coolguys's blog

I'm in the Novell SuperLab for the night - don't ask. I've got the run of the place - there are thousands of machines in here - and I've got 500 workstations to play with. It's a geek playground.

I'm running some tests, collecting data and writing notes for a set of white papers about ZENworks Configuration Management.

Written at: Provo, UT

I'm in the middle of recording screen cams from the "close to release candidate" builds of ZENworks 10 Configuration Management.

For those that have looked at the Public Beta - we've made some great improvements based on feedback.

The installation looks good; patch management and software distribution are solid; policy management also. I could go through the list and report back - but it's all coming together nicely. Remote Management, Discovery, Deployment, Reporting.

Where we've really made strides since ZENworks 7 is bringing the various pieces together - Patch Management, Asset Inventory and Asset Management are now unified into one database, with one agent and a single management console.

I'll start posting the videos here later this week - but I wanted to give everyone a quick update.

Written at: Draper, UT

Another post from me today. Novell has just announced the immediate availability of a new offering - ZENworks Endpoint Security Management.

There is a new webpage available at http://www.novell.com/products/zenworks/endpointsecuritymanagement/ with more information; also we recorded a podcast which is up on Novell Open Audio - http://www.novell.com/feeds/openaudio/?p=167

For techs looking to check this out - head over to http://download.novell.com/Download?buildid=03eZt8W6YSY~

Written at: Provo, UT

So what are we announcing?

This is a new strategic partnership with Senforce. Novell will offering a fully rebranded, fully supported product to customers starting from today.

So what does this new solution do?

Novell ZENworks Endpoint Security Management simplifies endpoint security by putting administrators in control, and combining 'point' security solutions under a single, easy-to-use management console:

Personal Firewall: The world's strongest, yet easiest to use, firewall to protect against hackers, malware, protocol attacks, and more, keeping security invisible to the end-user.

Wireless Security: Centrally controls when, how, and where users are allowed to connect. Wi-Fi connectivity can be limited to authorized and known access points, minimum encryption strength, or can be disabled completely if necessary.

Data Encryption: Secures data stored on the endpoint and on removable media, encrypting files so they can only be read by authorized users. Protects sensitive information on lost or stolen mobile computers.

USB Security: Prevents intentional or inadvertent transmission of data to removable storage devices. Storage devices can be placed in read-only mode or fully disabled, while the endpoint hard drive and all network drives remain accessible and operational.

Application Control: Ensures only approved applications are run on corporate IT assets -- create black lists, or enforce applications to run (i.e., VPN or Antivirus) prior to network connection.

Client Self Defense: Protects the endpoint by ensuring that the security client cannot be altered, hacked, or uninstalled.

Port Control: Controls connectivity via LAN, modem, Bluetooth™, Infrared, 1394 (Firewire™), and serial and parallel ports.

Alerts Monitoring: Provides a scalable and simple method for creating, distributing, enforcing, and monitoring security policies on endpoint devices, without forcing users to make security decisions or adjust settings.

Why is endpoint security important?

Because we all manage laptops and workstations that contain critical and confidential data.

Just a quick update.

The Novell Client for Vista is now in Public Beta. Head over to http://www.novell.com/beta/auth/beta.jsp?id=2306&type=1  and download it.

Feedback appreciated.

Written at: Provo, UT

You broke our download infrastructure!

I'm tracking down the exact details - but the popularity and demand for this beta has caused many of you to get errors from our content distribution network.

This is the most popular beta program for a ZENworks release I have known. I would not be surprised if in excess of a Terabyte has been downloaded in the last day or so.

For those that are trying to get hold of the beta - here are a few tips:

From Michel Bluteau in Canada this tip:

After trying multiple tools for downloading ZCM10.ISO, which is 4 Gb, I realized that the most reliable and fastest tool for me was wget on SLED(SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop), also available on other Linux.
The command below will allow a partial download to resume, even if the initial download was performed with a different tool, with the -c option:

wget -c --http-user=username --http-password=password 'http://cdn.novell.com/prot/zcLS90Uacvs~/ZCM10.iso'

make sure you choose a filesystem that can handle a filesize bigger than 4 Gb. Reiser or ext3 will do, but vfat won't for example.
I hope this info can save you some time.

Also the ISO is 4GB in size; this means that BorderManager as a proxy can't handle it; also Internet Explorer has problems.

From Shaun Pond:

Looks like the file is >4gb, and IE doesn't like this - for the moment,
use a download manager, such as flashget

Written at: midtown New York

Let me be the first to announce the availability of the Public Beta.

Head here to download (Novell Login required)

Note the readme and the hardware requirements for installation.

I strongly recommend installing this on a server class machine. If you want to see ZENworks Configuration Management, Reporting and the integrated ZENworks Patch Management - you will really need a dual core machine with 4 GB of RAM.

Note that in the Public Beta the reporting functions require a Windows 2003 Server.

Download, install and report back your findings.

I'll be blogging on the features in the coming days and weeks.

Written at: Draper, UT