Novell has announced the availability of ZENworks for Desktops 3, Net services software that reduces the cost of managing user workstations by nearly 50 percent, this according to IDC. Built on Novell`s eDirectory technology, ZENworks for Desktops simplifies desktop management and securely extends networks by allowing administrators to centrally manage and personalise company desktops, including those of mobile users.
With support for all Windows desktops, including Windows 2000, ZENworks for Desktops 3 accelerates a company`s transformation to eBusiness by allowing automated software distribution, remote desktop management and self-healing capabilities for applications. ZENworks for Desktops 3 also frees IT staff from time-consuming, repetitive maintenance tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic technology challenges.
According to Novell e-business development manager James Thomas, ZENworks for Desktops is one of Novell`s most successful network management products. "The ease of rolling out applications with ZENworks for Desktops is a dream come true. System administrators no longer need to physically visit the workstations in organisations for upgrades and modifications. It allows them to store a snapshot of an entire lab on the server, and the software can be run locally or off the server. The snapshot can be configured and administrated on the servers, saving system administrators hours of time."
Instead of managing corporate desktops workstation-by-workstation, ZENworks for Desktops provides policy-based management that can be customised to the needs of individual users, the shared requirements of user groups, or the standards of the entire organisation.
Core new eBusiness enhancements in ZENworks for Desktops 3 include:
Management of mobile users 3/4 ZENworks for Desktops 3 provides application installation and self-healing even when users are disconnected from the network - providing support for remote and mobile users.
Cross-platform support 3/4 ZENworks for Desktops 3 runs on NetWare, the most reliable and secure Net services platform on the market, Windows NT and Windows 2000, giving users their choice of platforms.
Support for all Windows desktops 3/4 ZENworks for Desktops 3 supports the distribution and self-healing of the latest Windows 2000 applications (MSI applications), as well as Windows 9x applications.
Desktop imaging 3/4 ZENworks for Desktops 3 offers new imaging functionality that enables administrators to get new workstations or damaged workstations up and running quickly based on corporate standards. Because these images are stored in eDirectory, the roll out of a new desktop operating system, such as Windows 2000, can be accomplished in a very simple, structured fashion. Further, application policies can also be applied to standard images so that when the image is deployed users have a completely configured workstation 3/4 operating system and critical applications. ZENworks for Desktops 3 also offers disconnected imaging, providing the ability to ship images via CD, Jaz disk, etc.
Tiered Electronic Distribution 3/4 ZENworks for Desktops 3 will make use of Tiered Electronic Distribution (TED), a feature coming later this year in ZENworks for Servers 2. This feature will provide the ability to automatically deploy applications, patches and workstation images from a central point to many servers at many sites. Tiered Electronic Distribution will also provide the ability to create installation packages and fan them out to staging servers for install to client machines.
"ZENworks for Desktops is a powerful management tool that dramatically reduces the cost and time involved in managing user workstations, which is a huge resource drain for all IT departments," adds Thomas. "An ever-increasing mobile work force make the new features in ZENworks, such as disconnected application distribution and repair, even more compelling. And when ZENworks for Desktops 3 is combined with ZENworks for Servers 2, which will be available later this year, businesses gain an end-to-end, policy-based management solution for their entire network. Administrators will be able to fully automate software packages and image distribution, deploy them once, and let Tiered Electronic Distribution deliver the content locally as required."
The rapid growth in ZENworks Net services software deployments has contributed to Novell`s fast-growing business ecosystem of customers, application developers and solutions and services providers. This has coincided with the success of Novell`s directory-enabled NetWare platform and NDS eDirectory. Backed by Novell`s extensive consulting, technical support and education programs, ZENworks customers are using its directory-based tool set in businesses of every kind and size, from wide-area networks with tens of thousands of desktops, to small and mid-sized networks where efficient network management, improved internal support services, and expanded user access are at a premium.
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