Automatic Workstation Import and Removal

The Automatic Workstation Import and Removal services provide simplified, hands-off management of users' workstations.

Automatic Workstation Import imports workstations into eDirectory and integrates them automatically. The Workstation objects created by Automatic Workstation Import provide you with a way to push software and computer settings down to the workstations by using the Novell Application Launcher^TM (NAL) and ZENworks Desktop Management policies.

Automatic Workstation Removal removes obsolete workstation data from the directory and from the Inventory database.

Workstation Management

Workstation Management helps you reduce the overall cost and complexity of configuring and maintaining workstation desktops in your network. ZENworks policies provide you with automatic management of server, user, and workstation configurations, processes, and behaviors---which means that you do not need to visit each workstation in your site to configure user settings and workstations.

Using Workstation Management, you can

• Enable roaming profiles and set default desktop preferences for users.
• Use extensible policies to control any application function that is configured in the Windows* registry.
• Set group policies for Windows 2000/XP workstations and users.
• Set parameters for remotely managing users' workstations, including remote control, remote view, diagnostics, file transfer, remote execute, and Wake-on-LAN.
• Set parameters for imaging workstations.
• Set parameters to specify what inventory information to collect.
• Set parameters to automatically import new workstations into the eDirectory tree.
• Set user parameters for using Novell iPrint, which lets users use a Web browser to install printers on their workstations.
• Configure users' terminal server connections.

Application Management

Application Management helps you manage the distribution of applications to users on Windows workstations. Using Application Management, you can

• Distribute traditional Windows applications and Microsoft Windows Installer applications.

  Traditional Windows applications include their own installation programs. Windows Installer applications utilize the Windows Installer and a .msi file for installation.

• Distribute applications from the network (while connected to eDirectory) or from removable media, such as a CD, Jaz* drive, or Zip* drive (while disconnected from eDirectory).
• Determine which users to distribute an application to.

  You must associate an application with a user through eDirectory before the application is available for distribution to the user. You can also associate applications with workstations so that they are available on the workstation regardless of which user is logged in.

• Create application dependencies.

  Through application dependencies, you can require that Application B is installed and running before Application A can be launched.

• Determine how distributed applications are presented to users on their workstations.

  For a user to receive applications you've configured in eDirectory and associated with him or her, Novell Application Launcher must be running on the user's workstation. Novell Application Launcher accesses eDirectory to know which applications are associated with the user and performs all distribution processes (including installing and uninstalling) for the applications.

  Novell Application Launcher provides three views through which applications can be presented:

  • Application Window, a standalone window that displays icons for the distributed applications.
  • Application Explorer, a component that includes a standalone window like the Application Window and also includes Windows Explorer integration so distributed application icons can be displayed on the Windows desktop, the Start menu, the status area, and the Quick Launch toolbar.
  • Application Browser, a Web browser view that displays icons for the distributed applications.
• Distribute applications to newly imaged workstations as part of the imaging process.
• Control which nondistributed applications can be run on a workstation.

  For example, if you don't want users to be able to launch the Microsoft Calculator because you want them to use a calculator application you've distributed to them, you can disable their ability to launch the Calculator even though it was not distributed through Novell Application Launcher.

• Uninstall any distributed applications.

  The uninstall includes the deletion of all nonshared files, .ini entries, and registry entries associated with the distribution of the application.

Workstation Imaging

Using Workstation Imaging, you can perform the following imaging operations:

• Take an image of a workstation and store it on the same workstation (locally) or on an imaging (proxy) server.
• Create an "add-on" image of selected files.
• Customize an image.
• Compress an image to minimize storage space.
• Retrieve an image that has been saved to a workstation (locally) or an imaging (proxy) server and restore it to a workstation.

  You can do this manually at each workstation or automatically from ConsoleOne^®.

• Use a workstation or server policy to define imaging operations.
• Create a script to customize and automate how you perform imaging operations.
• Restore an image to many workstations simultaneously in a multicast session.
• View information about the partitions and storage devices on a workstation.
• Create, delete, and activate partitions.

Remote Management

Remote Management lets you remotely manage workstations (called managed workstations) from the remote management console. Remote Management lets you do the following:

• Remotely wake up a powered-off managed workstation
• Remotely control the managed workstation
• Remotely view the managed workstation
• Execute files found on the managed workstation
• Transfer files between the remote management console and the managed workstation
• Display diagnostic problems on the managed workstation
• Log audit record information about the Remote Management sessions running on the managed workstation
• Blank the managed workstation screen during a remote control session
• Lock the keyboard and mouse controls at the managed workstation during a Remote Control session

IMPORTANT:  You cannot use ZENworks 6.5 Desktop Management to obtain Remote Management functionality on the servers.

Workstation Inventory

ZENworks Desktop Management lets you gather and administer complete hardware and software information for all workstations connected to your network. From ConsoleOne, you can view the complete hardware and software inventory of the workstations. You can also query the centralized database of the workstations and generate reports.

You can use the information in the Novell ZENworks 6.5 Desktop Management Installation Guide to set up a pilot system so that you can better understand Workstation Inventory. The pilot system consists of a management console, an Inventory server, an Inventory database running Sybase*, and one or more inventoried workstations.

Additional Information

For additional information on the benefits provided by ZENworks Desktop Management, see ZENworks Desktop Management Features and Benefits information on the Web.

For planning and installation information, continue with Installing ZENworks Desktop Management.