Novell ZENWorks
Desktop management is a
key part of ZENworks that reduces the total cost of
ownership of desktops and laptops. With ZENworks,
administrators can automatically and transparently
configure, update and troubleshoot workstations from
wherever they are-inside or outside the firewall-without
having to visit each device. Using directory-based
policies and profiles, they can generate work
environments with content and applications tailored to
the personal needs of each user or group of users.
ZENworks optimizes desktop and thin client
application delivery to maximize performance and user
satisfaction. If problems arise, ZENworks transparently
detects and corrects the problem, even if the user is
working remote or disconnected. Technicians can also
remotely view real-time diagnostics and resolve problems
without ever having to leave their desk. As a result,
users have simple, consistent access to their
applications and content, and administrators save time.
Using directory-based policies, administrators can
enforce a standard configuration and simultaneously
update those configurations and software on thousands of
desktops and laptops-all from a single location.
ZENworks even provides personality migration so personal
settings and application settings for each desktop can
be fully restored to minimize disruption. With detailed
inventory reports from PCs to handheld devices, across
multiple operating systems, ZENworks helps companies
enforce standard configurations, prepare for upgrades,
determine device locations and meet corporate asset
reporting requirements.
Microsoft Active Directory
Easier
Deployment and Management
Windows Server 2003 enhances the administrator's ability
to efficiently configure and manage Active Directory
even in very large enterprises with multiple forests,
domains, and sites. Improved migration and management
tools, along with the ability to rename Active Directory
domains, make deploying Active Directory significantly
easier than when the directory service was first
introduced in Windows 2000 Server. Better tools bring
drag-and-drop capabilities, multi-object selection, and
the ability to save and reuse queries. Plus,
improvements in Group Policy make it easier and more
efficient to manage groups of users and computers in an
Active Directory environment.
Greater Security
Additional security features make it easier to manage
the multiple forests and cross-domain trusts. Cross
forest trust provides a new type of Windows trust for
managing the security relationship between two
forests—greatly simplifying cross-forest security
administration and authentication. Users can securely
access resources in other forests without sacrificing
the single sign-on and administrative benefits of having
only one user ID and password maintained in the user's
home forest. This provides the flexibility to account
for the need for some divisions or areas to have their
own forest, yet maintain benefits of Active Directory.
In addition, a new credential manager provides a secure
store of user credentials and X.509 certificates.
Software restriction policies let administrators prevent
unwanted programs from being installed on computers
throughout the network.
Improved Performance and Dependability
Windows Server 2003 more efficiently manages the
replication and synchronization of Active Directory
information. Administrators can better control the types
of information that are replicated and synchronized
between domain controllers both within a domain as well
as across domains. In addition, Active Directory
provides more features to intelligently select only
changed information for replication—no longer requiring
updating entire portions of the directory.
