Getting Idle Timecards When Using Virtual Machines

Overview

To capture mouse and keyboard interactions successfully while users are working on virtualization applications such as VMware, Remote Desktop, or vSphere, users can install and run WorkSmart on the virtual machine.

Usually, using RDP to remote to the VMs will work fine with WorkSmart, but if you experience idle timecards or timecards with a very low intensity score while reviewing your logbook, you should use WorkSmart on the VM if possible.

 

Prerequisites

  • Contractor with an active assignment
  • Timecards generated using WorkSmart and working with virtual machines

 

Diagnosis

You may experience timecards that are generated as Idle time because of your virtual machine related work although you were performing enough keyboard and mouse activities to generate valid timecards. While reviewing your logbook the timecards will look like: 

Idletime.png

 

Solution

  1. If your work requires the use of virtual machines, install WorkSmart on the virtual machine as well.
    • WorkSmart will log events on both your desktop and the virtual application. Please refer to our article on Downloading and Installing WorkSmart for further assistance.
    • WorkSmart will consolidate the timecards from both machines, and it will only count your most active events towards the timecard on your logbook.
  2. If you are unable to install WorkSmart on the virtual machine due to OS compatibility issues,
    • Discuss this scenario with your manager so that they are made aware of it.
    • Review your idle timecards periodically to mark them as Not Idle and enter a description of your work during that time.

 

Warning: Please note that you should not run more than one instance of WorkSmart on the same desktop to avoid potential application crashes.

 

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