AST ESM brings wayward PC assets back into the fold

AST Enterprise Systems Management (ESM), a division of Advanced Software Technologies-Abraxas (AST-A), has introduced a `web-ready` release of Tally Systems` PC inventory tool.

allows IT managers, using the Internet, to easily collect complete and accurate hardware and software inventories of their most far-flung PC assets.

"Management of remote computing assets has always been difficult, and as telecommuting increases, the trend is definitely toward even more distributed desktops," explains Geoff van den Bosch, MD of AST Enterprise Systems Management.

"This new release of NetCensus will allow IT managers to leverage Internet technology in a very effective and innovative way to bring wayward PC assets back into the fold."

This inventory tool also includes highly interactive web-based hardware and software inventory data reports, designed to give managers immediate and interactive access to PC desktop configuration information for projects such as making Windows 2000 migration decisions, software license compliance and help-desk management.

The new web features of NetCensus are:

• Internet Inventory Collection, allows IT managers to schedule and collect hardware and software inventories of remote computers via the Internet, gathering configuration information from machines not otherwise connected to a corporate network and ordinarily very difficult to inventory.

• This feature also greatly simplifies the process for services utilising NetCensus as their inventory tool, eliminating the need for "diskette collectors" for machines with Internet access but no network connection.

• Interactive Web Reports, delivers enterprise hardware and software inventory data via the Web (or on a stand-alone Intranet module) for managers who need immediate and interactive access to PC desktop configuration information. The reports have built-in levels of access and security to provide appropriate access to appropriate people, and create a hierarchy by which data is grouped and sorted by user, department, location, or any other desired criteria.

• Enterprise "Upgrade Wizard", allows IT managers to calculate hardware and software system requirements associated with migrating an organisation`s enterprise to new software and operating systems, such as Windows 2000 and Microsoft Office 2000. The process uses data collected by NetCensus to quickly and easily run multiple migration scenarios based on the actual physical configuration of the enterprise.

In addition, the new NetCensus fully supports Windows 2000, and recognises service pack levels and serial numbers for the new operating system.