[37911] in Resnet-Forum
Re: Kace vs SmartDeploy
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chuck Steel)
Tue Jan 29 10:06:59 2013
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Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:06:12 -0500
Reply-To: Resnet Forum <RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU>
From: Chuck Steel <chuck.steel@gmail.com>
To: RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
In-Reply-To: <7869578285834808.WA.tcookmbc.edu@listserv.nd.edu>
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We use the KACE K1000 at Dickinson College and we're very happy with the
product. We have not moved to the K2000 for imaging but I know there are
others on the list that can comment on it (we actually learned about KACE
at a ResNet symposium).
We have implemented the following with our K1000:
Patching - We use patching for both Windows and MacOS systems. Multiple
patching schedules are setup to handle different scenarios. By default
machines are placed in a Patch Production label and those machines receive
patches Thursday evenings. Computers with other needs can be placed in
other patch schedules, for instance, lab machines are patched more often
under a different schedule. There's also a "No Patching" label which stops
any patching from KACE occurring, this is used for systems that can't be
rebooted without someone present. We don't manage servers with KACE, only
clients, but there are cases where automated patching isn't advised.
Service Desk - We have several queues setup in KACE for our Helpdesk
tickets. Each of our departments has their own queue which is customized
for their workflow. KACE allows for creating custom rules that are very
powerful. Having separate queues allows us to setup notifications and
workflows for each department as they would like them.
Inventory and Asset Management - As computers are received they are
imported as assets in KACE and then when the computer gets inventoried with
the agent KACE matches it to the inventory. This allows you to see purchase
information for the computer quickly. We're also a Dell shop primarily and
KACE will pull in the warranty information for systems and displays it
right in the inventory page.
Application Deployment - KACE makes deploying applications almost trivial,
especially if they are released with an MSI. Deployment can be targeted to
individual computers or labels.
Scripting - The scripting engine gives a lot of flexibility for running
scripts on computers. My only complaint is that you can't schedule a script
to run once in the future. There are options for Run Now, or run on a
recurring basis, but you can't say, run this script on Thursday at 2:15am
(you could setup a schedule to run every Thursday at 2:15am and then
disable it, but then I have to remember to disable it later). You can build
scripts with the wizard which allows for verification, remediation and
execution of commands, or you can run batch files.
I'm sure I'm missing something that we've done with KACE. I think it's a
great product and we've been able to use it to simplify and automate a lot
of processes here. If you have any specific questions, please ask. There's
also an active community for KACE at www.itninja.com.
--
Chuck Steel
Dickinson College
On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 9:33 AM, Tonya Cook <tcook@mbc.edu> wrote:
> Hi all!
>
> Hoping some of you may be able to help. We have been testing the Kace
> K1000 and K2000 however, this morning one of the managers mentioned Smart
> Deploy along with some information from the website. A lot of which I found
> to be misleading. That is where you all come in. I want some honest
> feedback on the upsides and downsides of both products.
>
> We are slotted to buy Kace Thursday so any input you all can give me
> before then would be great.
>
> We are not a large school, looking at around 300-400 managed computers on
> local campus with about 100 more on satellite campuses.
>
> Thank you!
>
> ___________________________________________________
> You are subscribed to the ResNet-L mailing list.
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives,
> go to http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html
> ___________________________________________________
>
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To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives,
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--90e6ba309926052e3904d46ebcb9
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
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<div dir=3D"ltr">We use the KACE K1000 at Dickinson College and we're v=
ery happy with the product. We have not moved to the K2000 for imaging but =
I know there are others on the list that can comment on it (we actually lea=
rned about KACE at a ResNet symposium).=A0<div>
<br></div><div style>We have implemented the following with our K1000:</div=
><div style>Patching - We use patching for both Windows and MacOS systems. =
Multiple patching schedules are setup to handle different scenarios. By def=
ault machines are placed in a Patch Production label and those machines rec=
eive patches Thursday evenings. Computers with other needs can be placed in=
other patch schedules, for instance, lab machines are patched more often u=
nder a different schedule. There's also a "No Patching" label=
which stops any patching from KACE=A0occurring, this is used for systems t=
hat can't be rebooted without someone present. We don't manage serv=
ers with KACE, only clients, but there are cases where automated patching i=
sn't advised.</div>
<div style><br></div><div style>Service Desk - We have several queues setup=
in KACE for our Helpdesk tickets. Each of our departments has their own qu=
eue which is customized for their workflow. KACE allows for creating custom=
rules that are very powerful. Having separate queues allows us to setup no=
tifications and workflows for each department as they would like them.=A0</=
div>
<div style><br></div><div style>Inventory and Asset Management - As compute=
rs are received they are imported as assets in KACE and then when the compu=
ter gets inventoried with the agent KACE matches it to the inventory. This =
allows you to see purchase information for the computer quickly. We're =
also a Dell shop primarily and KACE will pull in the warranty information f=
or systems and displays it right in the inventory page.</div>
<div style><br></div><div style>Application Deployment - KACE makes deployi=
ng applications almost trivial, especially if they are released with an MSI=
. Deployment can be targeted to individual computers or labels.=A0</div><di=
v style>
<br></div><div style>Scripting - The scripting engine gives a lot of flexib=
ility for running scripts on computers. My only complaint is that you can&#=
39;t schedule a script to run once in the future. There are options for Run=
Now, or run on a recurring basis, but you can't say, run this script o=
n Thursday at 2:15am (you could setup a schedule to run every Thursday at 2=
:15am and then disable it, but then I have to remember to disable it later)=
. You can build scripts with the wizard which allows for verification, reme=
diation and execution of commands, or you can run batch files.</div>
<div style><br></div><div style>I'm sure I'm missing something that=
we've done with KACE. I think it's a great product and we've b=
een able to use it to simplify and automate a lot of processes here. If you=
have any specific questions, please ask. There's also an active commun=
ity for KACE at <a href=3D"http://www.itninja.com">www.itninja.com</a>.</di=
v>
<div style><br></div><div style>--=A0</div><div style>Chuck Steel</div><div=
style>Dickinson College</div><div style><br></div></div><div class=3D"gmai=
l_extra"><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 9:33 AM=
, Tonya Cook <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:tcook@mbc.edu" target=
=3D"_blank">tcook@mbc.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hi all!<br>
<br>
Hoping some of you may be able to help. We have been testing the Kace K1000=
and K2000 however, this morning one of the managers mentioned Smart Deploy=
along with some information from the website. A lot of which I found to be=
misleading. That is where you all come in. I want some honest feedback on =
the upsides and downsides of both products.<br>
<br>
We are slotted to buy Kace Thursday so any input you all can give me before=
then would be great.<br>
<br>
We are not a large school, looking at around 300-400 managed computers on l=
ocal campus with about 100 =A0more on satellite campuses.<br>
<br>
Thank you!<br>
<br>
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<br>
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blank">http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html</a><br>
___________________________________________________<br>
</blockquote></div><br></div>
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<p>
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