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| Administration Tools Master List
By BrianG,
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It would be great to see ONE master listing of ALL Dell system administration and ordering tools, not just OpenManage! I've been asking my sales reps for years for this and they say it doesn't exist.
There have been MANY Dell tools I wouldn't have known about if I didn't waste a lot of my time trying to track them down or just being lucky to be informed of them when they're first released. I also understand that I could probably find out about a lot of these tools by reading the Dell Power Solutions magazine a lot more, but I still see an advantage of having a master list of tools.
I think this service request makes sense so sales reps just have to direct system administrators to one page or direct system administrators to a tool-specific page in addition to reminding them of one master page where they can go to find all available Dell tools.
If there is such a page, I think Dell reps and support need to be educated about it and the page should clearly state that "This is your starting point for finding all Dell system administration and/or ordering related tools and the page that links to all new Dell tools which will be released in the future".
Ask yourself this: Why would I look for a tool that I don't know is out there until I know it's out there? I know I'm creative enough to proactively look for tools, but even I can't spend time looking for every tool!
BTW, When I repeatedly asked where I could make this suggestion, my sales rep never mentioned IdeaStorm.com and instead just kept telling me about more tools I never knew about (FYI, that's a good thing, but ultimately a bad thing).
Here is a list of tools I know about (in random order) to give you an example of what I think others should know about (some of it may be discontinued, but a great feature of the master list would allow you to see discontinued tools and what if anything replaced it):
ORDERING
• Premier Website, http://Premier.Dell.com -
• Quote-To-Order, http://www.Dell.com/qto - When you receive a Dell quote from one of reps, not an e-quote, you can place it in this webpage to order it.
• Tracking - http://support.dell.com/support/order/status.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=pn (use IE) or contact our account rep so they can lookup the information for you. You cannot reference order information using a service tag yet. You can get e-mail notification of when it ships as well as a tracking number. You can setup a special "link code" for lookup, which may be used for multiple items in different orders that belong to the same project.
• Tracking - Dell has an automated fax process for receipt and tracking of your POs. After the first fax that you send to this number, the system will be able to fax back to your fax number a confirmation receipt and the Dell Inside Account Managers will receive an email notification that the order has been received. Additionally, you can email POInquiries@Dell.com if you have questions as to whether your fax has been received. This process increases the speed in which your order is entered and released, as well as allows us to quickly address any issues, such as product shortages, or long lead times.
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION TOOLS
• Dell Business Ready Solutions & Main Management Tools ("Manage" on the left), http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/sitelets/solutions/main/solutions_center?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&~ck=mn -
• Dell Magazine ("Dell Power Solutions") -
• Dell OpenManage & Related Tools, http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/sitelets/solutions/management/openmanage?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz -
• Dell Power Solutions Whitepapers, http://www.Dell.com/downloads/global/power/power_index.pdf -
• Dell System Management Appliances (KACE), http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/us/segments/bsd/system-management?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd -
• Client Management - These solutions are designed to empower IT professionals with an easy to use management suite that can automate traditionally labor-intensive tasks. Administrators can remotely perform many routine IT functions including asset management, configuration management, fault management, and security management. The OpenManage suite includes tools for remotely managing assets, initial image deployment, and proactive health monitoring. OpenManage simplifies systems management with easy to use, standards-based, remote management capabilities that have the potential to improve the efficiency of IT resources and, in turn, minimize TCO.
• Dell Network Assistant, www.Dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/services/en/network_assistance, $$$ - Helps you setup, troubleshoot, and fix network settings including wireless capabilities.
• Dell Support, for Dimension/Inspiron, http://Support.Dell.com/DSUpgrade - Automatically or manually notifies you of updates for your system only, updates easily, alerts you if incorrect drivers are installed, and allows you to perform routine maintenance on your system to optimize it. For Dimension or Inspiron systems running on Windows XP only.
• PC Checkup, http://PCCheckup.DellFix.com - Web-based diagnostic tool that scans your computer and provides solutions accordingly.
• Security Center, http://Support.Dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/security/security -
• Altiris® Local Recovery, $FREE - Local Recovery is a client-based, stand-alone backup and recovery application developed by Altiris and made available at no additional charge to Dell OptiPlex, Latitude and Dell Precision customers. After installation and scheduling, protection is automatic and does not require user intervention. Local Recovery will protect operating systems, applications and data from unintentional changes, accidental deletions, virus attacks and corrupted operating system files. By taking periodic snapshots automatically, the solution works seamlessly and unobtrusively to protect your systems and data without interrupting user productivity. Recovering data only takes a single keystroke. White Paper & Brochure (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/solutions/en/openmanage?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&~tab=2 ), Altiris (http://www.altiris.com/products/recovery/dell/ ).
• ImageWatch - This service provides qualifying corporate and institutional customers with general notification of technology changes 2-12 months prior to their impact on Dell hardware, peripherals and software, and much more specific information is made available 60-90 days out. Management of relevant technology changes helps lower TCO. There are five concepts behind our approach to managed technology transitions: Notification of upcoming transitions well in advance. Availability of evaluation units prior to product release. Overlapping product lifecycles during which both product generations are available. Constant communication with the customer so "no surprises". Flexibility to adapt to customers' unique needs. Really only for enterprise lines like Latitude, and OptiPlex?
• Dell OpenManage, http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/solutions/en/openmanage?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&~tab=2 -
• Dell OpenManage Network Manager - Dorado Software actually makes the software for Dell, but they also have plug-ins to manage other vendor's software or if we don't use Dell networking devices, we can just buy the management software from Dorado.
• Stable Image Assurance Program (SIAP) - Designed to lower ownership costs by taking away the worry and inconvenience associated with required hard drive image changes by qualifying and deploying a single hard drive image (Consists of integrated graphics, networking, audio, and chipset drivers. By keeping these drivers consistent over the system's life cycle, Dell helps to lower Total Cost of Ownership for IT through reduced qualifications and support costs). SIAP just for OptiPlex GX620, GX520, GX280 and SX280. The Assurance: For customers utilizing Dell's Custom Factory Integration (CFI) Image Deployment Services, Dell assures that if a forced image change is initiated on the integrated components of an OptiPlex GX system during it's marketing life, the customer's image will be updated through CFI services. CFI just for OptiPlex GX280 and SX280? These models are based on the Intel Stable Image Platform Program (http://www.intel.com/business/bss/products/client/stableplatform/index.htm).
• Dell QuickSet - This software makes it easy to customize your power settings for travel or presentations with a single mouse click. Only install it if someone needs it however.
• Dell ControlPoint - Must be installed.
• Dell OS Support Matrix, www.Dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/alliances/en/os_certifications?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz
• Asset Management - http://PremierSupport.Dell.com.
• Configuration Standards - Global standard configurations are available to simplify global deployment and management.
Please reach out to Mark Hopper, sales engineer for New England, if you have any problems or questions. We'd love to show you the points of difference between Altiris and Landesk, especially as it relates to the Dell tools.
• Dell Diagnostics Partition - If this gets wiped out on a drive or you're setting up a new drive, there is no way to recreate it.
• Dell OpenManage Client Administrator (OMCA?) -
• Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) -
• Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit -
• Dell OpenManage IT Administrator -
• Dell Unified Server Configurator (powered by Lifecycle Controller) - Industry's first and only embedded systems management eliminates data center complexity. Simplifies many common IT processes such as deployment, diagnostics, update, and configuration. Unified Server Configurator has “Instant On” integrated manageability with zero media deployment through a single access point.
• Dell Update Packages - As the central component of the OpenManage server management family, Dell Update Packages help you to update system software on your PowerEdge servers in a scalable, non-intrusive way. Dell Update Packages can be utilized: As a standalone application to apply an update and help ensure that specific validation criteria are met. By industry-leading patch management applications, such as Microsoft® SMS or Altiris® Patch Manager, or an internally developed change management solution. Dell Update Packages are available as part of the Dell OpenManage Subscription Service and are also available on the Dell support Web site at http://support.dell.com. For additional information, see the Dell Update Package User's Guide.
• Partner-integrated Change Management Solutions, http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/sys_mgmt/en/server_partner?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz - Organizations that already deploy a leading change management application should not be required to invest in additional management software to update Dell servers. That's why Dell continues to drive standardization into the change management process—and enables multiple management applications to support delivery of updates to Dell servers. For example, Dell works directly with Microsoft SMS, LANDesk, Altiris, and others so that administrators can use the same console and process to update Dell server OS, applications, firmware and drivers. These products can inventory Dell server firmware and drivers, compare inventory results with the latest updates from the Dell website, alert administrators about available upgrades, and retrieve and install the updates.
• Product Configuration Calculator, www.dell.com/calc -
• Rack Advisor - A visual representation of systems in a rack with power information as well.
• Server Update Utility, http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/sys_mgmt/en/server_change_mgmt?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz#dsuu - This app is tied into Dell’s OpenManage utility. Dell Server Update Utility is designed to simplify single-server updates and is available on the Dell PowerEdge Updates CD included as part of the Dell OpenManage Subscription Service. Download this tool ( http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?fileid=145877).
• Solution Sizing Tools, www.dell.com/sizing (SQL, Exchange, Rack Advisor, Tape, etc.)
• Systems Management Site, http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/solutions/en/openmanage?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz - Overview of systems management and integrated partner tools for Dell servers, storage, network devices, and clients.
• Systems Management Software - OpenManage Subscription Service, Subscription Support: 1-800-770-6499 (M-F, 7:30am-7:30pm CT). Gold Support Customer Site, http://DellSubscriptions.ProductOrder.com, 800-770-6499 - By purchasing a Gold support contract on your PowerEdge server you are entitled to receive a complimentary Dell OpenManage CD Subscription.
• Technical Updates, http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/notifications/en/index?c=us&l=en&s=gen (Repalced File Watch, and Product Driver and Engineering (PDE) Update) - Dell will email you when file updates are available for your computer. This is kinda neat however for this to work properly we would need to register a machine for each type that we have (ex. Dimension 4200,4250,4300…) Might be worth the trouble.
BrianG70.0
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Fri Mar 12 22:52:32 GMT 2010
Comments:
Categories:
Enterprise Service and Support Small Business
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Status:Acknowledged
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