Network America's Blog

Quick Start Guide for LANDesk* and Intel® AMT

2008-06-06T12:55:27Z

Using LANDesk 8.8 for your vPro deployment? The quick start guide was just updated for this latest LANDesk release

Here is the download.

Have a great weekend!

-Susie

Is Data Loss keeping you up at night?

2008-06-04T11:29:08Z

It's every CIO's nightmare, critical business data loss, it might be sensitive financial data, a new product design, client account information or patient records.

The most common culprits of business data loss all radiate from the desktop or laptop. Top problems include data leakage via mass storage devices and removable media drives, data loss through unauthorized applications or over unauthorized wireless connections, and data leakage over ad hoc network bridges.

With LANDesk's endpoint security you can create a comprehensive strategy to secure data on every client system and on all the devices that connect to it.

On June 11th @ 10:30 AM PDT there is a complimentary Webcast highlighting this technology.

Agenda will include:

-Overview of how data loss is effecting IT

-Best Practices for Preventing Data Loss at the Endpoint

-Brief Solution Demonstration

If you would like more information on LANDesk Software's endpoint security or would like to take part in this Webcast, email me at swatkins@ldms.com and I will send you the link and more information.

Enjoy your week,

Susie

Solid LANDesk Patch Manager Review - Information Week

2008-05-12T13:17:41Z

Information Week highlighted LANDesk Patch Manager as part of their "rolling review" over the weekend. Being a rolling review, a number of products are selected but it is not a technical shoot out. Rolling reviews is a comprehensive look at the hot technologies. Later in the year there will be a synopsis after the last product is reviewed.

A couple of paragraphs from the article...

LANDesk also supports a policy-based implementation, where you can define the types of patches you want to install and when. While distributing packages, we could use features like targeted multicast, which minimizes bandwidth consumed, or peer download, which capitalizes on local bandwidth by sharing packages already downloaded by one agent on a given subnet.

Moreover, these features enable pre-staging of patches, allowing for even more flexibility than the usual scheduling options we've seen. LANDesk also impressed us with Patch Manager's inventory scan. In our environment, it provided a surprisingly thorough physical inventory of servers.”

To read the full review: http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/reviews/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=WDQ2J3NLSK1HYQSNDLPSKH0CJUNN2JVN?articleID=207600574

If you would like to learn more on LANDesk's Patch Manager solution, please contact us at 877-624-8311. Our team will be happy to help with more technical information, demo, pricing etc.

Have a great week!

-Susie

Network America's/LANDesk Roadshow coming to your town!

2008-04-29T11:54:57Z

I am pleased to announce that we are going back on the road to bring you all the latest technology offerings from LANDesk next month!

Our Roadshow's aren't that typical vendor show were your stuck in a room with what seems for days with technical Powerpoint (Yawn).

We actually bring out all the equipment and the LANDesk engineers/team to provide you the benefits of working with the different solutions hands on-real time! Bring your boss, bring your technical team, whoever needs to see these technologies.

Please join us to learn more about LANDesk's Service Desk, Security Suite, Application Virtualization, Process Manager and much more.

Dates and confirmed locations so far:

-5/28 Denver Colorado - ESPN Zone

-5/30 Dallas Texas - Dave & Busters

We'll supply the food, the games the prizes as well as answers to your technical needs! See you soon!

-Susie

LANDesk Application Virtualization- Wins GCN Lab Reviewer's Award

2008-04-29T11:31:21Z

LANDesk's Application Virtualization product was the least intrusive off all the solutions GCN tested as well as the most flexible. There is notable differences with LANDesk Thinstall's integrated solution vs. Symantec's Altiris SVS.

While SVS uses a client application and installs a filter driver on the local machine, Thinstall builds an executable image, including a cut-down version of the Windows operating system (VOS) adding about 400K to the size of the virtualized application. When you launch a Thinstall virtual app, the program first loads the VOS, which in turn loads the application into an isolated environment. All access to the underlying operating system and file system is controlled by a configuration file created at the time you build the virtual application.

It’s important to point out that all LANDesk virtual applications run exclusively in user mode.

The LANDesk/Thinstall combination offers a solid solution for organizations without any existing products from those vendors. Building completely self-sufficient applications requiring no additional components to run will appeal to many IT managers. Add to that the flexible configuration options and user-mode execution and you’ve got a great way to deploy applications on Vista that might not have run otherwise.

For more information or pricing on LANDesk's Application Virtualization Suite please give us a call at 877-624-8311.

Have a wonderful week!

-Susie

Windows XP SP3 released to manufacturing, downloadable 4/29

2008-04-21T15:29:39Z

In a post to Microsoft's TechNet Forum, Microsoft's XP SP3 release manager Chris Keroack announced that Service Pack 3 of Windows XP has released to its manufacturing channels, in order to reach OEM and enterprise customers by the late-April deadline.

The key features of Service Pack 3 include Microsoft's updated Management Console 3.0, which appears in Windows Server 2008 and Vista; the new Windows Installer 3.1; an update to Wi-Fi protected access; and support for Network Access Protection, the "health checking" component used by Windows Server 2008. With that latter component, a network server can check to make sure certain upgrades and security features are in place for XP-based clients as well as Vista-based, before those clients can be allowed to log onto the network.

A complete list of XP SP3 features appears in this document from Microsoft.

LANDesk 8.8 Software Distribution Portal

2008-04-09T12:50:13Z

LANDesk’s simplified the Software Distribution Portal Process. The Portal can greatly enhance your help Desk’s capabilities as well as reduce the incidents to the next level support areas.

Here’s what I’ve done.

I created a Distribution Package for the software that I want to be available.

Next I create the Delivery Method, see the screenshots below, these are some of the settings I use.

I’ll then create a Scheduled Task for the Distribution Package and the delivery method, and leave is unscheduled.

When you need to use the Portal drag and drop the PC into the Task, Right click to bring up the Menu and Select Start now.

On the PC ask the user to select Start, Programs, LANDesk Management, LANDesk Software Distribution Portal. The LANDesk Software Distribution Portal windows will open showing the software that is available for downloading. If the Software is not showing, select the Check the Additional Software button to refresh the window.

Andy

LANDesk Recognized in Gartner Endpoint Protection Platforms 2007 Magic Quadrant

2008-03-27T08:20:09Z

In December 2007, research firm Gartner, Inc. released its Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms 2007 report. This new Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) quadrant is a merging of Gartner’s former Antivirus Magic Quadrant and the Personal Firewall Magic Quadrant. LANDesk was evaluated and placed in the Visionaries Quadrant.

"Inclusion of LANDesk in the visionaries quadrant is another confirmation of LANDesk's success in leading the convergence of the security and systems management markets," said Ed Harper, Chairman of the Board of Avocent, and former Chairman of Network Associates (McAfee).

To be included in the EPP Magic Quadrant, products must provide malware detection and cleaning, as well as a personal firewall and/or some form of host intrusion prevention capability for PCs. Products must also have centralized management, configuration and reporting capabilities that can support companies that have, at a minimum, 5,000 geographically dispersed endpoints, as well as possessing global service and support organizations to support enterprise products.

The report cites the “many nimble vendors beginning to challenge the status quo with innovative EPP solutions and a higher level of customer focus.”

"Our customers tell us that they've essentially beaten malware, the ‘zero-day,’ and targeted attacks once they've deployed our application control, DLP, and other protection layers. We're pleased to get recognition for our security efforts," said Steve Daly, General Manager of LANDesk, an Avocent company.

LANDesk Application Virtualization - Most Flexible Least intrusive!

2008-03-20T11:12:01Z

GCN posted their lab review today for top vendors in Virtualization field, and LANDesk rated #1 (3rd win in 4 months!)

Read the full article and lab results http://www.gcn.com/print/27_6/45953-1.html

Advantages to using LANDesk Application Virtualization, No driver or client installation required. And more importantly, LANDesk runs exclusively in user mode:

"That can be critical for enterprise environments with locked-down PCs without administration rights. User mode makes possible a number of significant benefits from a security perspective."

If you would like more information on LANDesk's Application Virtualization, give me a call @ 877-624-8311. We can help you with more details and trial information if you would like to test it in your lab.

*For our friends with government entities, LANDesk Application Virtualization is 508 compliant.

Happy Easter!

Susie

Microsoft releases Vista Service Pack 1 for generally available

2008-03-18T22:43:04Z

So are you the type that will immediately download it, cross your fingers, get out your lucky rabbit foot and hope for the best? Or will you be waiting a few weeks to see if this Service Pack causes more issues than it fixes?

In a blog post, Windows Vista product manager Nick White acknowledged having encountered driver compatibility problems with the initial deployment of SP1, though at this point those problems aren't exactly news.

"We spent the last couple of months looking closely at reports of driver problems on pre-release builds and, to be safe, we held the public availability until March," White wrote. "We've completed our analysis and are happy to report that many of these issues were fixed between the release candidate (RC) and the final version. We identified a small number of device drivers that may be problematic after an update from Windows Vista to Windows Vista SP1."

The download is available via Windows Update or you can download the standalone version here. But be prepared if you do the manual download that it is larger than the Windows Update version, it comes in at a whopping 434.5MB! That's right, close to half a gigabyte! So if you are the bleeding edge type and decide to download and install it now then leave us comments here on how it goes.

Saving green by going green with LANDesk Management Suite

2008-03-20T08:38:47Z

The power management capability in LANDesk Solutions lets you create your own power management policy, which can be global or on a per-computer basis. Once your policy is set, it's automatically enforced on managed systems, without any further intervention on your part-set it and forget it! If the user has to overwrite the policy-say to prevent a system from sleeping during a presentation-the user can. And if the user forgets to reinstate the power management feature, your policy will automatically reset the system to your defined standard.

The power management capability in LANDesk solutions can be used with LANDesk Management Suite, LANDesk Security Suite and LANDesk Patch Manager via LANDesk updates definition CF000001. Power options include power usage on the monitor, the hard disks and when the system goes to standby, and when the system is running off battery power or plugged in.

How Do Savings Translate into a Greater Return on Your LANDesk Investment?
Say you purchase both LANDesk® Security Suite and LANDesk® Anti-virus, if you apply the dollar savings you achieve by using power management, you can end up saving off the cost of your LANDesk licenses.

LANDesk® Security Suite MSRP $59
LANDesk® Antivirus MSRP $10
Monitor power savings* - $30
Computer power savings* - $45
Total LANDesk® license cost -$6
(MSRP minus power savings)
*Based on the estimated maximum savings of $30 per monitor and $45 per computer. Source: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power_management.

If you have more questions on LANDesk Power Management join us on April 3rd @ 1:00 Eastern for our webinar on Going Green with LANDesk! http://www.ldms.com/Company/eventsignup6.htm.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Susie

You have parent controls at home, but what about at school?

2008-03-20T08:40:18Z

LANDesk has just released their Classroom Manager last week. It is based of the same technology that LANDesk has used for Remote Control. For those of you who have been around LANDesk for a while from the "old Intel days", this product is similar to the LAN School product.

Each Teacher has a console view of either full screen or thumbnail size to view each students screen, with the ability to monitor what websites and applications that are running on the students computers. Teachers have full control to lock down their students PC's (mouse, keyboard, and screen) as well have the ability to control what websites and programs their students can or cannot use.

Teachers can either broadcast from their screen to the full classroom or just one particular student. As well as quickly administer online multiple choice or true/false quizzes to assess the students.

And yes LANDesk is using industry leading anti-tampering controls to make their software extremely difficult to disable!

If you are a public or private school administrator and would like more information on Classroom Manager please contact NAI today. There is a 30-Day trial available that we can help you with as well. 877-624-8311

Enjoy your week!

-Susie

Vista Aero and Remote Control - you can do it!

2008-03-20T08:39:58Z

In the new LANDesk release v8.8, LANDesk turns off "Desktop Compositing " which is part of Aero that blends all the different layers together. LANDesk doesn't totally turn off Aero, just this piece, and then LANDesk restores the setting when the session ends. This will happen when LANDesk Remote Control starts on any Vista computer.

LANDesk Releases Latest Version of Service Desk - Version 7.2.3

2008-02-12T17:41:25Z

New Dashboard Capability

One highlighted feature introduced in this release is the new dashboard capability that allows users to display and monitor key metrics on their main console in an easy-to-understand graphical format. Sample metrics include:

The number of incidents raised during a working period
The number of change requests made
Progress against goals

The new dashboard information helps users make better, more informed business and operational decisions based on real-time information.

LANDesk Wins Shoot out AGAIN!

2008-03-20T08:40:52Z

LANDesk has won the bi-annual Network World systems management shoot again!!! Beating out Altiris/Symantec - Kace - Novell -Scriptlogic- and Aagon. (Microsoft did not participate this year).

Here is where you can find the article http://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2008/020408-client-management-test.html or if you would just like to see the score card that can be found here: http://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2008/020408-test-client-management-scorecard.html

LANDesk continues to score the highest in Asset and license tracking and offers by far the greatest ease of use for the Administrator console.

Have a great week!

-Susie

...when they say "I don't want anything" don't believe it!

2008-02-01T12:19:21Z

Guys,

I will let you in on a little secret from the woman camp, they do want something for Valentine's Day (take note that is less than 2 weeks away!) and you don't need so spend a fortune to make her day!

For those of you with reservations to take your Valentine out for a romantic dinner, yes you will need reservations for the nicer restaurants don't wait call now please and even some restaurants have reservations on line. http://www.ruthschris.com/reservations/

If you can't be with your someone special or looking for some direction, you can never go wrong with jewelry! Here is a good site to peek at for a nice gift for any budget starting at under $100.00. http://www.ice.com/customer/valentine_jewelry_gift_guide.jsp

For other ideas from flowers to the ever popular lingerie, Ask Men put together a great list of ideas as well as a list of what the different colors of roses mean from love to friendship (just in case). http://www.askmen.com/dating/heidi/34_dating_girl.html

A MUST if your lady works outside the home, send her something to her office so she has bragging rights! For flowers (watch the sites www.FTD.com etc will run specials over the next week don't wait until the 13th the price will sky rocket) or even a nice box of Godiva Chocolates for her to share (maybe...)? If your sending flowers, it is always a good idea to include something she can keep, perhaps a nicer vase or a teddy bear for example.

And while all these things are great, you can really show her how much you care and not spend a bunch of money. Scoot out of work a little early, straighten/clean up the house, make her dinner or even stop and pick dinner up (but put the food on plates) set the table, light a candle...and you will melt her heart! Plus it gives her a great V-Day story to tell her friends!

Good luck too all and Happy Valentines Day!

Susie

8.8 is out!

2008-03-20T08:41:26Z

Hi Guys

For current LANDesk customers, you will be able to download the upgrade from the self service portal. As of this writing it isn't out there as yet but will be shortly. (Wednesday Jan 30th)

If your not a LANDesk customer yet but are interesting in looking at the new version, you can download a trial from the LANDesk web-site, you will be required to fill out a web form to do so.

Join us on the 12th to view our launch party!! The engineers will be on hand to demo the newer features and answer your questions on LANDesk Management Suite.

See you then!!

Susie

Did you say hardware...?

2008-03-20T08:41:58Z

For years we (NAI) were asked for hardware recommendations and pricing...and all we could do is recommend until now. With all the GREAT things that LANDesk has been doing with Lenovo we had to check it out, and now we are officially a proud Lenovo partner and user!

We did put it too the test first however. For me personally I am the dreaded sales rep who travels, and honestly doesn't take the best care of her machine. (My engineers cringe) Yep I am that person ahead of you in the security line at the airport who is late for her flight and has been known to ram her laptop in her purse and run.

Over the new couple of weeks we will be adding more info on Lenovo gear to our website, as well as more information on the LANDesk integration with Lenovo Think Vantage Technologies. Starting next month (February) we will be publishing a web schedule to view the LANDesk integration piece for Lenovo.

So if your in the market for a hardware refresh or adding new team members, take a look at Lenovo. They are priced comparable to the other leaders, they are partnered with LANDesk, and you can't kill them if you toss them in your purse..

-Safe travels

Susie

Service Pack 5

2008-03-20T08:42:56Z

Hi,

Just the other day LANDesk released Service Pack 5 for the Management Suite 8.7, this is unprecedented. This is the first time that I’ve seen the product go past a third Service Pack: but LANDesk is adding many improvements to the software. Service Pack 5 as I know it is mostly back end updates to make all of our life’s easier.

Just like all of you I’ve been busy and traveling; this week is the first chance that I’ve had to look into the service pack. One of my awaited features is here the ability to deploy VB scripts with LANDesk without having to wrap them into a batch file or manipulate them with the package builder.

How often have you wanted to or tired to install a networked printer??? Most of the time it’s a pain but I’ve found that VB scripts install a printer to a PC very nicely. A little side note, I have several VB scripts to install a printer, if you’d like one let me know.

To use the new VB script options; open Tools, Distribution, Distribution Packages; Under My Distribution Packages, open a New Distribution Packages, the New Windows Script Host Package appears, and there you are, finally… You’ll see the usually menus, install / uninstall prerequisites and so on about 6 or so that we all are familiar with. Add the necessary information and away you go.

Another addition I noticed is Service Manager. I heard this was coming, for those of you who haven’t heard of Service Manager, it’s much like Server Manager but it's or PCs. From my understanding we can get CPU temperatures, disk information, memory usage and so on. I’ll need to research this a little more.

If you have any questions about Service Pack 5 or any LANDesk product, post it here and the team here will do our best to answer them.

Take Care,

Andy

LANDesk User's Technical Resources-

2008-01-23T14:49:21Z

There are a couple of awesome technical web sites out there that I wanted to make sure you had in your favorites.

The LANDesk support guys (and gals) have a new community site for customers that has a lot of great information for break fixes and some good general how too's

http://community.landesk.com/support/index.jspa?showFeatureTour=false.

Another great site to find info on scripts, information analysis etc is http://www.droppedpackets.org/. This site is moderated by LANDesk field engineers and as you know these guys are sharp!

You need to register for community but it is painless, for dropped packets you don't have to be a "member" to view but to ask questions etc you will. Take a couple of minutes and check it out. For you that have been known to work on a problem late at night,,,you will be glad you did!

Enjoy!

-Susie