Novell's ZENworks Suite is a collection of components that facilitate lifecycle management of servers, desktops, and/or handheld devices from a centralized server.

The suite is based on a centralized server component that manages the endpoint desktops, servers, or devices; the O/S requirements for this server component depend on what type of management you will need (desktop, servers, hanhelds, or Linux). Devices that can be managed by the platform include Windows 98SE/2000 Pro/XP Pro/2000 Server/Server 2003; Novell OES; NetWare; SUSE Linux; Red Hat Linux; Solaris 9; and multiple handheld operating systems including Palm OS, Windows CE, and RIM Blackberry. Supported directories include Novell eDirectory and Microsoft AD.

The core components in the ZENworks suite include:

- ZENworks Desktop Management, which allows admins to configure, update, and troubleshoot workstations from either inside or outside the firewall. Policy-based features allow for the automated generation of a desktop work environment (content and applications) based on defined user or device identities; as well as policy-driven distribution of apps (desktop, thin client, and Web based) and software updates from a central location. Windows desktops can be managed from either a Windows or SUSE Linux server.

- ZENworks Server Management applies configuration management capabilities similar to the Desktop Management capabilities described above, only specifically to servers (Windows, Linux, and NetWare).

- ZENworks Linux Management provides for the management of Linux machine configurations, including features such as centralized logging, monitoring and remote control; lockdown of desktop and server settings as well as certain applications; automatic package dependency checking and alerting; rollbacks; image management; and inventory (software/hardware) gathering and reporting.

- ZENworks Handheld Management provides both configuration management for handheld devices, as well as bandwidth optimization features (checkpoint restart, compression, encryption, delta technology and configurable bandwidth usage) for low-bandwidth connections. Features include password enforcement and self-destruct or lockout policies.

Add-on products available for the ZENworks Suite include:

- ZENworks Asset Management provides inventory management and reporting capabilities; including network discovery, workstation inventory, software management, software usage and contract management.

- ZENworks Configuration Management is similar in features to ZENworks Desktop Management, but adds support for Windows Vista and now Windows Server 2008 and also boasts native integration with Active Directory and eDirectory. ZENworks Configuration Management features real-time, dynamic configuration capabilities; desktop configuration changes are applied as soon as the associated network user accounts are changed. Again, Windows desktops can be managed from Windows or Linux central servers.

New to the Configuration Management package is the vendor's ZENworks Satellite feature, which enables single delivery of content, applications, and images to a remote location, with the remote location then handling the distribution to each of the remote devices (as opposed to sending multiple copies of the updates over the WAN for each individual target remote device).

- ZENworks Patch Management provides automated patch management capabilities, including analysis and deployment, for Windows, NetWare, Macintosh, AIX, Solaris HP-UX and more. This agent-based application features wizard-based patch deployments, support for phased rollouts, verification of applied patches, and continuous monitoring of end points to ensure they get and stay patched according to policy.

- ZENworks Endpoint Security Management, which combines such endpoint features as a personal firewall, wireless connectivity, automated encryption, application controls, and more. Features include local language support (nine languages are supported), control over non-storage USB devices (printers, mice, etc.) including the ability to disable autorun and autoplay features, granular encryption settings (down to the "My Documents" folder of the drive, according to the vendor), and encryption support for removable storage and white-listed devices (by serial number).

ZENworks management offerings listed on the Novell site include ZENworks Orchestrator, ZENworks Virtual Machine Management, and ZENworks HPC Management.

Visit the Novell Web site for further information.