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Desktop/Software Management Solutions???

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by jeff.smith

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I am currently researching a number of desktop management solutions including SMS 2.0, LANDesk 6.3, ZenWorks/Manage Wise bundale, HPOpenView/Novadigm solution, etc. I have not found much research in the way of true product comparisons. Can anyone provide with non-biased rational why to choose one product over another. And/or give testimonial for a particular product based on past experience. Finally, if there is another comparable solution that is not listed, please let me know and point mein the right direction to research it.

7 replies

by aaron v

The best way to go about it is to get each vendor to send you evaluation software and test it in a lab environment. I have heard good things about almost all the products you mention. I have spent some time talking with HP/Novadigm in the past month, and they seem to have a very good software distribution app, but no other management capabilities (Inventory, etc). SMS is great if you are all MS and have a good domain structure in place. Zen can be good if you have a good NDS in place (whichpresupposes you have Novell NetWare running). I have not worked with LANDesk, so I cannot provide any insight. I would define your requirements (Software dist, inventory, integration to other products, ease of use, support, etc) then test, then recommend.

Enjoy!

by jeff.smith

Thanks for the advice. Let me know if you have started implementing Novadigm yet. I am very interested in this app and would like to correspond with someone using it.

Please reply to jeff.smith@daou.com if you get the time. Thanks again.

by mreed

If you are looking for a strong desktop policy management system, I would not recommend SMS 2.0. With version 2.0, MS removed their workstation policy component since they consider this to be a integral component of Active Directory. We employed SMS2.0 over a year ago to bolster an existing automated software distribution system that was working great but needed some additional features like reporting and workstation inventory management. At the time we decided to go with SMS, we planned on having SMS replace our existing distribution system over time. Although SMS has provided some increased functionality, the cost of this has been excessive in time learning SMS, which is very complex and poorly documented, and the infrastructure required to support this (we've upgraded our server twice, about to do this again, plus add another server).

Either MS provides little effort to enhancing this product or it is so complex they it takes them forever to make any changes. There is only minimal support for Active Directory and full integration will not occur for over a year.

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