Question

ZEN vs Altiris vs Kbox for end to end desktop management,

Asked by: mrfixit911

We are a Netware 6 and Windows 2003 mixed bag. We are considering an enterprise level end to end desktop management system. Just wanted to get this community's thoughts on this subject.

We have 1300 desktops distributed over 18 locations within a 60 mile radius. Some locations have great bandwidth other location have not so great bandwidth. :)

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Asked On
2009-08-05 at 10:19:52ID24628856
Tags

ZEN

,

Altiris

,

Kbox

,

Desktop Management

Topics

IT Administration

,

Microsoft Hardware

,

Novell Netware Network Software

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: ZENandEmailguyPosted on 2009-08-05 at 19:07:58ID: 25029568

ZENworks wins hands down.  I've worked and taught classes with every version of ZENworks as well as compared it to the likes of Altiris, Big Fix, SMS, SCCM, and a couple of others.

ZEN lets you push Windows Group Policy to workstations so you don't need AD (unless you've already got it).  It will take a complete inventory, let you remote control over slow or fast links, let you deploy applications as well as un-install them.  It has a superb imaging system and with the third part ENGL you can use ONE image for every box in your company.  The full suite of ZEN includes a desktop management, server management, inventory and asset management, linux management, patch management that rocks the world, and even hand held management.  There is also End Point Security management and the newest, coolest thing is ZENworks Virtual Applications where you take an app such as Word and convert it into a single .exe file where you can then run it from a jump drive or whatever other medium.

If you buy Novell Open Workgroup Suite, ZENworks 7 comes with it.

Now there is ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and while it isn't a direct replacement for ZEN 7 it offers a new single management web interface known as the ZENworks Control Center plus a command line management interface known as ZMAN too.  The coolest part of ZCM 10 is that you do not have to have eDirectory.  ZCM10 works in a pure AD world or with any other LDAP-based directory.

Look at www.novell.com/products for links to all of the ZEN products

Hope that helps.

Scott

 

by: mrfixit911Posted on 2009-09-02 at 10:22:11ID: 25243286

Thanks for the information how does ZEN hold up against Microsoft MOM and SMS

 

by: ZENandEmailguyPosted on 2009-09-02 at 10:50:06ID: 25243623

Now with ZCM 10, it wins at the desktop level.  MOM will do some things better with server management.  SMS sucks.  SCCM (its (sms) replacement) is pretty good from what I've seen of it so far.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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