BrainShare 2011 Wrap-Up and Training Updates

December 1, 2011

I'll get to my report on BrainShare 2011 in a moment, but first a word from one of our sponsors…

Online ZENworks Asset Management Training in December

I sent a quick note two weeks ago about a ZENworks Asset Management class to be presented online by Novell Advanced Technical Training next week, December 6-8, 2011. The class schedule is now confirmed and there are still seats available. Join me for three days of in-depth training in all the asset management features, including purchasing data and documents, license entitlements, and contracts. We'll also look at select features of ZENworks Configuration Management that support asset management, including software recognition. Learn more about the class and how to register.

BrainShare 2011

After skipping over their usual March date due to the impending acquisition by Attachmate, Novell held BrainShare 2011 in Salt Lake City October 11 to 15. While the crowd was not the largest—and we squeezed into a bit less of the Salt Palace—the enthusiasm for Novell and the Novell product lines was as strong as ever. Attendees were excited to be back at BrainShare and to hear what Novell and Attachmate had to say about the future of the company.

Naturally, my attention and emphasis was on all things ZENworks. I presented classes on ZENworks Asset Management and ZENworks Reporting Server as part of the Advanced Technical Training group program and attended a number of other ATT classes. In the general sessions, there was a strong commitment to ZENworks with demonstrations of a number of great new features slated for ZCM 11 service pack 2, including:

Device-based Macintosh OS-X configuration management - software delivery, inventory, patch and remote management

Improved NTFS imaging performance

Integrated full disk encryption

Many of the session presentations are available here. (Click on the "Session Presentations" link on the right below the countdown clock.) Of particular interest to ZENworks fans will be the session on ZCM 11 SP2 (pdf download), which is now scheduled for release somewhere in the late January - February time frame. All in all, it was a great event.

For the next BrainShare, Novell is moving back towards their "normal" dates, skipping out 15 months to February 3 to 7, 2013. A dedicated web site has not been stood up yet, but stay tuned—I'm watching for it!

ATT Live 2012

In 2012 Novell Advanced Technical Training returns to the M Resort, Spa and Casino in Las Vegas for ATT Live. This four day learning conference—May 15 to 18, 2012—is a great way to gain intensive education from the best Novell instructors on a variety of technical tracks. I'll be presenting sessions on ZENworks Asset Management and ZENworks Reporting Server, as well as a new course on ZENworks Configuration Management implementation best practices. Join us for a great event at a great location.

New Certification

Novell now offers a new ZENworks certification - Certified Novell ZENworks Administrator 11 (CNZA 11). I sat in on the new course 3114 - Novell ZENworks 11 Configuration Management Administration - earlier this year, and took the beta certification exam in September. I'm pleased to have passed the exam comfortably and have added CNZA 11 to my certifications.

The ZENworks Administrator certification completes my qualifications for the Certified Novell Instructor program. In the near future I'll be gearing up to present the ZCM Administration course (3114) as well as "Upgrading to and Exploring New Features in Novell ZENworks 11 Configuration Management," course 3113.

Finally, as author and presenter of the ZENworks Asset Management course, I qualified for the Advanced Certified Novell Instructor certification. Guess it's time to update the business cards!

Happy holidays to you and your family!