[41135] in Resnet-Forum
Re: Client Management Tools -- what are your experiences?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chuck Steel)
Wed Mar 30 11:19:01 2016
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Message-ID: <CAHVqF_inqeubEWaqDTHep_oV+7OTYUF3oj1f5cGRtVfMHwiD6Q@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 11:17:53 -0400
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: <CAADc8xnfT_Apo6nugYmz8AoT83VCp3ukxDD_vAavka1O7D7Bcw@mail.gmail.com>
On Wed, Mar 30, 2016 at 9:59 AM, Karen Bull <kbull1@udayton.edu> wrote:
> 1. What tool(s) are you using? If you are using separate tools for Windows
> and non-Windows hardware, what are the benefits/challenges of using multiple
> tools?
We use Dell KACE to manage both Windows and MacOS computers.
> 2. What do you use the tool(s) for?
Service Desk, Inventory (software and hardware), Application metering,
Patching, Scripting, Application Deployment, Asset management
(printers, license tracking, smart classroom equipment, etc.).
> 3. Within your organization, where does usage/ownership/management of your
> tool fall? What resources (people, skill sets, time, etc.) is needed to
> use/manage the tool?
We are a merged Library/IT division and KACE sits in the User Services
department, where I am also located. The appliance itself runs on a
virtual server that is maintained by our server group but other than
that they are hands off with the management of it. I am the primary
KACE administrator and I spend less than a couple of hours a week on
managing it. I spend more time creating reports and managed
installations but that varies by need.
> 5. How do you manage similar services for "other" systems? For example, we
> don't expect to manage student-owned machines, but there are elements of
> software inventory/metering that we still need to track.
We don't deploy any college licensed software to student owned
computers so there's no need for us to inventory or monitor those
systems.
> 7. Any lessons learned that you can share?
The K1000 can be very flexible and powerful but at the same time it
looks very plain on the surface. Out of the box it's pretty vanilla
but if you have someone on your staff with good scripting and SQL
skills then the possibilities for implementation are almost endless.
The service desk includes the ability to create custom rules that can
be used to do anything from generate emails on events to modifying
assets programmatically. Custom inventory rules can be written to
track and report on any number of things related to a computer. If you
organize your Active Directory OU structure with some thought then you
can target application distribution, patching and scripts to specific
departments by creating LDAP labels for machines in AD. The K1000 can
make your life a lot easier, but it does take time to get it all setup
and working. The initial training they provide is good but I have
gotten more out of the user community at itninja.com. Compared to
other products that don't have an active user community, that makes a
world of difference.
The software metering in KACE has gotten better but it is not up to
par with a tool like KeyServer. Depending on how important that is to
you then you may want another tool for that.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
--
Chuck Steel
Dickinson College
___________________________________________________
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
___________________________________________________
