Terminate all sessions except your own
These functions help to quickly clean up the system after maintenance or in the event of security incidents.
Section titled “These functions help to quickly clean up the system after maintenance or in the event of security incidents.”Conclusion
Section titled “Conclusion”With the System maintenance module and Session management, Znuny provides administration tools to:
- Announce maintenance windows transparently
- Inform users proactively
- Restrict access during the maintenance window
- Securely manage active sessions at any time
This ensures smooth system maintenance while maintaining user satisfaction.
Frequently asked questions
How do I schedule a Znuny system maintenance window and what details are required?
To schedule a system maintenance window in Znuny, navigate to the System maintenance module within the Admin interface. Click on Add new system maintenance. You'll need to specify the Start date and End date for the maintenance period. A Comment is mandatory and serves as a description displayed in the maintenance list. Additionally, you can choose to activate a Login message, which will be shown on the login screen, and/or a Notification message, which appears as an in-app notice to logged-in users before maintenance begins. After filling in these details, click Save to create the maintenance entry. This process ensures users are informed and system access can be managed effectively during critical operations.
How can I inform users about upcoming maintenance, and can I customize the messages?
Znuny provides two primary ways to inform users about upcoming maintenance: a Login message and a Notification message. The Login message is displayed on the login screen, preventing new logins or informing users before they attempt to log in. The Notification message appears as an in-app notice for users who are already logged in. Both can be activated when creating or editing a system maintenance entry. You can define the default texts for these messages in the System configuration using the settings SystemMaintenance::IsActiveDefaultLoginMessage and SystemMaintenance::IsActiveDefaultNotification. The timing of the in-app notification before maintenance starts can be controlled by the SystemMaintenance::TimeNotifyUpcomingMaintenance setting, which specifies the number of minutes prior to the start date.
What is Znuny's Session management module, and how do I use it to manage active user sessions?
The Session management module in Znuny is a crucial tool for monitoring and controlling active user sessions, especially during maintenance windows or in response to security incidents. It provides a list of all currently logged-in users. From this module, administrators have the flexibility to Terminate individual sessions by clicking the corresponding icon next to a user's entry. Alternatively, to ensure a clean system state, you can choose to Terminate all sessions except your own, which is particularly useful after maintenance or to enforce immediate logouts for all non-admin users. This capability helps in quickly securing the system and ensuring that no unauthorized or lingering sessions interfere with operations.
How do I modify or remove an existing system maintenance entry in Znuny?
To modify an existing system maintenance entry in Znuny, first navigate to the System maintenance overview in the Admin interface. Select the specific entry you wish to edit from the list. Once selected, you can adjust various parameters such as the Start date, End date, Comment, message activation (Login message or Notification message), or its Validity status (active/inactive). After making your desired changes, click on Save to apply them. If you need to remove a maintenance entry entirely, locate the desired entry in the overview and click on the trash icon next to it. You will then be prompted to Confirm the deletion. The filter field can be used to quickly locate specific maintenance tasks by name.
What are the key configuration options for system maintenance messages, and how can I adjust their timing?
Znuny offers several important settings to configure system maintenance messages and their timing. The primary options include Show login message for the login screen and Notification message for in-app notices. The default texts for these messages can be defined in the System configuration using SystemMaintenance::IsActiveDefaultLoginMessage and SystemMaintenance::IsActiveDefaultNotification. For the in-app warning, you can precisely control when it appears before maintenance begins. This is managed by the SystemMaintenance::TimeNotifyUpcomingMaintenance setting, which allows you to specify the number of minutes prior to the scheduled start date that the notification should be displayed to logged-in users. This ensures timely communication without overwhelming users too far in advance.