Buddies
Overview
The Buddies tab allows administrators to manage automation execution agents within the AI Command Center.
There are two types of Buddies:
- Assistant
- Smart
Buddies execute automation under a specific user identity.
Access to system resources depends on the roles and permissions assigned to that user.
User permissions are governed through role-based access control.
For more information, see Roles.
How to Access
From the AI Command Center, navigate to: Local Agents → Buddies
You can switch between:
- Assistant Buddy
- Smart Buddy
Buddies View
The Buddies tab displays registered automation agents in a structured grid layout.
View Filters
| View | Description |
|---|---|
| All Buddies | Displays all buddies in the organization (default for Maintainer role). |
| My Buddies | Displays buddies created or owned by the logged-in user. |
| Shared With Me | Displays buddies shared with the logged-in user. |
The dashboard also provides a summary count of enabled and disabled Smart Buddies.
Buddy Actions
The following actions are available based on permissions:
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Share | Share a Smart Buddy with other users. |
| View | View buddy details in read-only mode. |
| Edit | Modify buddy configuration. |
| Enable / Disable | Activate or deactivate the buddy. |
| Delete | Remove the buddy from the system. |
| Audit | View audit history for the buddy. |
| Shared With | View users who have access to the Smart Buddy. |
Assistant Buddies
Assistant Buddies impersonate real users and execute automation under a real user session.
They are node-locked and automatically register upon first connection to the AI Command Center.
License Requirement
The associated user must have an Assistant Buddy license assigned.
For license management, see: Managing Application Licenses
Deleting an Assistant Buddy
- Open the Assistant tab.
- Select the buddy.
- Choose Delete.
Deleting an Assistant Buddy releases its license back to the license pool.
Smart Buddies
Smart Buddies execute automation under a virtual user context and are typically associated with Smart Stations.
License Requirement
The associated automation user must have a valid Smart Buddy license assigned.
For license management, see: Managing Application Licenses
Creating a Smart Buddy
To register a new Smart Buddy:
- Open the Smart tab.
- Click Smart Agent.
- Select the automation user.
- Provide:
- Buddy Name
- Smart Station
- Domain Name
- Domain User
- Domain Password
- (Optional) Add a description.
- Click Add.
User Credential Configuration
Smart Buddy runs automation within a user session.
Password Behavior
- If the session does not exist, Smart Buddy creates one using RDP.
- If no password is provided, automation runs only if an active session already exists.
Standalone Computer User Configuration
To retrieve domain and username for a local user:
- Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator.
- Run the following command:
Get-Process -Name Explorer -IncludeUserName
- Under the UserName column:
- Text before \ → Domain Name
- Text after \ → Domain User
Enabling or Disabling a Smart Buddy
To disable:
- Select the Smart Buddy.
- Choose Disable.
- Confirm.
Disabling stops:
- Job executions
- Triggers
- Scheduled runs
To re-enable, choose Enable.
Deleting a Smart Buddy
- Select the Smart Buddy.
- Choose Delete.
Deleting a Smart Buddy releases its license back to the license pool.
Sharing a Smart Buddy
Smart Buddy Owners can share access with other users.
Permission Types
| Permission | Description |
|---|---|
| Viewer | Can use the buddy to execute jobs. |
| Editor | Can execute jobs and modify buddy configuration. |
| Owner | Full control including sharing and deletion. |
By default, the AI Command Center user whose Smart Buddy license is first assigned becomes the Owner of that Smart Buddy.
To share:
- Select the Smart Buddy.
- Choose Share.
- Select a user.
- Assign permission level.
- Click Share.
Security and Access Control
- Buddies operate under the context of the assigned user identity.
- Permissions are inherited from assigned roles.
- All configuration changes are tracked via audit logs.
- License assignment is required for both Assistant and Smart Buddies.