We had a great meeting and turnout for our Jan 13, 2011 user group meeting.
We were pleased to have Rene Kolga present from Symantec.
Please see the attached slide for details and the notes are listed here:
We met in Roseville and had attendance close to 50.
Announcements:
Discount code for Vision Conference in May is SVUG11FC
Introductions:
We did introductions for each attendee our names, position, company, title, what products or interests and how many nodes.
Rene Kolga, Product Manger from Symantec for Inventory, Application Metering, Software Management, Recovery Solution and SEP Integration.
Informal Survey:
10-15% of attendees are on 7.0, a few have looked at 7.1
Rene demoed the updated console. New console looks similar to Outlook. You can drag and drop and console is very responsive. Without going into the resource manager, you can see many details on a given computer.
You can do a quick filter on the console to do searches. You can save the search and decide to share with other users of the console. You can filter and search on all data classes in the database. It uses Silverlight.
Jobs and Tasks – can create imaging jobs, add DS jobs and tasks as well as other solutions now with full integration – this was not previously available.
The biggest change is around the software. Anything that shows up in Add/Remove programs will show up in the list. Concept shift – Software components to Software Products.
First view is similar to 7.0. you can create software products out of software components list. You can move software into an unmanaged section or “I don’t care”.
Dynamic filter associates components with products. Create a broad filter to assign components (9.11, 9.12, etc). Many dynamic filters are created for you. over 300 in fact. These are out of the box to help you auto assign components to products you can edit those filters and or create your own. You can decide which package associates with software. You can add licenses if you have Asset Management.
You can meter what license software is being used and license count for things under management.
Virtualized software is included in programs list. It can be metered and deployed. It will pick up App V as long as it shows up in Add/Remove Programs.
You can do drag and drop onto one machine or all computers. It will prompt you if you want to do a task.
Big improvement version 7 from version 6.
Rene showed the Software Management UI. You can put the software in a managed or unmanaged list.
License Management:
Helps your ROI. Next time you order licenses, you can see how much you are paying and what licenses are in use.
We discussed using hierarchy in NS.
Working on work flow to harvest licenses
Advanced Analytics and Reporting (quick survey.. few folks are familiar with it):
This is very fast and now included for free. It adds a level of intelligence. It uses SQL. You don’t’ have to buy anything extra. It has key performance indicators and you can see the long-term trends.
Provides historical and analytical charts to analyze trends over time.
Database is schema is changed quite a bit. You need to relearn how to create custom reports but analytics provides drag and drip to provide reports on the fly. Blends data from SEP and patch, etc.
Optimize
64 bit platform support. 7.1 needs Server 2008, supports 20,000 nodes. Hardware requirements are being finalized in guides.
Due out beginning of Month.
Expanded Mobile Support
ipads, iphone and Android
Separate from ITMS, separate purchase but fully integrated
* can do remote wipes
* require WED from devices
*block use of Wi-Fi etc.
Application Compatibility Issues
Application virtualization if you have CMS you have Symantec’s Virtualization
*add prerequisites
*solve java run time
*can run multiple version of IE
*launches correct browser based on application
Discussion on licenses with Microsoft – a user was told it was a violation of EULA to use IE6 on Windows 7 because it is OS based. Symantec legal dept worked with Microsoft’s legal depart and users are not in violation of EULA. They have worked with Gartner to discuss issues with legal groups.
Work Flow
Fully integrated. Custom automation of processes that used to take a lot fo time.
DS on platform – Ghost is the primary imaging engine. There is now personality support for office 2010 (32 and 64 bit)
Added VMM – Virtual machine manager (just released with 7.0)
Expanded Patch Management
A handful of users are implementing this
Patch is back on track – they are adding more support for other apps – Java & Adobe
Next update Symantec is closing the gap with Patch. Not just security and hot fixes.
Full functionality in 7.1 SP1 – 2-3 months after 7.1 release. Add # of workflows for path rollouts
End of presentation
Q & A Session:
Q – what are the free pieces of NS if you don’t own the Suite?
A – Network Discover, out of band management, wake up/shut down, Vpro provisitoning, SEP Integration (separate inventory from SEPM), can uninstall AV software, deploy SPE, perform SEP tasks, force AV update and quick scan.
Prize Drawing
100 Connect Points - Ryan Lindenfelser, St. Michael/Albertville Schools
150 Connect Points - Mark Anderson, Dunwoody
200 connect Points – Adam Gilman, Dolphin Staffing
250 Conect Points – John Parizek, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics
300 Connect Points – Tony Bromenshenkel, UHG