Should you upgrade to Altiris Client Management Suite 7.0?
Should you upgrade to Altiris Client Management Suite 7.0?
In short, for me the answer is not yet. We are currently using Deployment Solution 6.9. I had heard that the Deployment Solution would be integrated with the Notification Server in version 7.0 After speaking with technical support, they told me that they have not been integrated yet, but they didn’t know when that might happen (probably this year – summer/fall 2009).
All of the products in the Altiris Total Management Suite (excluding Deployment Solution - right now) installs to the Symantec Management Platform, which part of it used to be called the Notification Server. The Symantec Management Platform now includes the Symantec Management Console, Database, Notification Server and Client Management Suite management components.
Based on some advice from Altiris, I would wait to upgrade my DS 6.9 when DS 7.1 is released to then have it integrated with NS. Your situation may be entirely different. However, I would find out which versions of your products will be released with the new Symantec Management Platform. Good luck.
About Endpoint Management Community Blog
The Endpoint Management Community Blog is the perfect place to share short, timely insights including product tips, news and other information relevant to the Endpoint Management community. Any authenticated Connect member can contribute to this blog.
Comments
Disagree slightly
I have some disagreement with this blog post. While you are correct the integration between DS and NS is still going on you odn't have to wait until the integration is complete in order to move to NS7.
DS 6.9 SP1 is currently still supported as a stand alone product and you can continue to utilize its power and benifits in your environment. In fact I have one client that continues to use the DS Agent on his clients along with the NS 7 agent for everything else.
CMS7 and DS 6.9 can exist on seperate machines without any problems. And you get the power of both worlds, CMS 7 and everything it brings to the table without waiting for the integration to complete.
Drop me a note with questions or comments
Jonathan Jesse Practice Principal ITS Partners
Thank you for your feedback - more thoughts anyone?
Thank you for your input. I would like to hear from others to see if and why they are upgrading. Like I said in the original post, "Your situation may be entirely different. However, I would find out which versions of your products will be released with the new Symantec Management Platform." Based on many factors, including what servers you have, what Altiris products you are currently using, what Altiris solutions and suites you plan to use in the future, and how well they integrate, you may want to wait. Others may want to do the upgrade right now. Hoping to hear from more of you - Thanks.
I wouldnt upgrade, but for different reasons
I wouldnt upgrade until you are TRULY ready for a big jump. While you can have multiple versions of NS in your environment, a client CANNOT co-exist with multiple NS's, and more importantly the NS upgrade isnt backwards compatible. So while you can keep DS seperate, all of your other solutions you may need to use MUST go to 7.0 and then you have to do a big push of all your clients over (unless you're capable of managing two environments and slowly moving clients over).
-Austin Lazanowski Backups cost way too much until you needed them.
PXE?
I remember being told just prior to NS 7 being release even after the integrate DS into NS 7 it will be with PXE. And this would be a deal breaker for several companies that I know of one of which has nearly 500 PXE's out in 500 branch locations and 10,000+ users that would never want to us a boot disc :) Is this still true is pxe staying or going?
Lee Wilburn
Suzlon Wind Energy
If your question has been resolved, please click "Mark as Solution"! Thank you. Hope it helps!
Would you like to reply?
Login or Register to post your comment.