Asset Management Suite

3 December 10 - Sacramento Endpoint Management User Group Meeting Minutes

 Announcements and Introductions

 Larger group in attendance for this meeting.  Unfortunately, in a smaller meeting room.

 Cindy Mazeika and Kevin Wilson gave presentation on ITMS 7.1.

NS 7.1 Top 10 List Presentation - Cindy Mazeika and Kevin Wilson (Symantec)

• New NS has a “look and feel” of Microsoft Outlook
• “At-a-glance” philosophy to NS 7.1 to give new console the feel of most used items are managed in one place
• Drag-and-drop capability to associate a specific policy to a workstation

2.  Software Catalog manages installed software.  Items included are:

• Software library
• Software product
• License
• Purchase information

4.  Streamlined software management.

• Simplified software license management
• Advanced reporting and data analytics
• NS 7.1 can manage larger number of nodes – 20K
• 7.1 does not support 32-bit

• Now includes iPad, iPods
• Increased security
• More inventory options
• Granular device control

• Workspace virtualization on the fly
• Manages software dependencies
• Can run IE6 and IE8 parallel
 

• Workflow Solution– fully integrated automation included in 7.0.
• Out-of-box automation available through included templates
• Available custom automation – more of a self-service
• Ability for user to use “shopping cart” process automation for hardware and software requests
• Service Desk solution enhancements

8.  Migration and deployment enhancements

• DS Console integrated in NS 7.1 – no longer separate console.
• Enhanced Site server technology instead of relying on Package and Task replication structure
• Better Security roles with global scoping.
• Enhanced Report capabilities
• Integrated Window 7 migration
• Expanded OS support

• SQL database structure changes
• 7.0 to 7.1 is the most difficult migration
• Known Knowledge base migration issues
• Key migration issue is planning.  Review your environment.  Time to do clean up of custom filters, collections, policies, etc.
• 7.1 scheduled for March release

• Will include other applications, not just Microsoft software
• Automated process similar to Workflow Solution

 Discussion

•  Better Asset Management for associated Cost Centers, Parent Associations will be addressed in 7.1
•  More control over Asset status when Status set to Disposed, and then Status is automatically updated to Active when connected to network and re-discovered
• Symantec Connect 2.0 (formerly Juice) is now live, which has a Window 7 “look”.  Users much prefer Juice for ability to locate items
• Tagvault.com for Software Management

Planning & Prizes

• 100 points - Gloria Graham
• 350 points – Patrick Calvert (150 points plus 200 host split with Linda)
• 200 points – Khanh Le
• 250 points – Mike Reynolds
• 500 points – Linda Skellenger (300 points plus 200 host split with Patrick)
• Symantec Bag (TSA compliant) – Eric Abetya

Plan is to keep user group meetings to four (4) a year - tentatively March, June, September and December for 2011.

Next meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2011 @ 8:30 am in the Rubicon Room at SMUD.

Next meetings topic will focus on a more in-depth discussion based on one solution.  Possibly with real-time solution configuration from user group members.