Client Management
Maintaining a large number of computer systems is a great challenge for an institution. However, by implementing well-considered policies and taking advantage of the easy-to-use tools available today, managing client systems can be simple and effective. When properly performed, “life-cycle management”—from the loading dock to the recycler—maximizes a company’s return on investment, keeps the company’s users more productive, and protects the security of the company’s computer systems and data. What’s more, all of these goals can be achieved while reducing the load on IT staff.
Client Management can be broken down into five phases:
Preparation
The life cycle of new computers begins even before they arrive at the shipping dock. To effectively manage clients, a company needs to prepare a master installation image (or multiple disk images, for different needs) for incoming client systems and be ready to log the computers into their asset inventory as soon as they arrive.
Deployment
When a new computer arrives, it’s often not yet ready to be deployed into the business. The operating system is in a default state—no local user accounts have been created, and no organization-specific applications have been loaded. The deployment phase of the client life cycle should fully configure the workstation with the proper settings and applications for its specific work environment and require minimal IT effort.
If a business deploys a standard “image,” they need to get it onto their Mac systems with the least amount of effort possible. If they’re using Mac OS X Server, they can select Apple Software Restore, Network Install, or a third-party product to deploy the image, depending on their business needs.
Reduce costs
With innovative client-management tools for the Mac—such as Apple Remote Desktop, and the advanced services in Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server—like Workgroup Manager, NetBoot, and NetInstall—system administrators can support company-wide client systems centrally with minimal IT resources. Let’s look at some of those services now.
What does Apple have to offer to meet these business needs?
Quite simply Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server & Apple Remote Desktop
Centralization
Workgroup Manager provides centralized directory-based management for creating user accounts, setting up groups, and managing company-wide Mac clients. Tasks like creating and implementing access controls, setting password policies, setting preferences, and personalizing work environments are all built-in features that increase IT efficiency by eliminating the need to manage client systems individually.
Another service, Apple’s Software Update Server, helps administrators control how and when client computers download software updates, enabling access to approved updates only, which protects a company from security risks and liabilities. It offers local caching, which also streamlines network use and saves the cost of multiple downloads for the same update by reducing bandwidth consumption—because users won’t need to download updates individually from the Internet. In addition, by using Managed Preferences to monitor system use, settings, and permissions, a company can ensure compliance with software licensing agreements.
Deploying disk images
The NetBoot service in Mac OS X Server allows multiple Mac systems to boot from a single server-based disk image, instead of from their internal hard drives. This means that all the systems in a department can use a standard configuration, or use multiple images for different workgroups. Companies with high security requirements can use diskless NetBoot without needing to store data locally. NetBoot Server can also be set up to act as a diagnostic server, enabling a user to boot to a diagnostic image if their local disk requires repair, and then reboot back after the local disk is fixed.
The complementary NetInstall service in Mac OS X Server enables IT staff to use disk images to automatically install, restore, and upgrade networked Mac systems across the organization, all at once. Using NetBoot and NetInstall, they can keep their company’s systems current with minimal IT resources. It’s easy to create the images: the System Image Utility leverages the power of Automator in Mac OS X Server to provide an intuitive interface for creating NetBoot and NetInstall disk images.
Apple Remote Desktop
The systems on a company’s network are always just a few mouse-clicks away with Apple Remote Desktop. It offers a centralized way to manage an unlimited number of Mac clients on the network, with features like software distribution, screen sharing, automated tasks and installations, and detailed application and user history reports.
For example, it allows a system administrator to apply Automator actions to eliminate time-consuming administrative tasks, or search remote client systems with Remote Spotlight, or look at remote computers in the network at a glance with a Dashboard widget. It also offers Remote Drag and Drop, which allows an administrator to move items on a remote computer or copy and paste information between systems with pinpoint accuracy. The AutoInstall and screen-sharing features let IT staff provide real-time online help to remote users. Curtain Mode even allows admin tasks to be performed remotely without being seen by the local user. This remote access to client computers increases the number of user incidents that get resolved each day, and enables idle systems to be put to sleep or shut down remotely, reducing energy costs.
Long-term value
Client management is an investment that keeps providing value throughout the life of a company. Through continual inventory tracking and centralized system monitoring, the tools in Mac OS X Server and Apple Remote Desktop will assist a company’s management in making smart purchasing decisions—from adding new hardware to upgrading software. This will help maximize the value of the company’s IT purchases and reduce overall equipment costs. In addition, administering client machines remotely will greatly enhance user support efficiency, saving significant time and money.
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