Symantec Management Platform (Notification Server)

I am a bit confused.

Is NS 7 actually in release at this point? I have been able to download and install it...but it does not show up in solution sam nor in the upgrade download section.

Also...does anyone know the current status of Service Desk? In reading several threads it has been stated that NS 7 is not compatible with HelpDesk 6+. Does anyone know if this is fact or speculation? Is there a real release date for Service Desk?

I hope Symantec will improve on the poor methodology Altiris used when it came to information about new versions. One had to look all over to find them. Some could be accessed through stickies in the forum, some through the update screen, some through solution sam...etc.


Thanks in advance

Notification Server 7.0 was officially released on March 6th, 2009. However not all the 7.0 solutions have been released. I believe the Service Desk solution is expected to be released by the end of May.

To get Notification Server 7.0 simply go to http://www.symantec.com/business/theme.jsp?themeid=altiris.

From here you will be able to download the necessary files/suites.

HTH

Thank you.

So I take it the question about compatibility of NS 7 and Helpdesk 6+ is still an unknown at this point?

I ask because I am trying to decide when to actually put NS 7 on my production server. If Service Desk is a ways out I need to continue using Helpdesk...so I really need to know if they are compatible or not.

My migration to the new system is dependent upon what is happening with Helpdesk/Service Desk.

The current version of Helpdesk is not compatible with NS 7. Service Desk 7 is scheduled to be released in July.

Question on Servicedesk 7.

I heard that is *ONLY* works on 64bit installations and does not come in a 32bit flavor anymore.  Is this true?

In regards to your statement that not all 7.0 solutions are released.  While you are correct you need to either include the ones that have not released or the ones that have gone live.

All of Client Management Suite and Server Management Suite have been released on the 7.0 Platform.

Service Desk 7 is in closed beta

Barcode Solution and CMDB 7 are in beta

Workflow 7 has just entered beta

Asset Managemetn is not in beta yet

Service Desk 7 installs like Workflow does.  THere is a seperate executable that is launched to isntall.  Service Desk requires CMDB7 on one server and a seperate 64-bit server to install and run Service Desk 7 on.  Service Desk 7 is very memory intensive as a lot of the workflows are stored in memory.

So in a setup I will have one CMDB 7 (32 bit only still) server and one 64-bit Windows 2003 server which I install Service Desk onto.

Hope that helps, drop me a note if you need more help.

Do any of you know when Altiris will support Windows 2008 Server?  I guess the CMS and SMS users are happy with NS 7.0 (except AIX and HP UX support) but the TMS/AMS users will have to wait until Service and Asset 7.0 release.  I hope they speed up that deployment to coincide with the Service Desk release.  All these disparate products and systems are driving me crazy.

you will have to wait until 7.1, which will be released after SP2, which doesn't have a release date, since SP1 isn't out yet. Hopefully that clears things up. :)

It's the 31st of July now, not much information out about it yet. Not even a PDF describing what it can do etc?

Does anyone know when Service Desk 7 will be released?  No one at Symantec seems to know, which i find disturbing....

Please let me know if you can
Thanks

ServiceDesk 7 is scheduled for release at the end of August. 

We currently run TMS with AUP.  However Altiris NS/DS 7 have not got their act together... really disappointing. 

1 - We can't use NS7 because of asset management and helpdesk (they don't exist in 7 yet). 
2 - We can't use DS7 yet because someone thought it would be a great idea to release a product without PXE. 
3 - Now, the new NS7 does not run on 64 bit 2008, BUT I have DS6.9 running on Server 2008 64-BIT. 
4 - Now after just reading these posts Service Desk will have to run on 64-bit OS
5 - NS 7 doesn't event work with IE 8 !!!

Thsi product is starting to stink all over, why can't you all collectively get together and work this out ? What's it going to be next ?  I would love to jump ship on Altiris all together if it wasn't for the $$$ invested.   By the way Windows 7 is on the way along with server 2008 R2 you might want to get on that before 2011.

I'm in a similar situation. We're ready to go to CMS 7 and I have it running on a test server successfully. DS7 is obviously a no-go since not having PXE is a deal-breaker for us. And Service Desk 7 isn't worth the hassle right now unless Workflow solution is included free. We were told originally at ManageFusion 08 that Workflow would be included, but that apparently changed along the way. But Helpdesk 6 is solid and does the job, so we'll hang on to that for now.

So right now, it looks like I need to combine NS 7, DS 6.9, and Helpdesk 6. The first two run together on the same server (separate SQL back end), but do I need to set up a separate server just for Helpdesk?

ServiceDesk 7 is built on Workflow so it is included, to a certain extent.  If you wish to build your own workflows and then make them available through the Service Catalog, then you will need a full Workflow Solution license.

Also would like an official support of Windows 2003 R2, because it is still not supported: But it works. Symantec support confirm us they will do "best effort" assistance all the same.

That is not the case for SQL 2007 that was working on beta version, not any more in Final :-(

So I suggest Symantec create a specific "icon" to display what is "not supported but can be installed", from what "cannot be installed at all"...

And more: You need a NS7 server to download the SD7 installation, but must install on a separate server because NS7 cannot run a 64 server... As I understand
Anyway: for performance issue, it is better to dedicate a servicedesk server...
Using ".Net" standard is "open way" but thinking Microsoft will provide a "pre-tuned" solution, is blind ourself. Symantec must include "optimize" steps in coding, but I guess there are no time slot for this ? So the workaround is to provide a huge dedicated server for tickets management (all the same with workflows & smart web pages...). It is not really "green IT" as Symantec CEO promess for.

So: if you have a current single "Service Desk 6" server in operation, for migrating to  "service desk 7" you must add 2 servers (NS7 + SD7), except you install a virtual BOX inside the SD7 to host NS7. But plan a huge server: 8 CPU, 16 GB RAM... :(

Yes all, I feel also a lot of missing in "Matrix support" see https://kb.altiris.com/articleRedirect.asp?aid=46349
SQL 2007, W2008, IE8, native 64, windows 7, W2003 R2...

I also think it is time for Symantec to be more pro-active & "latest version support ready" than any other vendors to improve "Symantec public image".

I suggest all you subscribe & contact your closest User group & plan a global official complain about this to Symantec thrue the "User groups", probably the best way. Another is to write directly Symantec CEO.