Remote Control for Android Devices

The remote control feature allows administrators to troubleshoot devices that are enrolled with WSO2 IoT Server using the device management console. This feature is used to create a remote session, remotely control, send adb shell commands, view the device logs, and view the screen of an Android device.

Let's take a look at how you can start using it.

Create a remote session

Follow the steps given below to create a remote session between the device and WSO2 IoT Server:

1. Access the device management console: https://<IOTS_HTTPS_HOST>:9443/devicemgt
For example: https://localhost:9443/devicemgt
2. Sign in as an administrator. By default, the username is admin and the password is admin.
3. Click View under Devices.
   
   You are navigated to the page that lists out all the devices that are enrolled with WSO2 IoT Server because you have administrator privileges.
4. Click on the device you want to start the remote session.
5. Click the Remote Session tab.
   
6. Click Connect to Device to start the remote session with the device. 
   Once the server connects to the device, you see the screen given below:
   
7. To stop the remote sharing session, click Close Session.

Send adb shell commands

Follow the steps given below to troubleshoot the device using adb shell commands:

1. Set up a remote session between your device and WSO2 IoT Server.
2. Click Shell.
3. Write the shell command and press the Enter key.
   For example, if you want to get the CPU and memory usage of the device, use the top adb command
   Sample output:
   

View device logs

Logcat displays messages in real time and keeps a history so you can view the old messages. Follow the steps given below to view the device logs.

1. Set up a remote session between your device and WSO2 IoT Server.
2. Click Logcat.

View the device screen

1. Set up a remote session between your device and WSO2 IoT Server.
2. Click Screen Share > Start.
   
3. A message is sent to the device asking the device owner to share the screen with WSO2 IoT Server. The device owner needs to accept this message.
   Once accepted, the administrator is able to view the device's screen, monitor how the device owner users the device, and troubleshoot the device.
   
4. Click Stop to stop viewing the screen of the device.

Carry out actions on the device

Viewing the screen of the device alone does not help you to solve the issue. You need to be able to carry out actions on the shared screen to successfully troubleshoot the device. Follow the steps given below to try it out:

1. Enable the Android System Service Applications. For more information see, Integrating the Android System Service Application.
2. Install or reinstall the configured APK on the device and enroll the device with WSO2 IoT Server. Follow the steps from step 6 onwards.
3. Access the device management console: https://<IOTS_HTTPS_HOST>:9443/devicemgt
   For example: https://localhost:9443/devicemgt
4. Sign in as an administrator. By default, the username is admin and the password is admin.
5. Click View under Devices.
   
   You are navigated to a page that lists out all the devices that are enrolled with WSO2 IoT Server because you have administrator privileges.
6. Click on the device you want to start a remote session.
7. Click the Remote Session tab.
8. Click  Screen Share > Start.
   
9. Click on the applications you want to open or the configurations you want to enable using the mouse.
10. Click Stop to stop viewing the screen of the device.