Network managemtn and image and software deployment

[stephenwelch]

Hi what are people using for network management and simplification of administering large networks. I have seen info on Kace and used thing like Ranger and RM in the past but I am a little out of date with these sort of solutions. What do people think?

 

Stephen

[GrumbleDook]

I was at the launch of Impero v3.5 today which is another option to consider (other similar tools are available )

[localzuk]

We use:

 

Spiceworks - Helpdesk and on the fly asset list

Impero - classroom management, plus a few of the other bits

GPO - The usual

Skeep - RDP to servers

Fog - Imaging

Nagios - Server and switch monitoring

Cacti - Network traffic monitoring/graphing

 

Trying to roll it all into one package is, in my view, doomed to failure as there will always be something that isn't included and it'll oversimplify complex tasks, removing flexibility.

[stephenwelch]

Thanks guys. What are your thoughts on Ranger - I used it a few years ago now is it a RM CC? clone now? Skeep looks interesting :-)

 

Stephen

[localzuk]

Ranger - too interfering for me. I don't like any packages like CC3 or Ranger - they get in the way for me. Others swear by them though.

[Norphy]

Others swear by them though.

 

I'd say that approximately 97% of my swearing here is done at CC3 and Adobe combined. When we ditch CC3 next year, the air will be a lot less blue I'm sure

 

We're going to be using SCCM for our imaging and software deployment needs. AD Manager Plus will be used for User management and the various other built in Microsoft tools will be used for most of the other bits and pieces.

[not_rich_yet]

System Center Configuration Manager 2012 is a cracking bit of kit though a little faffy to setup - there are a good set of guides online though, and after a few weeks of playing with it I am impressed enough that it is now our likely replacement for CC3.