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Capture With MSP360

In our workstation lifecycle strategy, the Capture phase ensures every device has a valid, restorable image leading up to its scheduled replacement. We automate this through MSP360 and a custom script deployed via NinjaRMM, enabling us to capture the current state of a workstation and continuously back it up until lifecycle day.

🔧 Script Overview: “Workstation Lifecycle: Step 1 Capture”

Deployed from our RMM at:

👉 https://dtcinc.rmmservice.com

Script name:

📜 Workstation Lifecycle: Step 1 Capture

When executed, the script:

  1. Installs MSP360 if it isn’t already installed.
  2. Signs into the staging backup account:
    staging@dtctoday.com
  3. Creates one backup job, based on the selected mode:
    • Staging Job (☁️ Cloud): Used for Ridgebrook bench recovery.
    • Staging Job Local (📂 Local SMB): Used for on-site restore.
💡 Note: The script creates only one backup job per run, either cloud or local.
However, both can coexist — you can run the script again to add the second job if needed. Each job remains persistent and runs nightly once configured.

▶️ How to Run the Script from NinjaRMM

Follow these steps to deploy the backup job on a workstation:

1. Open NinjaRMM and Locate the Device

Search for or navigate to the device under the Client → Site structure.

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2. Run the Script

Click on “Run Script” from the device action panel.

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3. Select: “Workstation Lifecycle: Step 1 Capture”

Choose the script from your library. You can filter by category or search.

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4. Fill Out Script Parameters

You’ll be prompted to enter:

  • Client Name 🏢
  • Site Name 📍
  • UseLocalStorage (Cloud 0 or Local 1) (You don't need to fill out UseLocalStorage and the additional dependent fields below if you're using Cloud Storage for backup. Cloud storage is 0 and the default value for the varialbe.
  • If Local:
    • LocalStoragePath (e.g., \\192.168.1.100\Backups)
    • NetworkShareUsername (e.g. DOMAIN\user)
    • NetworkSharePassword (e.g. sdjfkalfjoeifie)
    • The rest of the fields are already filld out and not required.

These inputs are used to generate unique, readable MSP360 repository and job names under the staging account. The name will be in the format of ClientName-SiteName-ComputerName.

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5. Launch and Confirm

Once inputs are set, click Run. The script:

  • Installs/configures MSP360
  • Registers the agent under staging@dtctoday.com
  • Creates the appropriate backup job
  • Schedules it to run nightly
  • Triggers the first backup at 10 PM for "Storage Job Local" or 12 AM for "Storage Job"
  • You can find the "Action Completed" for the Windows Workstation Lifecycle script. Clicking "View More" will bring up the log of it running. A backup job will not be present under the device added to the staging@dtctoday.com account. If a job is present and you see errors, that is normal.. it just means it failed back to only required configurations to ensure the backup image is successful. That is top priority. You can report common bugs to Code Commanders by opening up a ticket via email to helpdesk@dtctdoday.com and refering the ticket be sent to them.

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🔁 Continuous Nightly Backups

The selected job (cloud or local) will now back up the device every night until the device is decommissioned.

To create both backup paths (for redundancy or flexibility), simply run the script again with the other backup type selected. Both jobs will coexist and continue running nightly.

🔍 Daily Monitoring

We recommend checking backup job status daily using MSP360’s management console. A failed backup should be addressed and re-run prior to restore day to ensure image freshness.

Here's is how to monitor success of the staging capture process. We monitor the MSP360 job under the staging@dtctoday.com account associated to the computer. The computers and related plan names they own are listed by computer name up in MSP360.

1. Please go here to sign in: https://mspbackups.com/AP/Dashboard. That will take you to the dashboard.

2. Click "Backup" in the top menu bar and then click "Computers".

3. We're going to search by company name, so type "DTC Staging". This will bring up the only user attached to the DTC Staging company in MSP360 which is the staging@dtctoday.com user account.

4. From here, you can left click a computer name and then see all backup job plans and their status.

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⏭️ What’s Next: The Restore Phase

With reliable images in place, we transition to the Restore chapter — where we walk through recovery methods using either the cloud-based image at Ridgebrook or the on-site local SMB copy.

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