NetworkAdminFilter: Goodbye NetWare - Hello MS and Associates

June 11, 2007 1:12 PM

We are migrating from NetWare to Microsoft for our Network Operating System. We currently use ZenWorks for Desktop and Servers. We use the full set of tools for application deployment, remote control, imagining, server management, policy automation...basically the whole gambit. What do you recommend for replacement?

Our corporation has grown considerably in the last couple years and has become too complex for it's own good. We are on the cusp of change and it looks like we will be dumping NetWare instead of moving to OES. I know zenworks can run on windows but we are looking to move from eDirectory to Active Directory. I need a suite that replaces ZenWorks and other tools that we might need after migration for ease of administration.

Some helpful info:
600 Windows XP Desktops
60 Windows XP Laptops
1700 Users
16 NetWare 6.5 servers
25 Windows 2003 servers
(Big citrix farm and heavy duty SQL Cluster)

Management Suite:
I looked at SMS and Altiris. SMS seems rather complex and does not offer all services that ZenWorks does. With Altiris you need to buy a lot of extras but seems workable. Landesk is perhaps another option.

Others tools we currently use:
GFI Event Manager - for notification of event log errors
Watchtower to monitor the network

Thanks!

posted by bleucube to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Have you looked at the forthcoming ZENworks Configuration Management? It's due sometime this summer, and not only does it run in a pure Windows environment, they've "divorced" ZENworks from eDirectory so it can manage an Active Directory environment just as easily. That way you'll be able to leverage your existing skillsets.
posted by JaredSeth at 1:31 PM on June 11, 2007

We migrated our Novell/Zenworks network to Microsoft/Altiris Total Management Suite last year. It's working fine, but I get the idea that I'm only scratching the surface of what it can do, like using a Porsche to go to the grocery store.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:38 PM on June 11, 2007

Response by poster: JaredSeth - thanks for pointing the link; had not heard they were divorcing eDirectory. Would be a top contender.
posted by bleucube at 1:44 PM on June 11, 2007