Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Latest News

      Beefing Up ECM, Delivering More

      Written by

      Andrew Garcia
      Published March 19, 2001
      Share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin

        eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

        Configuresoft Inc.s Enterprise Configuration Manager 3.5 enables administrators of large Windows 2000 and Windows NT enterprises to proactively monitor massive, geographically dispersed networks while ensuring networkwide compliance with security and configuration policies.

        In eWeek Labs tests, the ECM update showed much-improved remote administration capabilities via a new Web console and improved client grouping capabilities. Security information has also been beefed up, now showing centralized hot-fix information and local user and group settings across the enterprise.

        ECM 3.5, a free download that shipped in late January, offers no vulnerability assessment tools, but it provides excellent reporting capabilities at an affordable price (especially for workstations). The product includes a 30-day license for five workstations and five servers. Permanent licenses are $30 per workstation and $775 per server.

        Configuresoft also offers a maintenance contract that includes free product updates, 24-by-7 support, access to a user community mailing list, and free downloads of additional reports and packages from the Web site. The yearly maintenance fee is 20 percent of the overall license cost. A Windows 9x migration tool (which we did not test) is available separately.

        ECM 3.5 consists of six integrated components: collector, console, Web server, user documentation, reports and agents. The collector works in conjunction with a user-provided SQL database to aggregate data from the agents. The console is a bundle of applications that configure, schedule, and monitor events and information. The new Web server provides an attractive remote monitoring interface.

        Special Agents In Action

        Agents collect specified information from clients, compress the data and send it to the collector. Because the agents utilize DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) technology, they are active only when initiated by the collector and have a minuscule footprint when inactive.

        Unlike Hewlett-Packard Co.s OpenView, which uses SNMP to actively monitor network object performance and alert upon failures, ECM 3.5s proprietary DCOM agents can monitor only Windows NT and Windows 2000 hosts and report hardware, software, operating system and security information and alerts to a central SQL database.

        Installation was straightforward. We installed the ECM collector, console and database components on a Windows 2000 server running Microsoft SQL 7.0 server (ECM will also work with Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft SQL Server 2000). ECM does require a Windows domain controller to ease permission issues among the clients, the collector and the database.

        ECM offers automatic and manual ways to centrally distribute agents to single or multiple clients. In tests, both methods worked equally well installing on Windows NT and Windows 2000 servers and workstations within the domain, although the manual method provides greater flexibility via a prechecking mechanism and better reporting.

        We could also remotely install agents on a server outside the domain, although we had to fire up a separate application to add security permissions.

        Version 3.5s improved client grouping functions let us differentiate collection groups from reporting groups, and clients could be in multiple groups simultaneously. It was a snap to identify all NT 4.0 servers in a network, group them and schedule a periodic collection event for the group.

        Using ECMs Compliance Monitor application, we created a template of shared, local user and hot-fix update information from a Windows 2000 Professional client. We then initiated an event that compared all Professional clients with the template. The subsequent report showed which users and shares were missing from the other clients and which hot fixes had not been installed.

        Version 3.5 includes a much-improved read-only remote console. Used in conjunction with Microsofts IIS (Internet Information Server), the Web interface provides nearly all the reporting and monitoring details of the console in a clean, intuitive GUI.

        Although information is transmitted unencrypted by default, administrators can easily add a certificate to IIS to encrypt and secure these transmissions.

        In addition to alerts on the console and the Web interface, ECM 3.5 offers e-mail alerting. With the installation of Windows Scripting Host and ASPMail, ECM can provide different e-mail alerts to multiple administrators.

        Enterprise Configuration Manager 3

        .5″>

        Enterprise Configuration Manager 3.5

        USABILITY

        B

        CAPABILITY

        A

        PERFORMANCE

        A

        INTEROPERABILITY

        C

        MANAGEABILITY

        B

        Configuresofts ECM 3.5 provides a powerful, centralized system to administer and monitor large Windows NT and Windows 2000 networks. Windows administrators will rejoice at ECMs superior ability to recognize configuration problems and its reliable help in maintaining enterprisewide configuration and security policies.

        SHORT-TERM BUSINESS IMPACT // Installation can be performed quickly, providing details on Windows system within a few hours.

        LONG-TERM BUSINESS IMPACT // Up-front and careful planning of groups and templates will make future administration painless and effective for years to come.

        Gathers tremendous amounts of information from clients; console and reports effectively coalesce data in understandable, usable formats.

        Works only with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 environments.

        Configuresoft Inc., Colorado Springs, Colo.; (719) 447-4600; www.configuresoft.com

        Andrew Garcia
        Andrew Garcia
        Andrew cut his teeth as a systems administrator at the University of California, learning the ins and outs of server migration, Windows desktop management, Unix and Novell administration. After a tour of duty as a team leader for PC Magazine's Labs, Andrew turned to system integration - providing network, server, and desktop consulting services for small businesses throughout the Bay Area. With eWEEK Labs since 2003, Andrew concentrates on wireless networking technologies while moonlighting with Microsoft Windows, mobile devices and management, and unified communications. He produces product reviews, technology analysis and opinion pieces for eWEEK.com, eWEEK magazine, and the Labs' Release Notes blog. Follow Andrew on Twitter at andrewrgarcia, or reach him by email at [email protected].

        Get the Free Newsletter!

        Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

        Get the Free Newsletter!

        Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

        MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

        Artificial Intelligence

        9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

        Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
        AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
        Read more
        Cloud

        RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

        Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
        RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
        Read more
        Artificial Intelligence

        8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

        Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
        Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
        Read more
        Latest News

        Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

        James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
        I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
        Read more
        Video

        Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

        James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
        I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
        Read more
        Logo

        eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

        Facebook
        Linkedin
        RSS
        Twitter
        Youtube

        Advertisers

        Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

        Advertise with Us

        Menu

        • About eWeek
        • Subscribe to our Newsletter
        • Latest News

        Our Brands

        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms
        • About
        • Contact
        • Advertise
        • Sitemap
        • California – Do Not Sell My Information

        Property of TechnologyAdvice.
        © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

        Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.