Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management SP1 (v10.1)

Wednesday, 03 September 2008 20:47

Novell released Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management SP1 (v10.1).

In Support Pack 1 Novell more than doubled the scalability and performance of ZENworks 10 Configuration Management. Also the new role-based administration features in Support Pack 1 give you more control over the creation and assignment of administration rights, while making the process simpler than ever before. And when it comes to imaging ZENworks 10 Configuration Management now includes full support for disk images you create and edit using ImageX.

Besides Sybase and Microsoft SQL server support, ZENworks 10 Configuration Management SP1 also supports Oracle10g (Oracle 10g Standard - 10.2.0.1.0).

It also includes the long awaited ZENworks Satellite capability which allows content, applications and images to be sent once to a remote location and then distributed to all the devices at that site. Previously, customers managing systems in remote offices were constrained by network bandwidth. With the option to move distribution and collection management functions to a local device, ZENworks Configuration Management speeds distribution of updates and applications, ensuring all machines are properly managed regardless of location, without slowing down the business.

The Novell® ZENworks® 10 Configuration Management with SP1 (v10.1) architecture is built on Web services technology and provides industry leading desktop, laptop, and handheld life cycle management, all administered using a Web browser. It uses a single adaptive agent for all services and uses a database to store all ZENworks information while still leveraging your corporate directory for user-based management. By using LDAP, Configuration Management can provide both device and user-based management to existing directory customers natively (both Novell eDirectory™ and Microsoft* Active Directory*) without the need to migrate and manage the user objects. ZENworks now provides fully integrated Asset Management and Patch Management services.

ZENworks 10 Configuration Management with SP1 (v10.1) is provided in three editions:

Updated documentation can be found over here . Check out this 'What's new in Service Pack 1 ' article on Novell's Cool Solutions:

New Supported Platforms

New managed devices include:
Windows Server 2008
Windows Vista SP1
Windows XP SP3
New supported server: Windows Server 2008
Inventory management now available for:
AIX
Mac OS
NetWare
OES (NetWare)
UP-UX
Red Hat
Solaris
Windows NT, 95, 98, Me

Large Enterprise Scale and Performance

Support for Oracle 10g
Improved enterprise scale, tested up to:
- 30,000 managed devices per zone
- 3,000 managed devices per primary server (with 1,000 concurrently connected)
- 1,000 managed devices per server class satellite node
- 250 managed devices per workstation class satellite node
Closest Server Rules:
Support L4 Switching for load balancing.
Satellite Groups: Randomized Satellite selected from group to service managed device request. Spreads load, faster response.
Exclude Rule: Isolates key ZENworks servers to focus on specific task, ie database.
ZENworks Satellites
Increase system access & responsiveness
- Specific roles to offload tasks from Primary server
- Collect local data, consolidate & upload
- Reduce bandwidth consumption
Promote any managed device to Satellite
- Windows desktop or server
- Single click to promote/demote to Satellite

General Enhancements

Role-based administration
Retire devices from service but preserve inventory and device history
Improved performance of ZENworks System Update

Migration

Migrating from ZENworks 7:
- Simple AppObjects translate to equivalent bundle tasks
- Imaging workstation assignments
- Configuration options – choose between UNC path or upload to Content system
- New device personality migration for OS/HW upgrades
Switch ZENworks user associations from an eDirectory source to Active Directory equivalent.

Discovery & Deployment

Configure discovery methods and Windows Proxy per discovery task from a Linux Primary server
Improved feedback on different discovery technologies used – better troubleshooting
Edit & update discovered device information
Install agents to different folders on the targeted device
Scheduled reboot after agent deployment
Deploy administrator created deployment packages through push deployment

Application Delivery & Policy Enforcement

ZENworks Configuration Management Bundles
- Include create/delete directory actions
- Allow configurable success codes for Launch actions
Plural group policies with inheritance now supported