Deployment Solution 6.9 (the technology on which GSS 3.x is based) included a web console for triggering remote actions. It is possible to run the full console installed remotely but this can sometimes cause a performance issue over slow links. The web console solves this issue by providing a cut down set of capabilities accessible from a browser.
With GSS 3.0 we did not include the web console due to it requiring a lot of effort to refresh it, including recompiling it with a new .NET version so that it can run on server versions above Windows Server 2008. This feature is about bringing back the web console and supporting it with GSS 3.0.
The alternative option is to build a new remote access console, possibly built in the cloud, that will fully replace the existing console. This will clearly be more effort but will bring us closer to our vision of refreshing the GSS UI with modern technology.
Please respond to this feature with your support for this feature or any input you feel might help.
This blog will be updated as we further develop this feature request.
As a side note Web console is now included in GSS 3.3.
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.DOC11033.html
Our strategy is to keep the full console for admin use and use the web console tactically for front line technicians, that way we can keep the best bits of both where they add the most value.
Please PM to take a look at the prototype.
The new web console will definitely not be replacing the current thick console.
Sorry for the delay in replying, we've been deep in other work but are actively implementing the web console now.
I don't think our new console will be in a position to replace the full console for quite some time, and in fact I'm not even setting that as a goal right now.
If you'd like to review our prototype please PM me.
Thanks!
Would you like to meet and discuss the prototype? Please PM me.
To me the installed console is critical. I have yet to see a web based interface that can match the speed and performance of a native app. The main reason I decided to have another look at Symatec was because they have encorporated the use of the Altiris console in the Ghost suite. I understand the business side of things; a web interface opens things up for compatibility and other things. The cost, however, is in sheer speed and efficiency.
Ideally, there would be two interfaces. That is not likely, because one will be starved of development resources eventually. I would rather see development and resources put into an updated console than a web based interface that historically underperforms.
We love the thought of a web console or cloud based console, but we just don't want to sacrafice the performance we get right now out of the installed console. At one time we moved to DS 6 and DS 7 and we moved back because of the speed and performace of a fully installed console vs. the web based console in those versions. A fresh look would be nice, but please don't give us that and sacrafice performance.
I would like to see the web console have the same options as the full console but not to have anything loaded on the client if possible. We have a good number of users using remote consoles but complaining of speed issues. If we had all the options in web consoles I would have them run that.
I have some customers where they use GSS for their schools. They would like to have the web console so that the IT person at each school did'nt neeed to install the GSS console.
Thanks for the feedback. This feature specifically describes the web console which will be accessible only on-prem. If I could ask a follow up could you describe exactly what problem you hope the web console would solve against using the full console?
I'm interested in building a complete picture of where this is going to help.
I wanted to make sure that if and when you update this, that Cloud will not be the only connection type allowed?
Thanks.