How to download device logs in Google Admin Console

An important feature for troubleshooting device issues, is the ability to remotely capture and download device logs for a specific device.

  1. After logging in to your Admin console, go to Devices > Chrome Devices and click a serial number to get into the individual device settings.
  2. On the left side of the screen you’ll see the option to Capture Logs. Click Capture Logs to begin the download.device logs for chrome devices for digital signage
  3. Once the capture is completed it will indicate the logs are ready for download from the Details Page. This is the page you should already be on.
  4. In order to download the logs, under the center info screens, look for the category  System activity and troubleshooting. It should be near the bottom.
  5. In this category you should see System logs, click the date listed underneath it to download the logs in a zip file.
  6. Email the device logs to support@arreya.com and we will analyze them for any issues.

 

Please visit Getting started with Chrome Device Management  for more information regarding Chrome Device Management.

Choosing the Chrome Management License for Your Project

Choosing the Chrome Management License for Your Project

To remotely manage your Chromeboxes and other Chrome devices, you need to subscribe to a Chrome Enterprise Upgrade. There are 3 types of services as listed by Google and you choose the one that best suits your project. When you subscribe, you specify the number of subscription licenses that you need, based on how many Chrome devices you want to enroll. How you pay for licenses (subscription type) depends on what service you subscribe to.  All the licenses allow you to lock the device into a single app kiosk mode, manage networks, policies, and remotely troubleshoot devices. This gives you confidence that your devices are secure and not being hijacked with unwanted content. Your Arreya digital signage channel will be the only app shown on your device.

If you have any questions about Chrome Enterprise Upgrade, need to purchase upgrades, or purchase Chrome devices check out the Arreya store.

Chrome Enterprise Upgrade can be purchased either standalone or bundled with ChromeOS devices.

ChromeOS devices with bundled upgrades / Chrome Enterprise Devices

  • Best recommendation
  • Bundled with Chrome Device, no extra license to purchase
  • Perpetual, one-time cost

ChromeOS devices with bundled upgrades are the easiest way to get started as the license is tied to the device and doesn’t require any extra steps to provision licenses to your Chrome devices.  Bundled upgrades allow complete control and management of Chrome devices via the Google Admin console. Bundled upgrades are perpetual, and last the life of the device. Look for Chrome devices labeled “Enterprise” or “Bundled” to make sure you get a device with a bundled license.

Standalone Kiosk & Signage Upgrade

  • Renews annually
  • Specifically for kiosk and digital signage use

The Kiosk & Signage Upgrade gives you most of the same functionality as the bundled upgrade, but doesn’t allow you to manage policies for users, and can only be used in single app kiosk mode. This upgrade is also billed annually, but is offered at a lower cost compared to other upgrades. These licenses are great if you want to use a device that doesn’t come with a bundled upgrade, ChromeOS Flex devices, or if you prefer annual billing.

Chrome Enterprise Non-Profit Upgrade (Perpetual)

  • Non-profit organizations only
  • Discounted price
  • Perpetual

Chrome Enterprise Non-Profit Upgrade allows access to the same features as bundled perpetual upgrades at a lower cost for non-profit organizations. The license allows you to configure policies and settings for Chrome devices, manage users, manage apps, configure networks, and more. The perpetual license is valid for the life of the device but can be transferred to a like device in the event of a device issue.

Chrome Enterprise Education Upgrade (Perpetual)

  • Education organizations only
  • Discounted price
  • Perpetual

Chrome Enterprise Education Upgrade allows access to the same features as bundled perpetual upgrades at a lower cost for education organizations. The license allows you to configure policies and settings for Chrome devices, manage users, manage apps, configure networks, and more. The perpetual license is valid for the life of the device but can be transferred to a like device in the event of a device issue.

Chrome Enterprise Upgrade Annual

  • Renews annually
  • Allows managed guest sessions and user policies

The Chrome Enterprise Upgrade Annual license gives you the same functionality as the bundled upgrade including managed guest sessions and user policy management. This upgrade is billed annually, and is offered at a lower cost compared to other upgrades. These licenses are great if you want to use a device that doesn’t come with a bundled upgrade, if you need to use managed guest sessions, manage users, or if you prefer annual billing.

For more information on each service type of Chrome Management License, refer to the description in the Arreya online store.

Chrome ServiceUpgrade term availableDescription
ChromeOS device bundled with Chrome Enterprise UpgradePerpetualBest recommendation

Bundled with Chrome Device, no extra license to purchase
Perpetual, one-time cost

For a full list of supported devices, see ChromeOS devices.

Standalone Kiosk & Signage UpgradeAnnualRenews annually

Specifically for kiosk and digital signage use

No managed guest sesssion No user policy management

Standalone Chrome Nonprofit UpgradePerpetualNon-profit organizations only

Discounted price

Perpetual

Standalone Chrome Enterprise UpgradeAnnualRenews annually

Allows managed guest sessions and user policies

Standalone Chrome Education UpgradePerpetualEducation organizations only

Discounted price

Perpetual

Services governed by the Chrome Services License Agreement

Chrome Enterprise Upgrade services allow you to configure settings and enforce policies for specific Chrome devices. You can control user access, customize features, configure network access, and more. Choose the service that’s right for your organization type.

Chrome Kiosk & Signage Upgrade service gives you access to the settings you need to configure, deploy, and monitor a Chrome device as a single-app kiosk. It’s perfect for a device that’s used exclusively as a kiosk, such as a digital sign or point-of-sale system in a store. However, it can’t be used for public-session kiosks (managed guest sessions). This service is only available to business customers.

So which one is right for you?

For most Arreya digital signage subscribers, we recommend the Bundled Chrome Enterprise Upgrades. The upgrade is tied to the device, and is a one time cost for the life of the device. There is no annual cost for updates or renewals. For projects that have a set cut off time, Standalone Kiosk & Signage Upgrades may be the cost friendly. Contact us to discuss 319-294-6671, info@arreya.com or For more information go to Service and subscriptions.

 

Rebooting a Chrome device and taking screen captures and viewing the screen remotely

An important feature for troubleshooting device issues, is the ability to remotely reboot a Chrome device or take a screenshot of the screen.

  1. After logging in to your Admin console, go to Devices > Chrome Devices and click a serial number to get into the individual device settings.
  2. On the left side of the screen you’ll see your options for Reboot, Remote Desktop, and Take a Screenshotscreen capture for digital signage troubleshooting
  3. This screen also has information regarding system information, and troubleshooting features like Remote Desktop, Capture Logs, and Move.
  4. Pressing [Reboot] will send a command to the Chrome device to reboot. You will either get a success message, or an error if the device is offline or it’s unable to communicate with the device.
  5. Pressing [Remote Desktop] will start a dialog for you to remotely view your screen in real time.
  6. Pressing [Take a Screenshot], next to Screen Capture will take a screenshot of what is currently on the screen. This can be used to determine what is showing on the screen currently.

The Screen Capture and Remote Desktop functions will return an error if a user has interacted with the Chrome device, pressed a touch screen, used a keyboard or mouse, etc. This is a security feature to prevent sensitive information from being accessed on a user’s screen.

Please visit Getting started with Chrome Device Management  for more information regarding Chrome Device Management.

CDM Setup For Chrome Devices

CDM – Creating an OU and user for device pairing

This guide walks through how to create an OU and user for setting up Chrome Devices with Chrome Device Management(CDM). This is all that is required to use our “White Glove” configuration service. If you wish to configure your own devices you will need to complete the device setup instructions – https://arreya.com/kb/configuring-chrome-device-chrome-device-management-managed-kiosk-mode/

Part 1 – Creating an OU in an existing Google admin console

  1. Visit https://admin.google.com
  2. Login using your Google Cloud Administrator account. You can check if your account is an administrator account here: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6208960
  3. Navigate to “Organizational units” using the icon on the admin console home screen
  4. Click on the “Yellow +”
  5. It will open up a “Create new organizational unit” dialog box where you can make a new OU and give it a description and it will create a Sub Organizational Unit.
  6. Click “Create” to finish.
  7. This OU will serve as the container for all of your chrome devices

Part 2 – Adding a temporary user for device pairing or our “white glove” service

    1. Visit https://admin.google.com
    2. Login using your Google Cloud Administrator account. You can check if your account is an administrator account here: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6208960
    3. Navigate to “Users” using the icon on the admin console home screen
    4. Choose either “all Organizational Units” or select specific ones
    5. Click “Add new user” in the top bar to add a new user
    6. Fill out the Name fields and primary email address fields
    7. Record the email address and auto generated password and provide it to us once the process is complete
    8. Click on the newly generated user’s name to go into the individual user’s settings
    9. Scroll down to “Admin roles and privileges”
    10. Click the down arrow to expand the menu
    11. Click on the pen in the upper right corner
    12. Click “CREATE CUSTOM ROLE”
    13. Click “Create a new role”. Fill out Name and Description fields
    14. Ensure your settings in your Admin roles screen match the images below. Boxes to check:
      • Organizational Units (all children)
      • Shared device settings (all children) & Chrome Management > Settings (all children)
    15. Be sure to save your changes!
    16. Now you can provide the email address and password for the account you just set up to us and we will be able to enroll your devices in the account. We will not have access to anything outside of the privileges you gave us and you can remove the account once setup is complete if you desire