On Technology to Debut Desktop Management Tool

On Technology Inc. at next weeks Gartner Symposium will debut a new next-generation, Web-enabled desktop management tool that supports a range of functions, devices and network connections.

The new ON iCommand tool allows desktop administrators to remotely reconfigure a device, deploy an operating system, migrate a users personality settings and execute disaster recovery functions for Windows, Linux and Unix desktops and laptops as well as Pocket PC hand-held devices.

The Java-based tool also incorporates several bandwidth optimization features that better support mobile devices operating over low-speed or wireless links. Those include file and byte-level differencing, which only sends what has been changed for a file that already exists on the target end station.

The software also incorporates bandwidth throttling, in which the software detects the load on the link and adjusts its network usage. Bandwidth optimization also includes file compression and check-point restart for failed links.

Changes, distributions and updates also use the Secure Sockets Layer encryption in HTTP for secure transmissions outside and inside the corporate firewall.

On iCommand is a superset of On Technologys On Command CCM software distribution and change management tool. It goes beyond the original tool to better manage mobile devices and non-Windows platforms, according to Phil Neray, vice president of marketing for the Cambridge, Mass., company.

“With it, enterprises can add functionality to devices anytime—even outside the corporate firewall,” he said.

Administrators using the browser-based interface can access and execute any command in the tool, allowing roaming administrators to respond to problems from any end station.

End users can also from their browsers go to an Intranet site set up by administrators to access and download authorized configuration programs.

The tool consists of a Web portal for end users that allows them to access and download the software and updates they need to offload tasks from IT.

Administrators also have a Web portal that allows them to log-in using their adminstrators ID from any end station to execute functions.

The iCommand Transport component allows software and updates to be deployed over slow-speed links.

The Java-based iCommand Agents run on non-Windows platforms, and the iCommand server provides the backend infrastructure for integration into existing IT environments and scaling to distribute to thousands of end stations.

The tool is available now on Windows and Linux. PocketPC, Sun Solaris, HP-UX and Mac OS X support are due next month.

It starts at $120 per managed device with volume discounts.

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