Supported Software, the infrastructure optimising company in the JSE-listed DataCentrix group, has announced the local availability of Sterling Commerce`s CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile, the latest version of the Internet-powered remote systems management solution.
CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile provides the components needed for the central control and management of widespread mobile PCs. This helps to drive down costs and accelerate the productivity of mobile end-users.
CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile includes features to improve the efficiency of slow-speed, dial-up connections used by mobile users. Its open architecture has been enhanced, improving bandwidth optimisation, administrator ease of use and control over dispersed mobile systems.
"Sterling Commerce is a pioneer in the remote systems management market, with over 875 000 end-users. CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile adds to the functionality needed to manage mobile PCs effectively," says Robyn Miller, Sterling Commerce product manager at Supported Software. "Companies are waking up to the complexities of managing business-critical mobile devices, and Sterling Commerce`s large installed base of customers has provided key input into the mix of features needed to reduce the challenge of supporting a mobile network."
CONNECT:Manage is particularly well suited for managing mobile computers over the Internet for large, diverse sales and marketing organisation, adds Miller.
"Secure, reliable and cost-effective communications are CONNECT:Manage`s key benefits," Miller adds, "especially for quickly distributing large amounts of information to mobile salespeople who might not connect regularly."
Reduce transmitted file size by 99%
With the addition of byte-level file differencing, CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile reduces the amount of data sent out to mobile users when updating software and content over dial-up connections. Newer versions of files are compared with previous versions at byte level, and only the differences are distributed as file updates to mobile users. As a result, the size of transmitted files can be reduced by as much as 99%.
Furthering CONNECT:Manage`s bandwidth optimisation, its Session Manager agent provides bandwidth detection and identifies when mobile users are in the office connected to a high-speed LAN versus dialled in over a slower speed connection. The execution of systems management tasks can be conditioned on the available bandwidth so that large-scale software installations are only performed over LAN connections.
CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile builds on its use of existing enterprise directories by adding support for LDAP (lightweight directory access protocol) and Windows NT 4.0 Local Groups for authentication and task assignments. This is in addition to the existing support of Global Groups defined on an NT Domain Controller. LDAP allows administrators to maintain all enterprise users in a single directory, including LAN-based and mobile users. With Local Group support, CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile provides increased flexibility to administrators supporting diverse groups of mobile workers.
3.0 also includes a new module, CONNECT:Manage Manager for Microsoft SMS. This module integrates with Microsoft`s Systems Management Server (SMS), allowing systems administrators to import SMS-defined software distributions into CONNECT:Manage for distribution to mobile systems. With the module`s new synchronisation option, any subsequent changes in an SMS-defined package are automatically detected by Manager for Microsoft SMS during a system refresh process, ensuring that the end-user is always working with the most current applications available.
CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile keeps extensive logs and audit trails of all server and session activities, which are stored in an ODBC-compliant database. This information is used by administrators in assessing the status of systems management tasks and the overall service levels provided to end-users. By storing all information in a database, it can be accessed using a number of third-party reporting and analysis tools and can be integrated into a web browser and other applications, such as helpdesk applications.
Built from the ground up using Internet technologies, CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile can be implemented quickly without the need for programming resources. It uses a Wizard interface to set up tasks for software distribution, content management and asset tracking. In addition, it provides a point-and-click scripting tool for creating custom management tasks and automatically generates HTML code for embedding all systems management tasks into a web site. CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile modules include Software Manager, Manager for Microsoft SMS, Session Manager, Document Manager and Inventory Manager.
CONNECT:Manage 3.0 for Mobile Available is available immediately.
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