# Commanding Security Engines remotely

You can send commands to Security Engines remotely through the SMC Client.

You can control Engines, Layer 2 Engines, IPS engines, Master Engines, Virtual Engines, Virtual IPS engines, and Virtual Layer 2 Engines through each engine element’s right-click menu. The commands available depend on the type of component. In a cluster, the commands that affect the operating state of the engines can only be given to the individual nodes, not to the whole cluster.

You can also give commands and set options for more than one engine at a time by Shift-selecting or Ctrl-selecting the elements.

Note: For abnormal situations, there are limited tools for giving some basic commands (such as go online or offline) through the engine's command line interface. Under normal circumstances, you should control the engines remotely through the SMC Client.