Guest blog from Grant Ho, senior solutions manager, Novell Endpoint Management Solutions
Today, Microsoft unveils Windows 7, which promises to be one of the industry’s biggest product launches. Analysts forecast that Windows 7 will show significant adoption over the next few years. For example, a recent IDC White Paper forecasts that more than 170 million units of Windows 7 will ship by the end of 2010(1). When we talk to our customers, we hear a similar message – Windows 7 is on the minds of many companies. Given that this new OS is getting its fair share of attention, the question we keep hearing is how do I prepare for Windows 7? And – What should I migrate? How do I do it? How do I ensure my users continue to be productive?
At the end of the day, we all know that a major OS upgrade can be disruptive — it takes time, it takes planning, and it can sap IT time and drain employee productivity if not done correctly. That’s where Novell Endpoint Management Solutions (featuring ZENworks) come into the picture.
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ZENworks Asset Management gives you a clear picture of exactly what hardware and software assets you have with discovery and software inventory capabilities. That means you can easily find out which of your devices are due for a hardware refresh, or if you prefer to upgrade, which devices will actually support Windows 7 and whether or not your applications will run on Windows 7.
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ZENworks Configuration Management can drastically reduces the time it takes to migrate your devices to Windows 7. With official support for Windows 7 coming later this year, you can create Windows 7 desktop images (which can dynamically install hardware drivers and applications specific to the devices they’re deployed), and then automatically deploy those images to your devices. In addition, you can use ZENworks Configuration Management to manage your Windows 7 machines – from delivery of personality settings, to deployment of updates and patches, to performing remote management, and much more.
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ZENworks Application Virtualization lets you easily virtualize your applications and run them on your OS of choice, including Windows 7. This lets you keep your workers highly productive by ensuring that day-to-day applications (even your line-of-business ones) will work on Windows 7, while reducing the time and burden of testing hundreds of applications when you make the switch. And best of all, you can easily deploy these virtual applications to your new Windows 7 machines with ZENworks Configuration Management.
Windows 7 is going to be a key driver in the industry, but to migrate successfully, businesses need to have the right solutions and parts in place. As Louis Pasteur once said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” With the ZENwork trifecta — ZENworks Asset Management, ZENworks Configuration Management, and ZENworks Application Virtualization – we put the chances of success squarely on your side.
Learn more about how ZENworks can help you make the move to Windows 7 here.
(1) IDC White Paper Sponsored by Microsoft, The Economic Impact of Microsoft’s Windows 7, Worldwide, Doc # W7WW709, July 2009
