Taming the SAM beast + ZAM Support Expiring Soon!
April 14, 2011
The intersection between Software Asset Management and consulting work can present an interesting contradiction. Consultants usually work on projects; this generally implies a start and end date and well-defined goals. Software Asset Management, however, must be viewed as a process - once initiated, it will grow and must be nurtured. While this process may be defined as a series of linked projects and goals, one can never lose sight of the long-term nature of the beast. So, as I talk with customers and partners, I emphasize that the quick and easy ZENworks Asset Management installation does not equal a finished Software Asset Management process - there's quite a bit more to it! One other note - inventory is the foundation on which Software Asset Management is built. If you have a poor inventory, you'll be challenged to manage your software. But if you have a substantially incomplete or stale inventory, then your customer may try to draw incorrect conclusions from the reconciliation of inventory with licensing data. If you have an inventory for 50% of the devices, a comparison with 100% of the licensing data may look quite favorable; but you can't state a definitive compliance position. Also, if your inventory is very dynamic - perhaps as part of a migration project that is replacing a substantial portion of the application stack - then you need to wait before drawing compliance conclusions.
March PRU False Positives for Adobe®
The March Product Recognition Update (PRU) for ZENworks Configuration Management and ZENworks Asset Management includes fingerprints for two of Adobe's CS5 suites - Desktop Standard and Master Collection. Unfortunately, these fingerprints are flawed and will report a variety of false positives, depending on what CS 5 software is actually installed. I was on site with a customer with plenty of CS5 examples installed and was able to provide some diagnostic data to Novell on the problem. After reviewing updated inventory after application of the April PRU, CS5 suite recognition may have improved a bit, but it's not clear. I'll continue to provide feedback to Novell and report back updates.
Support for ZENworks Asset Management 7.5 is ending
Remember that the "special extended" ZAM 7.5 support ends June 30th, 2011 (search on Asset). That means no more PRUs or updates. Also on that date, the ZENworks 7 suite drops to Extended Support; this includes ZENworks 7 Desktop and Server Management. (Linux and Handheld Management linger on General support through August, 2012.) For any customers still running with the old versions, there has never been better time to upgrade to ZCM 11 or ZAM 11! Give me a call or drop me a note.
Happy Spring!
The intersection between Software Asset Management and consulting work can present an interesting contradiction. Consultants usually work on projects; this generally implies a start and end date and well-defined goals. Software Asset Management, however, must be viewed as a process - once initiated, it will grow and must be nurtured. While this process may be defined as a series of linked projects and goals, one can never lose sight of the long-term nature of the beast. So, as I talk with customers and partners, I emphasize that the quick and easy ZENworks Asset Management installation does not equal a finished Software Asset Management process - there's quite a bit more to it! One other note - inventory is the foundation on which Software Asset Management is built. If you have a poor inventory, you'll be challenged to manage your software. But if you have a substantially incomplete or stale inventory, then your customer may try to draw incorrect conclusions from the reconciliation of inventory with licensing data. If you have an inventory for 50% of the devices, a comparison with 100% of the licensing data may look quite favorable; but you can't state a definitive compliance position. Also, if your inventory is very dynamic - perhaps as part of a migration project that is replacing a substantial portion of the application stack - then you need to wait before drawing compliance conclusions.
March PRU False Positives for Adobe®
The March Product Recognition Update (PRU) for ZENworks Configuration Management and ZENworks Asset Management includes fingerprints for two of Adobe's CS5 suites - Desktop Standard and Master Collection. Unfortunately, these fingerprints are flawed and will report a variety of false positives, depending on what CS 5 software is actually installed. I was on site with a customer with plenty of CS5 examples installed and was able to provide some diagnostic data to Novell on the problem. After reviewing updated inventory after application of the April PRU, CS5 suite recognition may have improved a bit, but it's not clear. I'll continue to provide feedback to Novell and report back updates.
Support for ZENworks Asset Management 7.5 is ending
Remember that the "special extended" ZAM 7.5 support ends June 30th, 2011 (search on Asset). That means no more PRUs or updates. Also on that date, the ZENworks 7 suite drops to Extended Support; this includes ZENworks 7 Desktop and Server Management. (Linux and Handheld Management linger on General support through August, 2012.) For any customers still running with the old versions, there has never been better time to upgrade to ZCM 11 or ZAM 11! Give me a call or drop me a note.
Happy Spring!
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