A majority of environments today are cross-platform, combining both PCs and Macs. The result has become a common IT challenge: How can you maintain Macs in a network environment with a PC-centric infrastructure and with Windows-based network services? If your company is one of the many using both PCs and Macs, this whitepaper will help you know what to look for in a client management solution so that you can reduce inefficiencies and headaches. Learn about the functionality you need to actively manage Mac clients, how to plan for scalability, and the benefits you can gain from having a single cross-platform solution.
whitepaper
Absolute Manage: Client Management
Intelligent, Automated, Cross-Platform Management of All Your Computers
".if you can buy one, and only one set of tools for managing your Mac network, Absolute Manage would have to be the choice." - MacTech Magazine, January 2008
Managing Macs in a Windows Environment
A Changing Landscape 2Actively Managing Mac Clients 2Scalability 2History of Mac Management 3Client Management - A Single Solution 3Active Directory Integration 4Defining Cross-Platform 4Benefits of Absolute Manage 4Conclusion 5About Absolute Software 5Enterprise Desktop Alliance 6
www.absolute.comAbsolute Software whitepaper
A Changing LandscapeComputer networks are more diverse than ever. A homogeneous environment of only Windows or Mac devices is a rarity. Multi-platform computing environments are the norm and require a complex IT landscape comprised of multiple applications based on platform, availability, and user preference.
Cross-platform environments are the new standard, supported with the switch by Apple to Intel processors, the Boot Camp capability to run Windows via a Mac, and the ability to run Windows within the Mac OS via Parallels and VMware Fusion.
The result of these technical advances has become every IT team's challenge: How can you deploy and maintain Macs in a large network environment with a PC-centric infrastructure and with servers that provide Windows-based network services?
Actively Managing Mac ClientsThe most obvious solution is to forego central management of the Mac devices in your deployment. But this can often become a time-consuming and expensive solution. Consider the following:
. If you cannot monitor and inventory your Mac devices, (including operating systems, software licenses, and hardware components), you will be unable to control costs or budget for future requirements.. If you cannot remotely install software applications onto your Mac devices, you will have to physically touch each device whenever this type of maintenance is needed, using valuable resources that could be redirected to more productive work.. If you cannot track the software licenses installed on your Mac devices, you will not know how many licenses you own and how many are already installed. This means your organization could fail a compliance audit and potentially face penalties for unlicensed installations.. If you cannot actively manage your Mac devices, you will be forced to manually implement constant up-to-date security measures and never know with certainty that the status of each device is current. A single lapse could mean system downtime from un-patched bugs and serious security breaches from malicious attacks on each vulnerable client.
ScalabilityThe right client management solution must be able to accommodate the unique needs of your business. Some common guidelines:
. Invest in a solution that allows you to start at a point that makes sense for your existing reality. Solutions with high resource requirements for computing environments much larger than your own provide minimal return on your investment with significant ongoing operational costs.. Beware solutions that don't scale well. For example, if the product you're considering can only support a single server it will be unable to support your organization as it increases in size and complexity. This could lead to degradation in performance and effectiveness of the client management system. . The ideal solution must be able to support your current environment and your existing IT infrastructure without waste. But it must also scale effectively to support your organization in the future without additional licensing costs.
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www.absolute.comAbsolute Software whitepaper
AbsoluteŽ Manage (formerly LANrev) was built for scalability and expandability. The core functions of the Absolute Manage server (Application & License Management, Security & Change Configuration, Automated Patch Management, Computer Imaging, Asset Inventory, and Power Management) can all be assigned to a single server.
Additional servers can be added as your organization grows. For example, a second server can be added to handle software distribution and license monitoring while the original server focu... [download for more]
