Client Management Suite

Hi all,

Quick question, If you have users that work outside of the corporate domain, lets say permanently at a customer site. How would (if at all possible) the client be managed by altiris for software distribution- lets say the user connects into the corporate network via VPN and is not guranteed a fast link. What is the method to handle this scenario.

Thanks

Eugene

Once these machines connect to the company, say via VPN, they are managed like normal clients. I generally try to create a collection\filter with a agent policy\targeted setting that slows down the network traffic to these systems.

With 7.1, you'll be able to web management with clients, although I don't have the full details.

So if your WAN link is not up to speed your going to have very irrate end users? Lets say for example that your rolling out Office 2010, over a slow VPN connection - is there like a self service option that will tell the user , "hey office 2010 is available for you, but its going to take a long time to install, please click install when your ready."

in that you could precache the software so the clients could run it whenever they wanted to. However, in NS6, it was a significant challenge to manage systems outside the DMZ.

In NS7, everything is task driven, so the package isn't downloaded until the install time. There is an option to setup a managed software delivery policy, which when properly configured will download but not install the software (basically using a dummy command line). Once it is precached you can execute a task at a scheduled time.

The other option is to leverage the software portal, but I've never had to do that with mostly disconnected users, so I don't have any firm ideas if that will work.

Can the software portal be accessed via web interface, lets say for users that do not even use a VPN connection?

and, if you had an internet facing NS (which again until 7.1 is released, is not a perfect solution), you could provide this. Lots of configuration questions with setup and security, but it should be possible.

With Cloud Computing and Saas, I think more and more organisations will be looking for a solution that would allow a corporate member of staff to recieve software, send inventory and so on without needing to be on VPN.

Our company has 100's of sales reps spread all over the place and we only really get a look at there machine maybe 1 month in a year.