Novell ZENworks 7 Desktop Management End of General Support

Novell ZENworks 7 Desktop Management End of Extended Support

Frequently Asked Questions

I am a ZENworks® Server Management customer. What solutions provide similar capabilities?

ZENworks Server Management provided the ability to use Tiered Electronic Distribution to replicate files between servers. It also provided server-focused policies, inventory, remote control and network management and monitoring capabilities. These capabilities were predominately focused on managing NetWare servers, with a lesser focus on providing capabilities for Windows and Linux devices. As of this date no other Novell product provides these same capabilities.

ZENworks Configuration Management provides a set of policies that can manage Windows or Linux servers and perform software distribution, inventory and remove control; however, it does not provide capabilities equivalent to Tiered Electronic Distribution or Management and Monitoring Services. ZENworks Configuration Manager does not support NetWare. There is currently no replacement product for standalone ZENworks Server Management customers.

Customers that have ZENworks Server Management as a part of the ZENworks Suite have an entitlement to ZENworks Configuration Management Advanced and can leverage the capabilities present in ZENworks Configuration Management. Standalone ZENworks Server Management customers wishing to use the capabilities of ZENworks Configuration Management can purchase ZENworks Configuration Management separately.

I currently use ZENworks Linux Management. What solution should I move toward?

Assuming that you are managing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10/11, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10/11 or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.x/5.x/6.x then you should transition to ZENworks 11 Configuration Management. This provides the majority of capabilities and features found in ZENworks Linux Management, with the exception of desktop policies that manage software such as Firefox, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Epiphany, and so on. A migration tool exists that makes it easy to migrate data from your ZENworks Linux Management environment to ZENworks Configuration Management. Customers with active ZENworks Linux Management maintenance are already entitled to ZENworks Configuration Management. We will automatically switch them to ZENworks Configuration Management maintenance on their next renewal. If you are using ZENworks Linux Management to manage mainframe Linux then you should consider moving to SUSE Manager.

Is ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and Asset Management still under General Support?

No. On September 30, 2012, ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and Asset Management migrated from the General Support phase of the Novell product support lifecycle to the Extended Support lifecycle phase. Learn more about extended support.

What is Extended Support?

The Extended Support phase is an interim solution for customers who intend to move to the most current version of a Novell product, but need additional time to make the transition. During the Extended Support phase, customers who continue to pay maintenance on the most current version of the product may purchase an Extended Support Service Request pack for installation and configuration technical support. Learn more about extended support.

How long will Extended Support for ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and Asset Management be available?

Extended Support options will be available for ZENworks 10 until September 30, 2014.
You may purchase an Extended Support Service Request pack to receive technical support during your migration. Current maintenance on the replacement product (ZENworks 11 Configuration Management and/or ZENworks 11 Asset Management) is a pre-requisite for the Extended Support Service Request pack. After September 2014, Extended Support will end and the product will enter the Self Support phase of the product lifecycle. Learn more about Extended Support Service Request Pack.

Will software updates be available during the Extended Support phase?

During the Extended Support phase, Novell will continue to make available critical security updates for maintenance customers who have purchased Extended Support. Non-security related software patches and fixes may be provided if Novell deems appropriate and strategic. Additional software patches and fixes may also be available.

Will Novell assist me as I migrate from ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and/or ZENworks 10 Asset Management to ZENworks 11?

If you are paying maintenance for ZENworks 11 Configuration Management and/or Asset Management, you already receive unlimited technical support for any ZENworks 11-related issues, including migration from ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and/or ZENworks 10 Asset Management. For assistance with ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and/or Asset Management-related issues, you must purchase the Extended Support Service Request pack for ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and/or ZENworks 10 Asset Management. This will give you five 12x5 service requests for ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and/or ZENworks 10 Asset Management. Learn more about extended support.

Where can I get more information on Novell's Product Support Lifecycle?

Detailed information can be found on the Product Support Lifecycle site.

Do I contact a different group for support now?

No. If you purchase Extended Support you will be able to open a service request for ZENworks 10 Configuration Management or ZENworks 10 Asset Management. This service request will be routed to the same support team that handles ZENworks 11 related issues.

Why are you ending general support for ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and ZENworks 10 Asset Management?

Every product has a natural lifecycle, and Novell products are no exception. After many years on the market, ZENworks 10 Configuration Management and ZENworks 10 Asset Management are moving into the next phase. ZENworks 10 customers are ready for the next evolution of the product line: ZENworks 11. ZENworks 11 features everything you've come to know and love in the product, plus a host of new capabilities including location awareness, power management, integrated Windows, Mac and Linux device management, and the industry's first "single pane of glass" for lifecycle management and endpoint security.

How hard is it to upgrade to ZENworks 11?

The upgrade to ZENworks 11 from ZENworks 10 is very straightforward. The ZENworks 11 installation media performs the upgrade on the ZENworks Primary Server(s) and the ZENworks database schema and you can then use System Update to deploy the upgrade to your Satellite and Managed Devices.

What is the impact of upgrading SQL or Oracle database servers for the ZENworks upgrade?

Microsoft and Oracle have ceased or have announced their intent to cease general support for the older versions supported by ZENworks 10. As a result, and based on customer requests, Novell now supports and requires a newer version to be used to ensure supportability. The database version upgrade is NOT something the ZENworks upgrade automates. The process of upgrading database versions is managed separately from ZENworks.

Are there any significant architectural changes from ZENworks 10 to ZENworks 11?

The architecture of ZENworks 11 has not changed significantly, but some of the core components have. ZENworks 11 ships with Tomcat 6 and a 64-bit JVM. At upgrade time, the JVM will automatically upgrade to the 64-bit version if the underlying Operating System is 64-bit. The biggest changes on the Managed Device side is the inclusion of Location Awareness, integrated Apple Macintosh Management, integrated ZENworks Endpoint Security Management and integrated ZENworks Full Disk Encryption capabilities.

Are new license keys required?

From ZENworks 11 onwards, ZENworks Zones must have an activation code entered against an e-mail address to show that you are current with maintenance and are therefore entitled to download patches. Customers and partners should have this Activation Code in your Novell Customer Center.

For more information please vist: www.novell.com or contact your local sales representative.