Device information overlay
The device information overlay is a small, semi-transparent panel in the top-right corner of the desktop wallpaper.
It shows identifying details about the device — name, network address, logged-in user, and the managing Scout server.
This helps helpdesk staff identify a device during a remote support call without asking the user to look anything up.
The panel is off by default. An administrator turns it on per device or OU.
For a similar tile shown before sign-in, on the logon screen itself, see Logon screen information.
Turning it on
With UniconOS Management 2609 (Scout 15.2609) and later, configure the overlay centrally in Scout Board: Devices > Device management > Device configuration > Desktop > Show desktop info overlay. Scout Board also lets you choose the fields and theme, and add custom entries, with no file entries needed. For details, see Device configuration / Desktop in the Scout Board guide.
For earlier Scout versions, set this in Scout → Advanced Configuration → File Entries:
| File | /setup/terminal.ini |
| Section | Layout |
| Key | EnableDeviceInfoOverlay |
| Values |
false (default) / true
|
An advanced file entry for one of the keys on this page overrides the Scout Board Desktop setting for that key. If you switch a device to the Scout Board route, remove any matching file entries so Scout Board’s values are not silently overridden.
Changes take effect after a restart — overlay settings are read when the desktop starts.
What it shows
By default, the panel lists all nine fields, grouped into sections:
| Section | Fields |
|---|---|
| System | Device name, Domain, Operating system, Boot time |
| Network | IPv4, MAC |
| User | Logged in user |
| Scout server | Scout server, Manager address |
A row is left out when the device has no value for it — for example, Logged in user only appears once someone has logged in.
If nothing can be shown, the panel doesn’t appear.
To show only some fields, list them as a comma-separated set:
| File | /setup/terminal.ini |
| Section | Layout |
| Key | DeviceInfoOverlayFields |
| Values | empty (default, shows all nine) or a comma-separated list |
Field names: username, hostname, domain, ip, mac, os, scoutManagerName, scoutManagerAddress, bootTime. Names are case-sensitive.
For example, hostname,ip,username shows only the device name, IPv4 address, and logged-in user.
A section disappears when none of its fields are selected; an unrecognized name is simply ignored.
Adding custom fields
Add your own rows — an asset tag, a room number, a support number — in an extra Additional section:
| File | /setup/terminal.ini |
| Section | Layout |
| Key | DeviceInfoOverlayCustomFields |
| Values | Label=Value;Label2=Value2 |
Use = between a label and its value, and ; between rows:
Location=Building 7, Floor 2;Asset tag=UC-004182;Support=x4400
<!--NeedCopy-->
Only the first = on each row is the separator, so values can contain = too.
A row with an empty label or value is skipped, not broken.
Custom fields always appear, even if DeviceInfoOverlayFields narrows the standard ones.
Good to know
- The panel sits in the top-right corner and appears after login; its position is fixed.
- It’s click-through — clicks pass to whatever is underneath, so it never gets in the way.
- Desktop icons flow around it: they line up from the left edge, leaving the area under the panel free.
- On an extended desktop, the panel appears on each monitor.
- Boot time uses the date and time format of the desktop language.
- IPv4 and MAC update live if the network changes — no restart needed for those two fields.
- Switch between light and dark themes with
DeviceInfoOverlayTheme(sameLayoutsection) —light(default) is pale with dark text,darkis the reverse.